News

British company, Ruark Audio, has announced a new version of its iconic R1 DAB radio. Features include DAB, DAB+, FM and Bluetooth to stream music from smartphones, tablets and computers. It is also one of only a handful of new models with the recently introduced ‘digital radio tick’ accreditation

The discount chain has now expanded its range of DAB+ radios to seven models retailing from 40 euros.

DAB radio has got so much better nowadays, especially in the car. I remember the signal on my husbands old window mounted DAB from the noughties used to break up when we went into town and defeated the whole object, but nowadays signal strength has improved immensely with so many great channels to choose from depending on your location. You will need a DAB aerial for your receiver and there's two options, either the screen mounted or the magnetic roof mounted antenna. If you go through numerous windscreens on the motorway like I do, I'd recommend the roof mounted choice.

Infographics developed by WorldDMB report that from 2008 - 2013; over 1.6 million DAB+ receivers have sold in Australia; 1.5 million in Switzerland; nearly 1.2 milion in Norway, but over 20 million throughout the U.K.

The competition between FM and DAB + should not be determined by "dictatorship", Helmut Markwort called on the German Radio Award. Rather, the listener should decide how they want to receive radio. He expressed himself clearly against the plans of some German radio makers who see in 2025 the end of the classical FM radio. Germany Radio-director Willi Steul is one of those who are behind this date. "The medium of radio will lose in the long term if we do not digitise it," said the 63-year-old in an interview with RADIO SCENE.

Asian Sound Radio will join the line-up of DAB digital radio stations in parts of West Yorkshire from 1st October 2014. Ofcom has published its approval of an application to add the station to the Bradford and Huddersfield DAB multiplex. The application confirms that the station will be available in mono at 64kbps.

The new Advanced series from Garmin comprises the nüvi 2569 LMT-D, 2599 LMT-D, 2699 LMT-D and 2799 LMT-D. Garmin Live Traffic via DAB+ guarantees the delivery of current traffic data at minute intervals informing the drivers about imminent traffic disruption at specific road sections.

The Kia Soul has been launched with digital radio as standard and the company says other Kia models will be upgraded as soon as possible within the product life-cycle. The Kia Sportage, the brand’s best-selling car in the UK, will get digital radio when the all-new version is launched this year. The news was announced by the Korean Hyundai Kia Automotive Group at the international IBC conference in Amsterdam today.

Digital radio network coverage has continued to expand throughout Europe over the past year, according to a new report launched at IBC by WorldDMB, a global industry forum for digital radio promoting DAB, DAB+ and DMB. Many countries are already experiencing almost complete penetration of digital radio; it is now at 99% in Switzerland, 98% in Denmark, 95% in Netherlands, 94% in the UK and 91% in Germany. Although in pre-launch phase, Italy has already reached 65% population coverage.

The local DAB multiplex has been given permission to launch later this month on VHF Block 10B, instead of Block 10D, where it will broadcast five local stations, including BBC Somerset, Capital FM, Heart Somerset, Smooth Radio and a new service from Triple Hits.