Point Blank going onto DAB

[Steve]

To be honest, I haven't flicked through FM for some time. I'm either on DAB in the car or Tunein. I think DAB is taking off now, with plenty of variation on it and improved coverage.

A couple of years ago, I was singing from the 'DAB will never take off' hymn sheet as well, but I have to say, I was wrong.

[g33ky]

Rather them be on DAB than a shitty community license .

[mpx]

Hopefully, the bitrates will be increased. In the testing that I've done, 32k DAB+ in AAC+ is only really suitable for speech. 48k is just about acceptable, but the minimum should be 64k really. And 128k for the closest transparency. Quality-wise legacy DAB MPEG2 is garbage, even at high bitrates. DAB will never come close to FM in terms of sound quality until you get to 128k AAC+ or better.

[Lordunderground]

The coverage is much better on DAB than FM community or some FM regionals, assuming you're on the main multiplex, not a trial service. Sound quality is ok not fantastic, but good enough for most. Also, more people now listen to DAB than FM. Whereas the romance with FM lives on, time has moved on

[Albert H]

I'm afraid that you've drunk the OFCOM Koolaid! There's about four times as many FM listeners in the UK than DAB listeners. DAB coverage remains flaky - even in big cities - and the "quality" is universally appalling. OFCOM persist in using the bogus figures obtained from a couple of very biased surveys.

It appears that "radio" listening is moving more towards streaming. The mobile data coverage is improving, and a 128kbps mp3 stream is very close to FM quality (especially for "pop" content). The advantage of worldwide coverage is massive, and even little "pirate" stations can command audiences of many tens - or even hundreds - of thousands.

[g33ky]

I'm afraid that you've drunk the OFCOM Koolaid! There's about four times as many FM listeners in the UK than DAB listeners. DAB coverage remains flaky - even in big cities - and the "quality" is universally appalling. OFCOM persist in using the bogus figures obtained from a couple of very biased surveys.

It appears that "radio" listening is moving more towards streaming. The mobile data coverage is improving, and a 128kbps mp3 stream is very close to FM quality (especially for "pop" content). The advantage of worldwide coverage is massive, and even little "pirate" stations can command audiences of many tens - or even hundreds - of thousands.

I believe the surveys counted "digital" listening as anything which isn't FM/AM, including DAB, TV and streaming. In terms of digital (all) vs FM I would think digital has more market share, with the exception of the BBC which is a huge relief on long roadtrips. Streaming will outlast DAB (as it already has in Ireland and Finland) and FM will always be there for the smaller stations.

[Albert H]

OFCOM had a long-term plan that included Band II being reallocated for land mobile communications. Fortunately this was shown to be a truly stupid idea, and was abandoned.

[Lordunderground]

On the topic; Its kinda on DAB already (as some know on here, called Release Radio - sounds decent

[famefm]

They are totally separate now

[teckniqs]

They are totally separate now

Yep I think the original owner of PB sold it off around 2008 or so and then started up 'More Radio' which later became Release Radio DAB....

[famefm]

Much earlier than that it was the summer of 2003 he parted company with pb and the new station didn't start till 2009 and for the first 2 years it had a different name

[Lordunderground]

Release has old PB jocks on & the former owner/founder

[famefm]

That's what we were saying only a few of them were on pb far more of them were not on it

[Lordunderground]

Yep but you have to allow for years gone by, (as some fall out of the game) -a total team transfer is impossible

[famefm]

Yes and can you get 90.2 and release dab where you are.

[famefm]

I am back in my old area this week and I certainly can't get the new station on 90.2 on the West Side of London

[Twista UK]

I wondered why iv not been picking up point blank i was picking up another station Altern8 but gone off air

[bongoloid]

I see PB have announced that they will be live broadcasting on DAB from next Saturday 26th June. They have a test transmission running.

[g33ky]

I do wish PB the best. I think PB was in the business of radio for the love of the musical side, with FM just being the easiest way to get the signal out over the decades. I think as time has moved on they just wanted less hassle of being a pirate and would rather just go the Centreforce route of being a 'proper' station and business.

[famefm]

I am out of reach for any London station dab coverage now and I have noticed their tunein entry isn't working and has not for over a year I really like tunein it's much easier than having a separate app for each station and the pb app keeps cutting out I hope they re connect tunein soon