What is DAB Radio and How does it Work?

What is DAB radio?

DAB is digital radio. It is available in the UK and most of Western Europe.

What are the advantages of DAB radio?

DAB offers space for more radio stations at a better audio quality than FM or AM. DAB can automatically tune to radio stations, and information such as song titles or traffic updates can be displayed. DAB is less susceptible to interference, and gives listeners more choice of radio stations. DAB makes for a clearer sound, ease of access to stations, convenient switching between channels, and more information.

Are there any disadvantages to DAB radio?

Sometimes, yes. Coverage isn’t as good in some areas as others and there can be some problems with reception in places compared to FM or AM. Having FM, AM, and DAB on your car stereo gives you more options for finding your favourite radio station at the optimal audio quality wherever you are. To find out what radio stations are available on DAB in your area, you can use the DAB radio postcode checker. Despite this, DAB is available to 9 out of 10 listeners in the UK, which is pretty impressive!

What is the future of DAB radio?

An upgraded version (DAB+) of DAB was launched in 2007. While there are only a few stations which broadcast on DAB+, this is set to increase very soon, as are the number of transmitters, and the number of receiving devices. DAB+ will allow more space for more radio stations, giving us listeners even more choice. The future may also bring recording and rewind functionality, like with your digital TV receiver. Stay tuned!

Can I receive DAB or DAB+ radio in my car?

Yes! Many of our car stereo systems come with an inbuilt DAB/DAB+ tuner, and also a DAB antenna. The Xtrons D713GDAB for example, comes with built-in DAB+ and a DAB antenna. Other head units such as the Xtrons TD696AS which have a USB socket and Android 5.1 can receive DAB/DAB+ with the use of a DAB+ USB dongle. This is the Xtrons USBDAB01. It is a radio tuner receiver stick for Xtrons Android 5.1 car stereos. This DAB USB is famous for its better sound quality and stronger signal receiving. The advantages of using this DAB+ system is that it has high fidelity sound for audio files, super strong anti-interference for using in intense moving environments such as cars, faster radio switching, and detailed channel information. Inside the box you will find the USB stick and the DAB+ antenna. It can only be installed on certain Xtrons Android 5.1 head units. Installation is easy. You need to find a suitable place on your head unit with a free USB port. Then plug in the DAB+ system, and then install the DAB+ antenna using the USB’s screw adapter. You can find more information on this USB DAB+ dongle at http://xtrons.co.uk/usbdab01-usb-2-0-digital-dab.html