I'm starting to hear more about the announcement that many, if not all, radio stations that currently broadcast on DAB will be changing (upgrading?) to DAB+ in the new year.
Firstly: Why? DAB is already superb quality, so why 'upgrade'?
Secondly: Most radio receivers purchased prior to 2014 will be unable to receive DAB+ broadcasts after the change. This means that millions of perfectly good radio sets, including high end ICE systems like the B&O installed in my Audi, will suddenly become FM only.
DAB offers improved sound quality over FM, but why do the powers that be feel it necessary to render countless radio sets obsolete by precluding DAB+ reception in this way? Yes, of course we can 'retune to FM', but that's not the point is it? We have DAB because we appreciate the higher quality sound over FM.
My wife and I both have a Roberts radio by our bedside; she likes Radio 4 and Radio 4 Xtra, while I like Classic FM and Planet Rock. The latter has already become unavailable on my radio, so I've resorted to Absolute Rock, which just isn't the same! I daresay the BBC Radio broadcasts will similarly be 'transitioned' to DAB+ before long.
The whole thing is a farce and smacks of cynicism, almost as if there's a hidden agenda to get people to buy new radios when they wouldn't ordinarily have felt the need to do so.
Does anybody else feel similarly aggrieved?
Firstly: Why? DAB is already superb quality, so why 'upgrade'?
Secondly: Most radio receivers purchased prior to 2014 will be unable to receive DAB+ broadcasts after the change. This means that millions of perfectly good radio sets, including high end ICE systems like the B&O installed in my Audi, will suddenly become FM only.
DAB offers improved sound quality over FM, but why do the powers that be feel it necessary to render countless radio sets obsolete by precluding DAB+ reception in this way? Yes, of course we can 'retune to FM', but that's not the point is it? We have DAB because we appreciate the higher quality sound over FM.
My wife and I both have a Roberts radio by our bedside; she likes Radio 4 and Radio 4 Xtra, while I like Classic FM and Planet Rock. The latter has already become unavailable on my radio, so I've resorted to Absolute Rock, which just isn't the same! I daresay the BBC Radio broadcasts will similarly be 'transitioned' to DAB+ before long.
The whole thing is a farce and smacks of cynicism, almost as if there's a hidden agenda to get people to buy new radios when they wouldn't ordinarily have felt the need to do so.
Does anybody else feel similarly aggrieved?