Roberts DAB Radios

DAB digital radio covers most of the major UK centres in the United Kingdom with a plan to extend the coverage soon.

Digital One, the National Commercial Digital Radio multiplex, has a coverage area of just over 85% of the UK population and the BBC currently reaches approximately 85% and have stated in the Building Public Value document that coverage will increase to 905 of the population. There are now Discussions for the next phase of coverage expansion.

How to Choose a Roberts DAB Clock Radio

What is DAB and what does it stand for? DAB stands for Digital Audio Broadcasting and like TV offers you digital radio channels. This means that you will get extra digital channels, experience less hiss and interference and be able to pause and rewind live radio. You can also find this format in Clock radios (DAB Clock radios) which companies such as Roberts produce.

Before purchasing a Roberts Clock radio you might want to spend a few minutes just thinking about what you want.

Roberts Clock radios come with the basic features such as the ability to set up your favourite stations as presets and a digital display that shows you which radio station is playing. If you are going to want your radio to be portable then check before you buy that it comes with the ability to run off batteries and if you want to put it through your hi-fi then make sure that it has audio outputs so that you can connect it up.

Before you go and rush out and buy your Roberts Clock radio, check that DAB is available in your area and what stations you will get. DAB is reportedly available to 80% of the UK and if you need further information then visit the BBC receptions site which explains how to receive DAB. If unfortunately you find that you don’t have DAB in your area then for the time being if you have a TV with one of the digital TV companies then you can get digital radio services through that or you will have to continue listening to FM.

Here are some of the terms you will come across when using Roberts DAB Radios:

* RDS: stands for Radio Data System and means the listener is able to view the radio station name on the radio screen

* EPG: stands for Electronic Programme Guide and is broadcast by a selection of radio stations including the BBC, Virgin, Classic FM, talkSPORT. It is very similar to the programme guides found on Sky or Freeview and allows you to see what is coming up over the coming week on some stations, as well as find out detailed information about the programme like presenter name and what the show is about. It can also let you set an advanced timer record for future programmes. To see the EPG, you must have an EPG compatible radio. Not all DAB digital radios can receive EPG. In order to get EPG information, ensure you buy a radio that says it is EPG compatible

* Pause Rewind and Record live radio: Digital radio enables you to pause, rewind or record live radio onto some digital memory, whether it is built-in or an SD card. The pause plus facility means you can pause live radio, go away to answer the phone and then re-start your listening just where you left off. Some let you rewind the last half hour of programme if you missed part of a conversation, or if you’d like to hear a particular song one more time. You can even fast-forward through recorded items if you don’t like a song. Some products allow you to press record and start recording straight away – others will start recording after you programmed it, just like your video. If you’ve recorded onto a memory card, you can then put the card in your portable mp3 player or other DAB radios with this facility and listen to your favourite programmes or songs again at a convenient time

* Using an SD memory card with your radio:An SD card can be used in your radio for recording, playing back previously recorded radio programmes, or playing back MP2/MP3/WMA files transferred from a PC. Depending on the radio station a 512MB SD card will give typically 8-16 hours of recording time

* CD / SD bookmark:This is a new function introduced by Roberts to a selection of our radios. Traditionally seen in car stereo systems the bookmark feature enables you to play your CD or SD card from where you left off. For example, you may be listening to your music CD or audio book in the morning, when you turn your system off and return to it later the CD or SD card will continue to play from where you left it. You no longer have to listen to the same first three songs on your CD or forget where you left your audio book

* Multiple Alarms: Some of our products have multiple alarms, this means you have the option of waking to a buzzer, the radio, CD or SD card. Check the particular product details to see which applies

* Stereo playback of MP3/iPod via auxiliary input socket: If your radio has an auxiliary (line-level) audio input which you can use to allow your radio to be used as an external amplifier for MP3 players, compact disc players and similar devices. Simple connect the external audio source to the radio’s line input socket (on the back of the radio) using a 3.5mm stereo plug

* USB connection: If your radio has a USB connection it enables you to connect your radio to your PC. The USB can be used to copy files to and from your SD card and also for any software updates available