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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Alarms, Phones, Aerials, CCTV & Datacomms >> DAB https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1099870873 Message started by supersparky on Nov 7^th, 2004, 11:41pm

Title: DAB
Post by supersparky on Nov 7^th, 2004, 11:41pm

how many dab radios can you run from a DAB aerial?
anything special to look for? like tv aerials, wideband ect
and DAB worth it?
can ya get a DAB signal through a digital TV aerial?

cheers

ss

Title: Re: DAB
Post by thescruff on Nov 8^th, 2004, 12:07am

I have a Roberts dab radio but it only has a telescopic aerial.

for the technical minded DAB uses frequency 174.928-239.200 MHz..

phone 0208758 0338 for technical helpline.

I can get dab radio on my computers

scruff

Title: Re: DAB
Post by big_all on Nov 8^th, 2004, 12:13am

is that with a bit of wooood then ::) ::) ;D ;D ;)

Title: Re: DAB
Post by thescruff on Nov 8^th, 2004, 12:42am

wrote on Nov 8^th, 2004, 12:13am:

is that with a bit of wooood then �::) ::) ;D ;D ;)

What the radio or the computers :-/ :-/

Me mum had an aerial from the plum tree to the �house if thats what you mean � :-* :-* :-*

That was wood ( the plum tree ) that is ;D

scruff

Title: Re: DAB
Post by big_all on Nov 8^th, 2004, 12:52am

i am only jealouse scruff just egnore me ::) ::) ;)

Title: Re: DAB
Post by L.Spark on Nov 8^th, 2004, 1:49am

I use my freeview box (DVB) for DAB, and it really does sound good ;D

Title: Re: DAB
Post by HandyMac on Nov 8^th, 2004, 6:31am

wrote on Nov 8^th, 2004, 12:52am:

i am only jealouse scruff just egnore me ::) ::) ;)

We all do anyway :)

Andrew

Title: Re: DAB
Post by big_all on Nov 8^th, 2004, 7:26am

wrote on Nov 8^th, 2004, 6:31am:

We all do anyway :)

Andrew

:-* ;)

Title: Re: DAB
Post by L.Spark on Nov 8^th, 2004, 10:47am

god, whats all this kissing going on in the forums, stop it right away! ::) ::);D ;D ;D

Title: Re: DAB
Post by plugwash on Nov 8^th, 2004, 10:53am

wrote on Nov 8^th, 2004, 1:49am:

I use my freeview box (DVB) for DAB, and it really does sound good ;D

freeview has some radio stations but i think its a seperate system from DAB and i don't think it has everything DAB does

i've seen local radio stations mention being on DAB and everythign my freeview box lists is nationa

Title: Re: DAB
Post by L.Spark on Nov 8^th, 2004, 2:53pm

wrote on Nov 8^th, 2004, 10:53am:

Im not convinced, theres a huge difference in quality and it has a delay which shows it's on a different bandwidth

Title: Re: DAB
Post by Lectrician on Nov 8^th, 2004, 5:08pm

DAB is NOT transmitted through satalite or freeview, these are audio channels on your package.

DAB uses a different aerial, but may be multiplexed into the FM, and UHF/SAT frequencies using a suitable 'loft box', or a cable may be run direct to your DAB radio.

It isn't available in all areas yet, but is far superior to FM broadcasts.

Title: Re: DAB
Post by plugwash on Nov 8^th, 2004, 5:33pm

my experiance is that a roof mounted tv arial does much better at fm than a loft mounted FM arial for receiveing FM broadcasts

so i can't see why DAB couldn't be picked up by a decent wideband TV arial mounted in a good location

Title: Re: DAB
Post by Lectrician on Nov 8^th, 2004, 7:59pm

Not sure on that....

Maybe when close to a transmitter, but if in the real world, A dedicted UHF, FM and DAB aerial is required.

This is when communal living is a bliss - its all done for ya.

Its a bit like an old Ford Escord with a coat hanger aerial - Yes it it will pick up the FM broadcasts, But quality �:-/

Title: Re: DAB
Post by plugwash on Nov 8^th, 2004, 8:15pm

sure a good quality FM arial on the roof would be best

but what im saying is that if you have a TV arial on the roof then at least in my experiance loft mounted FM arials are a waste of time

btw im in a student resisdence block and it seems i can't get uktv history and several other freeview channels here so no its not all bliss

Title: Re: DAB
Post by thescruff on Nov 8^th, 2004, 9:24pm

I'm Soooooooooooo confused ??? ??? ??? ???

why do you need an aerial, I ain't got one.

scruff

Title: Re: DAB
Post by Beanzy on Nov 8^th, 2004, 10:20pm

Ok DAB radio's easy. If you're in a marginal area you can just do a simple loop in the loft. If your transmitter lines up nicely across the signal path you can tack up a very simple arrangement.

Make a loop of copper wire from the palm of your hand around your elbow then do this on the other side so you end up with something which would fit across both arms. �(assuming you're an average sized male & ignore the gaps at the sides where my brackets don't join up :-[ )

Kind of like this

________| �|________
(__________________)

The ends at the top should be connected to the centre and shield of your aerial cable respectively. This will pick up DAB band fairly well.

Old school dipole manufacture from the maestro of the make do. � �;)

Title: Re: DAB
Post by L.Spark on Nov 8^th, 2004, 11:55pm

wrote on Nov 8^th, 2004, 5:08pm:

DAB is NOT transmitted through satalite or freeview, these are audio channels on your package.

Damn!, well it's good enough so im not going to get DAB, I was going to wait awhile to buy a new radio tuner and thought il get a DAB radio, but the sound quality is so good theres just no point.

Title: Re: DAB
Post by L.Spark on Nov 9^th, 2004, 12:00am

wrote on Nov 8^th, 2004, 8:15pm:

btw im in a student resisdence block and it seems i can't get uktv history and several other freeview channels here so no its not all bliss

Thats because thay channel along with some others don't come as standard, you have to pay for top up TV which is �7.99 a month + one off �20 connection fee (connected yourself), you then get a viewing card which decodes them channels.

Thats if of course you have a box with a card reader, all boxes between 2002 and late 2004 didnt have slots, they now have around 8 boxes with slots, the big seller is the Thomson DTI2300 which sells for around �80, It's not a match on my sony, but it really isnt too bad, main things that are not as good to the sony are the channels take longer to load.

Title: Re: DAB
Post by plugwash on Nov 9^th, 2004, 12:13am

wrote on Nov 9^th, 2004, 12:00am:

most of the uktv channels are pay but im pretty sure uktv history is free

this exact same box had no problems getting it when i was at home

Title: Re: DAB
Post by L.Spark on Nov 9^th, 2004, 12:25am

I beg ur pardon mate, ur right �::)

Just checked it out, it's the other UKTV channel im thinking off (Gold) - also UKStyle is not free, UKTV History is free and is available here, are you missing any others �???

Title: Re: DAB
Post by supersparky on Nov 10^th, 2004, 3:17pm

cheers guys

does it matter how big the aerial is?
or what its made from? ie, copper, steel, aluminum

ss

Title: Re: DAB
Post by Beanzy on Nov 13^th, 2004, 5:07pm

Never beleive anyone when they say size doesn't matter ;)

Yep for DAB the dipole length will aim to be about 1/4 of the wavelength of the centre frequency. In a domestic situation like this, size of cable matters only in so far as the the fatter it is the more signal hits the bu66er in the first place. But if you go for a loop at the end so it keeps the upper and lower cables approximately 3 inches apart, in old money, then you'll be in the right ball park. This is slightly larger than you'd have on a horizontally mounted dipole, but it allows for the fact that it'll be on a loft batten which will slope with the angle of the roof. If you're just putting it on a horizontal timber then reduce it slightly to about 2.5 inches. The total width of the wire dipole should come up at about a couple of feet (use some nice 4mm solid if you can get it). I reckon you'll find this will give you much inproved FM as well as spot on DAB if you stick it into a combiner or the FM i/p of your loft amp.

Happy Blue Petering :)