BBC DAB

Digital Radio
While most listeners enjoy trouble-free DAB
reception, some may experience problems receiving
our services.The advice within this factsheet is
designed to help these listeners.

Unreliable reception and burbling sound

A weak FM signal would give a hissing sound. DAB is different. If the signal strength is weak you
can hear break-up (burbling noises) or even complete silence.

With a portable radio, ensure the aerial is fully extended.Try placing it higher up, even try
upstairs and keep away from metal surfaces such as a fridge. Sometimes the building itself can be
a problem (thick stone or reinforced walls); a window-sill position may help. Unfortunately, some
radios are less sensitive than others and need careful positioning to work reliably. If your radio
displays signal strength, use this as a guide to ensure the best position.

For the best reception an external aerial gives best results.This is especially true with hi-fi units.

Lost reception
Lost reception is usually due to a reduction in the signal strength from just above to just below
the threshold of reception. It’s very rare for the problem to be caused by transmitter faults.
Radios can lose sensitivity if they develop a fault or if batteries run low. Consider what may have
changed in your home or nearby which could have affected the strength of signals.

DAB aerials

DAB uses different frequencies from TV and FM so a different type of aerial is needed.
First, check if the radio can take an external aerial (please refer to the user manual or contact
the manufacturer). A DAB aerial may be known as BAND 3.There are two main types of DAB
aerials, Omni-directional and directional. In most cases you should use the omni type, which looks
like a vertical rod and will see the BBC DAB signal from various transmitters.This is a good thing
as the signal can be stronger and more services may be received. In some circumstances a
directional aerial may be better. A good installer would know what is best at your location.

The Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI) is a trade body representing installers who
guarantee their work and operate to a Code of Practice.Their website (www.cai.org.uk) has
details of local installers, and member installers usually place the CAI logo on advertisements in
local directories.

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 Postcode coverage predictions
When your postcode is entered online at
www.bbc.co.uk/digitalradio the predicted results for DAB
coverage are displayed. ‘Very Likely’ and ‘May Receive’ stations
are listed. If the results are ‘Very Likely’, you should be fine
but ‘May Receive’ is not as certain; your radio may work fine,
may have problems or receive nothing. Some radios need
much more signal than others to work reliably. Because of
this, the Postcode Predictions should only be used as a guide.
If the guide suggests you should have good reception and you
are in an average location but your radio does not work well,
you could try taking the radio back to the shop to exchange
it for a different model.You may find an improvement.
Differences between BBC and
.commercial stations
Different transmitter sites are used between the various
broadcasters, so it’s possible to receive services from one
transmitter site and not another.This may be reflected in a
DAB postcode predictor, where predictions vary between
‘may receive’ and ‘very likely’. An omni-directional outside
aerial may help.
BBC Local Radio
Local stations (and nations’ stations in Scotland,Wales and
Northern Ireland) use capacity made available by commercial
platform operators under rules set by OFCOM, the telecoms
and broadcasting regulator. In some areas, a commercial
licence has not yet been awarded so BBC local radio is not
yet available on DAB. OFCOM are aware of the difficulty this
causes and are pursuing ways to make more capacity available
for local commercial DAB.
DAB Digital Radio coverage of a BBC Local Radio station may
not match that which is available on analogue FM or AM
medium wave because a different transmitter network may be
used.
Please note that the only local radio stations you may receive
on DAB will be ones for your area.
Interference on DAB
DAB reception can suffer if the level of interference is high.
This can sound like forms of ‘pops’ followed by short silences.
If disruption is regular, domestic equipment may be the cause.
To confirm this, try listening to FM when the problem is
present. A distinct crackle indicates a burst of interference.
Central heating thermostats and any general electrical
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appliances (including lights) could be the cause.Turn these off
briefly to see if reception improves.
If you can’t track it down, contact OFCOM on 0845 456
3000, or visit their website at www.ofcom.org.uk and request
their leaflet and form about radio and TV interference.
Part-time ‘secondary’ services
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra and ‘Radio 4 Long Wave’
are ‘secondaries’ alongside the main ‘primary’ station.When
they are transmitting, many radio sets have a ‘secondary’ light
which comes on when you tune to the primary station.You
then need to press the ‘secondary’ button to tune in.
Alternatively you may see an arrow next to the service name
(i.e. BBCR4> or BBC5Live>).This is also an indication that a
secondary service is available. A simple turn of the tuning dial
to the next service should access the stations.
Test Match cricket is normally broadcast on BBC Radio Five
Live Sports Extra on DAB. Radio 4 LW is generally used only
for Yesterday In Parliament and the Daily Service (Act of
Worship).
Finding new services
Digital radios may need prompting to find new stations. Press
‘autotune’, ‘scan’, or ‘autoscan’ occasionally to update your set.
Time delay on Digital Radio
This is simply due to both transmitting and receiving
processing that is needed to make DAB work. If you are
concerned about accuracy to the second of ‘pips’ for setting
your clock you should still use the analogue broadcast.
Loudness of BBC stations
BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4 can often sound quiet compared to
commercial stations.This allows the listener to appreciate a
more realistic audio level (dynamic range), especially when
listening to classical music.This is not to everyone’s taste,
especially if you are listening in a noisy environment. Switching
on Dynamic Range Control (DRC) on the radio set (check
your manual) will make the station’s audio sound more level,
like commercial stations.
 Car reception problems

Car aerials (especially the rear windscreen type) optimised

for FM/AM often do not give good results for DAB. If you are
having DAB reception problems in your car, we recommend
you seek advice from your car radio dealer.

Future coverage expansion

The BBC is committed to improving DAB coverage to

eventually reach 90% of the UK population, as detailed in the
BBC’s Building Public Value document.The BBC Digital
Website (bbc.co.uk/digitalradio) gives details of new
transmitter openings, with the Postcode Checker on the same
site being updated shortly afterwards.

DAB Technical Details

UK DAB band (Band III): 217.5 – 230 MHz

Utilisation: 7 ‘ensembles’ each 1.536 MHz wide designated
11B-11D &12A-12D

BBC National Ensemble Multiplex transmits on Block 12B:

Centre Frequency 225.648 MHz