How do digital radios work?

dnme

Simple question for likewise guy, How do digital radios work?
1. Do they require an internet connection and stream content from online?
2. Do they receive radio channels vis DTT broadcasts?
or
3. Both of the above? (or some other method?)

Many thanks

JDxtra

They use DAB. At the moment, only the RTE stations are onboard. You will get a lot more via FM, online, or via a television set top box (UPC/Sky).

cml387

Actually both in some cases.

DAB radios are available,but also radios that stream from the internet via your wireless router.

Biggins

There are radio's now you can get that are have wireless capability as well as DAB.
By turning them on and initially setting them up to access your net, they can then broadcast world stations via a transportable radio around the home.

cml387

Biggins wrote: »

There are radio's now you can get that are have wireless capability as well as DAB.
By turning them on and initially setting them up to access your net, they can then broadcast world stations via a transportable radio around the home.

I have a Roberts internet radio.Initially I thought I'd be listening to all kinds of exotic stations,but instead I just listen to BBC radio 4 and Classic FM:rolleyes:

_Kaiser_

Any of them use the Radiotime back-end? I use Tune In on my Android phone and find it great.

dnme

JDxtra wrote: »

They use DAB. At the moment, only the RTE stations are onboard. You will get a lot more via FM, online, or via a television set top box (UPC/Sky).

DAB? Is this the radio bit of DTT?

desaparecidos

dnme wrote: »

DAB? Is this the radio bit of DTT?

No

dnme

So what is DAB?

Is it a terrestrial broadcast?
Is it an online stream?
It is an apple pie?

Snowbat

DAB is Digital Audio Broadcasting.

There are quite a few different technologies and systems that could be described as digital radio. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio

dnme

Yeah...em not really there yet.... lets try these questions.

Is DAB broadcast as a terrestrial signal?

When I tune in DTT channels on my TV, I get a selection of Radio channels also. Are these being sent via DAB and if so does than mean that my TV is both DTT and DAB equipped?

Snowbat

dnme wrote: »

Is DAB broadcast as a terrestrial signal?

Yes. There was a provision for broadcasting DAB via satellite (S-DAB) but I don't think it was ever used.

When I tune in DTT channels on my TV, I get a selection of Radio channels also. Are these being sent via DAB and if so does than mean that my TV is both DTT and DAB equipped?

No. DTT in Ireland uses the DVB-T standard. The radio channels are compressed digital audio streams that have been multiplexed into a DVB-T signal for transmission.

dnme

Thanks Snowbat, Now I get it.

OK, here's a new question. I have a set top box that receives satellite and is also a webserver (VU+ duo) so I can stream TV and Radio onto my laptop using VLC etc.

I would like to listen to a London station when heading off to bed. I don't want to have to have a laptop beside me with fans, screen etc.

Can I get a digital radio that will pull the stream via my IP network to itself? a wireless ip device that can handle streams that look like this

h**p://192.168.0.23:1222/web/stream.m3u?ref=1%3A0%3A2%3ACB3D%3A907%3A2%3A11A0000%3A0%3A0%3A0%3A

Snowbat

Assuming stream.m3u contains a pointer to an mp3 stream, I think most internet radios / network audio players should be able to handle it (enter a custom URL).

Do you have any particular model in mind?


Edit: CNET calls what you're looking for a 'Wi-Fi radio' - here's a roundup http://reviews.cnet.com/best-wifi-radios/

dnme

Many thanks again Snowbat,

Yea from my days living in London, I used to listen to LBC at night in bed, ah years ago now. But wouldn't it be cool to be able to do that again... and at zero cost.

Radio would be coming in via satellite and I am using my local lan to get it to some small radio device that could sit beside my bed. I'll have a look at that link of yours. This kinda device would make a great gruppy or ibood.

EDIT: :eek:
Jezus H Christ I have just seen the prices of these puppies. I can do without, will keep an eye on ebay and adverts.

BrianD

LBC is available on free to air satellite as are many UK stations. You could connect one of those small FM transmitters that people use for MP3 players to the back of your satellite set top box. LBC would be available on FM in your house!

dnme

BrianD wrote: »

LBC is available on free to air satellite as are many UK stations. You could connect one of those small FM transmitters that people use for MP3 players to the back of your satellite set top box. LBC would be available on FM in your house!

I dont think the range is that great on those fm transmitters is it? no more than a couple of feet last one I used.