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#243461 - 06/12/2004 19:04 DAB Radio
Roger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/01/2000
Posts: 5683
Loc: London, UK
I'm considering buying a DAB Radio as a Christmas present and wondered if you folks had any recommendations? Are they all really the same, or are there brands I should be avoiding?
_________________________
-- roger

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#243462 - 07/12/2004 09:52 Re: DAB Radio [Re: Roger]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1914
Loc: London
Are you talking about a hi-fi component or a portable? This month's Which? magazine had a test on portables this month, I'll have a look if you want...

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#243463 - 07/12/2004 09:56 Re: DAB Radio [Re: Roger]
furtive
old hand

Registered: 14/08/2001
Posts: 886
Loc: London, UK
I've got one of these in my kitchen:



It sounds fine, looks pretty good, seems fairly well made and I would recommend it. That's as far as my recommendation can go though as I have no experience of any other DAB radios.
_________________________
Mk2a RioCar 120Gb - now sold to the owner of my old car
Rio Karma - now on ebay...

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#243464 - 07/12/2004 10:32 Re: DAB Radio [Re: Roger]
CrackersMcCheese
pooh-bah

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2489
I have the Evoke too - its great. Bought it 2 years back and its still going strong with no problems. Great build quality and great quality sound. Only gripe is that its powered from AC - I'd love to be able to put batteries in it. The current models may have this option though.

I'd certainly buy this brand again but have no experience of other makes/models.

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#243465 - 07/12/2004 11:37 Re: DAB Radio [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1914
Loc: London
I bought that for my MIL when it came out so she could listen to BBC7, she loves it. If at all possible a Psion Wavefinder with Dabbar streaming to slimp3's or similar is the way to go; scheduled recording, multiple streams, epg (sometimes)

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#243466 - 07/12/2004 11:55 Re: DAB Radio [Re: tahir]
boxer
pooh-bah

Registered: 16/04/2002
Posts: 2011
Loc: Yorkshire UK
Quote:
Psion Wavefinder with Dabbar streaming to slimp3's or similar is the way to go; scheduled recording, multiple streams, epg (sometimes

The Psion Wavefinder is the ultimate lemon, I can point you to copious disatisfied customers. It does not work very well with XP and not at all with SP2. I've owned two and they are inconsistant. All sorts of fixes have been recommended: disconnecting the glowing lights; replacing the power "brick" with a regulated 12v one and quite a few others. But basically, as I say, it's a lemon. I've gone on to digital terrestial
for radio recordings on a scheduler, but that doesn't help you with BBC 7, which I agree is excellent.
If you want a Wavefinder make me an offer and I'll drop it in the post!
In answer to the thread question, I've got the Grundig for around £60 by my bed side, it's fine, and probably, as you thought, no better nor worse than any other.
_________________________
Politics and Ideology: Not my bag

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#243467 - 07/12/2004 12:00 Re: DAB Radio [Re: boxer]
CrackersMcCheese
pooh-bah

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2489
I have to disagree about the Wavefinder. It has worked flawlessly for me under XP SP1 (have avoided SP2 so far). Great reception and sound. Maybe I just got lucky.

What Grundig unit do you have? What I'd really really like is a DAB bedside cube clock radio. I know Bush make them but I want to avoid Bush.

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#243468 - 07/12/2004 12:19 Re: DAB Radio [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
tahir
pooh-bah

Registered: 27/02/2004
Posts: 1914
Loc: London
I had a WF work flawlessly for over a year on XP SP1 (I know there are issues wiith SP2), I eventually replaced it with the (discontinued) Modulartech PCI card cos it was neater.

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#243469 - 07/12/2004 15:12 Re: DAB Radio [Re: tahir]
boxer
pooh-bah

Registered: 16/04/2002
Posts: 2011
Loc: Yorkshire UK
Quote:
I have to disagree about the Wavefinder

I suppose like everything from politics, through cars to widgets, you only hear from the disatisfied!
I could never completely rely on my Wavefinders, which I chiefly used for BBC 2/4 and Radio Leeds recordings and generally used to do a paranoid recording on SKY+, or cassette in case.
I have found my ( digi - tv), after a few teething troubles to be absolutely reliable for radio scheduling with a noticeably better quality (192 not 128).
I use Audiotools and an FM tuner for local radio.
I have to admit to using an immersion heater timer and a cassette deck for BBC7 recordings, but then I have 3 spare cassette decks knocking around.
Anybody need a cassette deck, just let me know and I'll stick it in the post!

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#243470 - 07/12/2004 20:27 Re: DAB Radio [Re: CrackersMcCheese]
boxer
pooh-bah

Registered: 16/04/2002
Posts: 2011
Loc: Yorkshire UK
Quote:
What Grundig unit do you have?

Mine's a Grundig Opus, I have a deep, but unsubstantiated, suspicion that every radio discussed on this site has the same innards.
If you head over to this thread, it might also be of interest.
Although you do have to wonder why somebody you took quite a liking to at Amersfoort is not only buying Bjork albums, but paying Virgin prices!


Edited by boxer (07/12/2004 20:31)

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#243471 - 07/12/2004 20:29 Re: DAB Radio [Re: boxer]
mdavey
enthusiast

Registered: 06/03/2003
Posts: 269
Loc: Wellingborough, UK
Quote:
I have a deep, but unsubstantiated, suspicion that every radio discussed... has the same innards


Probably not far off. For instance, there are only a few DAB chipset designers: Roke, Radioscape and Frontier Silicon seem to have most of the market carved up between them.
_________________________
Michael
Ex-owner of stolen empeg #030102741

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