Why are DAB radios so expensive?

XabbaRus · 01-06-07, 04:43 PM

You want a normal radio you can get on for £10 or less.

A DAB retail seem to be £120+ Why? what makes them that pricey? Has the market not taken off, is it because there aren't really that many digital stations yet?

Anyway I'd think it would be fun to build one. Anyone know any good sites that point you in the right direction?

Kapitan_Phillips · 01-06-07, 05:01 PM

Whats the difference? I'm a little out of the loop

TteFAboB · 01-06-07, 05:17 PM

I suggest we ask DAB.

Letum · 01-06-07, 06:28 PM

Normal radios work with analogue signals.
i.e the sound comes in waves that match the speaker's vibrations. All the radio receiver has to do is pick up the tiny signal and amplify it. Interference is common because one sound signal looks a lot like another.
All a standard radio needs is a amplifier and a speaker.

A digital radio does not receive wave signals. It only receives 1s or 0s. The DAB radio has to receive millions of 1s and 0s in a constant stream in the same way that your PC receives 1s and 0s from the Internet to make this text.
The DAB radio also has to translate these 1s and 0s into music or what ever is on your radio.
To be able to receive and process all this info a DAB radio needs a lot of electronics, including a CPU and some form of RAM. Naturally this makes them more expensive.
The benefits include: automated tuning and perfect sound quality.

You can pick up a DAB radio for less than £60 new.

Not all places will be able to receive all digital stations. Its the same with digital TV.

XabbaRus · 01-06-07, 07:27 PM

Maybe but I most I see are for around £150

I know there aremore electronics in them but it is not as if they are hard to make or come by parts. I still reckon there is a good markup on them. I mean look at set top boxes, they are now £30 and DAB radios came out about the same time.

The only thing I don't like about digital TV is when you do get interference the picture and worse the sound goes all intermittent. With analogue you might a get a little snow and occasional fuzz on the sound but you could still enjoy the show, with digital the slightest drop in signal on some stations and you get stop start motion.

Ramius · 01-06-07, 08:05 PM

£42.99
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/122888

and

£55.99
http://svp.co.uk/products-solo.php?pid=1650

Can't say i'd ever get one though. Just got a FM transmitter for my ipod = never need to change radio stations ever again whilst driving

STEED · 01-07-07, 12:32 PM

XabbaRus,

Do what I do, just buy your time and wait for the price to fall and let the mugs pay the high prices.

01-06-07, 04:43 PM	#1
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Why are DAB radios so expensive? You want a normal radio you can get on for £10 or less. A DAB retail seem to be £120+ Why? what makes them that pricey? Has the market not taken off, is it because there aren't really that many digital stations yet? Anyway I'd think it would be fun to build one. Anyone know any good sites that point you in the right direction? __________________

01-06-07, 05:01 PM	#2
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	Whats the difference? I'm a little out of the loop __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

01-06-07, 05:17 PM	#3
TteFAboB Admiral Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,247 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I suggest we ask DAB. __________________ "Tout ce qui est exagéré est insignifiant." ("All that is exaggerated is insignificant.") - Talleyrand

01-06-07, 06:28 PM	#4
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Normal radios work with analogue signals. i.e the sound comes in waves that match the speaker's vibrations. All the radio receiver has to do is pick up the tiny signal and amplify it. Interference is common because one sound signal looks a lot like another. All a standard radio needs is a amplifier and a speaker. A digital radio does not receive wave signals. It only receives 1s or 0s. The DAB radio has to receive millions of 1s and 0s in a constant stream in the same way that your PC receives 1s and 0s from the Internet to make this text. The DAB radio also has to translate these 1s and 0s into music or what ever is on your radio. To be able to receive and process all this info a DAB radio needs a lot of electronics, including a CPU and some form of RAM. Naturally this makes them more expensive. The benefits include: automated tuning and perfect sound quality. You can pick up a DAB radio for less than £60 new. Not all places will be able to receive all digital stations. Its the same with digital TV. __________________

01-06-07, 07:27 PM	#5
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Maybe but I most I see are for around £150 I know there aremore electronics in them but it is not as if they are hard to make or come by parts. I still reckon there is a good markup on them. I mean look at set top boxes, they are now £30 and DAB radios came out about the same time. The only thing I don't like about digital TV is when you do get interference the picture and worse the sound goes all intermittent. With analogue you might a get a little snow and occasional fuzz on the sound but you could still enjoy the show, with digital the slightest drop in signal on some stations and you get stop start motion. __________________

01-06-07, 08:05 PM	#6
Ramius Commander Join Date: May 2001 Location: At sea (again) Posts: 457 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	£42.99 http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/122888 and £55.99 http://svp.co.uk/products-solo.php?pid=1650 Can't say i'd ever get one though. Just got a FM transmitter for my ipod = never need to change radio stations ever again whilst driving __________________ There is a forgotten, nay even forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England

01-07-07, 12:32 PM	#7
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	XabbaRus, Do what I do, just buy your time and wait for the price to fall and let the mugs pay the high prices. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!