TV Set top boxes and the radio

Posted by: Simon Matthews on 28 February 2003

The 'freeview' service for digital tv broadcast in the UK now offers upto about a dozen channels (found approx between channels 80 and 100) of radio broadcast. Channels include classic fm, jazz fm, kiss, bbc 1 to 4 along with others.

When played as 2 channel via my processor into my main system they don't sound too bad. A nice lazy way to get radio without the need for a tuner. I appreciate that either a good quality analogue or dab tuner would be a better way to go from a sound quality point of view but it's nice that these stations come free with the freeview package.

My understanding is that there is a lot of data compression going on although Martin taylor sounded pretty sweet on jazz fm last night all things considered. I suppose one advantage is that I get the benefit of my buildings well placed communial tv arial rather than be stuck with the problem of how to get a good signal whilst living in a basement flat.

Does anyone know how the potential of this signal compares to DAB, especially in light of the zero outlay required to use it? - (assuming you link your tv to your system).
Posted on: 28 February 2003 by Steve Catterall
Currently for most stations the Satellite equivalent is much better quality than DAB.

The DAB broadcasters are trying to squeeze as many channels as they can into each multiplex, and most of the stations are now broadcasting at 128K.

ON Sattellite they are all currently at 192K
Posted on: 28 February 2003 by Simon Matthews
Blimy - pay less get more!

I suppose that figure (192K) may be forced to drop as more stations (tv and radio) come on line and fight for air space. Is the way the data is transmitted, compressed and recovered very similar between the two systems?
Posted on: 28 February 2003 by Paul Ranson
I've found Sky Digital supplied radio to be background quality only.

I have an OnDigital Pace box that I'll try again for 'comparison' purposes...

Paul
Posted on: 28 February 2003 by Simon Matthews
I will check for digital out options from my sony tv as the decoder is built in (unlikely methinks). Still thanks for the tip.
Posted on: 28 February 2003 by BigH47
I find Planet Rock Sky 861 reasonable there does not seemed to be the hi and low end boost that a lot of stations use,they even played a vinyl track the other day(or a vinyl recording). I have asked Planet Rock several times for technical info but have never got a reply.I do have it as back ground mostly saying that.

Howard
Posted on: 03 March 2003 by Simon Matthews
Had another listen over the weekend. Most stations sounded horribly compressed although radio 2 and jazz fm seemed to fair better.
Posted on: 03 March 2003 by Bosh
I really enjoy BBC 6 music on SKy ch.911, especially "Dream Ticket" (10-12pm weekdays - http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/bbcsessions/dream_ticket.shtml ). I do however find an annoying "phasey-ness" to the high frequencies on most channels

Interestingly, the (cloth eared) missus prefers the sound quality of the skybox radio to the NAT02!!! - I dont