Forum Topic

Digital radio reception in Ealing.

We love radio in our household. So we bought a digital radio and found the reception was so much better than our old AM radios - so we bought more HD Digital radios. However, reception in a groundfloor room could be better - its not as clear and crisp as in all the other rooms. Question is...why?  Would having an aerial in the roof help? Thanks.

Gerry Tan ● 4630d10 Comments

Thanks Gerry  Yes we are "doon the watter" on the western shore on a little spit of land going out into the sea,near the Isle of Bute.  You told me that you went to a school run by sadists on the shores of Loch Lomond :0) You were lucky they didn't make you run over the aptly named Rest and be Thankful!  No I can't send/receive morse,not for the want of trying,I went to a ham friend (now sadly silent key as they say) he looked me straight in the eyes and said "Your too old to start now" he was from Yorkshire so I suppose I should have been ready for his hurtful honesty. So I stick to R/T as you call it (you must be ex services) it's called "phone" now,also I do quite a bit of digital comms using a computer and some very smart software that digs tiny signals out of the noise.The Chimney came down OK,quite a crump even 5 miles away when the 700 charges went off,Sprocket ran for cover under the table and wouldn't come out even for food. You can see it here if you want:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-2347902673s Tony :0)

Tony Wood ● 4629d

Thanks Tony, its a pleasant part of Scotland where you are - "doon the water" - and you're never boring when talking about Singapore. I spent my early boyhood there and left when I was nine with the invasion of Singapore in 1942. Are you an R/T or morse code radio ham?Thanks again for the advice - I'm now receiving the BBC on my excellent DAB radio strength 5 by 5!

Gerry Tan ● 4629d

Gerry  Really pleased about that!  This afternoon I took our dog (Sprocket) into the mountains with my little Sony DAB which has a signal strength meter.  With the aerial fully extended I found a spot where I lost the signal,I then shortened it to 333mm and then as you say "hey presto" the full range of programmes popped up.   Using the signal strength meter I pulled the aerial fully out and found a point where reception was iffy,then reducing the length to 333mm the signal meter went up by 25 somethings it could be pepper corns or oranges,it's not calibrated just a guide.   I've been hooked on radio for more years than I can remember,I worked on it at the Beeb for (I think) 27 years and am a long term radio ham,you may like to know that I almost daily exchange digital signals with a guy in Singapore...sorry I'm being boring!  Big night up here,the Skelmorlie power station chimney (750ft)just opposite my house is being blown up at 10pm,lots of little boats and people lining the streets,be pleased to see the back of it,blimmin' eyesore!

Tony Wood ● 4629d

Assuming you are all on broadband why not an internet dab radio?

Philip Coe ● 4629d

Tony, I tried the aerial shortened to 333mm.  Hey presto, what a difference! ... Radio5Live and Radio 4 are really clearer now - thanks for the advice.

Gerry Tan ● 4629d

Gerry, my husband is a retired TV Engineer. His suggestion is to go on to 'Ask Jeeves' website, type in the search section 'Digital Radio in the UK' and if you scroll right down the page you will find more information and an explanation regarding DAB signal.By the way, we are also having problems with the DAB radio signal, especially the one in the kitchen. It is always better in an upstairs room as the signal tends to be stronger, plus it depends on which way the room is facing.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4630d

Thanks Tony.  I'll try out what you've said.We really like the improved sound reception that DAB radios give us in most of the rooms in our property. Thanks again.

Gerry Tan ● 4630d

The first thing to try if your wireless  (that's radio to youngsters) has a telescopic aerial, is to reduce the length to 333mm (approx).  That may seem a bit odd,you'd think that longer is better,but the aerials on most portables are long enough for VHF FM whose wavelength is approx. 3 times that of DAB. It's all about resonance,an aerial at resonance is much more efficient than one that is non resonant.  Once you have your aerial the correct length take the set upstairs (near a window if poss.)and do a complete scan,that should find the strongest transmitter,you have at least 2 covering Ealing...Crystal Palace and Alexandra Palace,plus a mystery small one somewhere(?) in Ealing.  When you're downstairs try to get the wireless near a south(CP) or north(AP) window.HTH

Tony Wood ● 4630d

I like to be able to walk from room to room and still hear whatever I am listening to - without being wired for sound.  A mix of digital and analogue doesn't work when the digital doesn't work because they aren't in sync!  Look forward to someone with some answers!

Philippa Bond ● 4630d

We have the same problem, digital radio downstairs being more or less on and off at best, in effect it is unusable downstairs. To me FM is better quality than Digital radio as it is available all over the house. Would not an aerial in the roof would mean getting the signal from that to each Digital radio set? IE: coaxial cables running down walls etc. Do they make Digital radio signal boosters which can be placed upstairs/in the roof that amplifies the digital signals to the local area such as the house and surrounds? I like the extra stations on Digital, just wish I could listen to them downstairs.

Leslie Bailey ● 4630d