One of the most common problems with DAB radios is a poor and inconsistent signal. This is ironic given that digital radio is intended to solve the problem of poor quality FM signals. Let’s look at the causes of poor DAB reception and explore how you can improve your DAB radio signal.
Causes of a Poor Signal
Location in the country
The key determining factor in DAB radio signal is where you live in the country. If the nearest transmitter is very far away, you will probably have a poor DAB radio signal. You can see where your nearest transmitter is here.
In the UK, DAB signals are likely to be particularly poor in the following areas:
- The Scottish Highlands and islands
- The Pennines
- Mid Wales
If you’re unable to receive DAB stations in your area, a good alternative is to buy an internet radio, which picks up stations via the internet.
Location in the home
The radio’s location within your home also makes a difference. Reception is likely to be poor in cellars or inside buildings with thick walls or reinforced concrete.
If this is the case, the first thing to try is repositioning your radio. Move it near a window or away from a thick concrete wall. Your radio’s LCD display might have a signal strength indicator that will help you find the best location.
Obviously this solution isn’t ideal if you want to listen to the radio in a particular room. You should also try varying the aerial length, angle and direction. DAB radio aerials usually work best when positioned vertically unlike FM aerials, which work better horizontally. Once you have moved the radio and adjusted the aerial, try retuning the radio to see if it picks up more stations and has better reception.
Interference
Interference can occur when maintenance work is being carried out at radio transmitters. If this is the case, your DAB radio signal should be back to normal once the work is complete.
Interference can also be caused by electrical devices including mobile phones, LCD TVs, laptops and LED lights. This is more likely to be a problem if you live in an area with a weak signal. Sometimes just moving the radio can solve this problem.
You can identify the source of the interference by switching off electrical devices one by one until the interference stops. If the device causing the interference is something you can’t move or leave turned off, you could try using a mains filter plug like the Tacima 6 Way Mains Conditioner and Radio Frequency Interference Filter
Lack of headphones (for pocket radios)
Most pocket dab radios use headphones as an aerial. This means that the radio often won’t find many stations or have a signal unless you have some headphones plugged in. If your pocket radio doesn’t pick up many stations or says something like “Service not available”, try retuning it with headphones plugged in.
Using a different aerial
Some DAB radios allow you to use an external aerial. This can greatly improve your DAB signal. One highly-regarded external aerial is the Philex 27741 Indoor DAB Aerial
Another option is to try using a TV aerial. A TV aerial generally won’t work better than the radio’s original aerial, but some people have had success by using a TV aerial.
Still having problems?
If none of the advice here works and you live in an area that is supposed to have a good signal, there is probably a fault with your DAB radio. Try contacting the manufacturer for troubleshooting advice or to get a refund or replacement for your DAB radio.
How pleasant to read a clear and informative site. It’s weird how rare that is. Thanks
HOW STRANGE THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD, IE, FM, IS SO MUCH WORSE.
WHY OH WHY DID ANYBODY WANT TO CHANGE/MEND, SOMETHING THAT WASN’T BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
D.A.B. IS RUBBISH.
PS WHEN CAN WE EXPECT IT TO IMPROVE ?
THANKS FOR YOUR ARTICLE, VERY INFORMATIVE.
BEST
REG
Two years later, and we’re still waiting. I live in large town in West Sussex. And to get reception that is listenable (not perfect) one radio is balanced on top of our bed headboard. Another is lodged on top of the bottom part of our d=sash radio with it placed face down and th aerial vertical. No other radio in the house gives a reception that is anywhere listenable
that should be sash window!
Our dab radio does not pick a signal up until 1 to 2 hours after turning it on then get a great signal can anyone tell me what the problem might be Many thanks Steve
Hi Stephen, that’s an unusual problem. I’m not sure why that is happening but there is probably a fault with the radio.
Ah! I have the same issue with an old Marantz M-CR 503 – not sure it always happend but suspect some circuitry now needs warming up! Needs to be tuned to FM for a period with sound on (ie doesn’t help if muted or low volume)
Thank you, I was on the verge of returning my recently purchased fancy wireless. Problem solved
Why is the interference only on some stations? Absolute 80s is terrible but absolute classic rock is fine?
This is probably because Absolute 80s and Absolute Classic Rock use different DAB multiplexes. Absolute 80s uses 11A whereas Absolute Classic Rock uses 11B.
The best way to improve your enjoyment of radio is to throw away your BBC spec DAB1 receiver.
The signal quality and reception gaps make mobile DAB1 radios a joke. Passing buses and trucks and even people make fixed DAB1 radios an irritation and when you get a signal the designed audio quality is little better than an old analogue landline phone.
The BBC specification for the DAB1 signal came when processors were expensive but Auntie always knows knew best so it continued resulting in audio quality lower than even MP3 then endlessly compressed (just like Freeview) to squeeze in more channels. The UK has been seriously conned DAB1 is disgraceful rubbish.
BBC bureaucrats can never be wrong of course so instead of ditching DAB1 for a higher quailty audio standard they endlessly talk up their rubbish DAB1
Very few internet stations post high quality audio output and when they do streamed stuff needs to be cached so no way can you call that “radio”. You would be better with dedicated downloads.
Radio on Freeview is your best offer in the UK and it could easily be much higher audio quality but BBC management is so big and overpaid cash is needed from licence fee payers owned but sold out of house endless TV repeats and ADVERTS that take up the bandwidth and radio is squeezed once again.
‘use an internet radio instead”….. helpful….. I think the issue is, DAB is just rubbish. I live in London suburbs, near to 2 tube stations (so not out in the sticks) …. Mobile phone reception= Awful, DAB = impossible. I’d probably do better in the Highlands. Just fed up with stuff not working in UK.
Wow, I have thought for years that the old tech although incapable of much I.T. was better than the absolute rubbish we are being dished up. E.g. The old analogue might not have “pure sound” but at least you could hear it.
I live near the M25 north.
Here I get breakdown of BBC1/2 on my 4K Sony TV. My Sony DAB radio is currently hissing away on FM and impossible to tune into any DAB station! FFS!
This country is truly worse than ever when it comes to customers satisfaction. We are being served up cheap rubbish and no one in power cares!
What can we do? My Merc when I drive south loses DAB regularly, my phone signal dies.
Well folks this is a First World dilemma, kids are dying in Africa and the Chinese have invaded the Moon so I guess I will need to get over myself.
Still can’t believe how bad modern tech is becoming. Sold dross, especially with DAB. ;–)
We have adequate signal strength but find the audio music quality very bad – speech being very muffled as well.
Classic FM station announcers seem to need training in proper clear diction and to stop gabbling away at top speed.
I turned the wires vertical instead of horizontal, this seems to have worked
I have used a 10 Element TV Aerial for several years now for DAB radio and receive good to excellent signal strength from several multiplexes that equate to around 76 stations. Recently however the quality and signal strength suddenly depreciated from three of the multiplexes, (D1 and two local) I did all the usual “first-step” checks by checking indoor cable and connections leading to the aerial wall socket. Strangely, I discovered that by isolating the earth braiding using PVC tape, (it should be connected for safety’s sake I guess?) inside the socket the signal resumed to normal. I can only assume something must have occurred between the socket and the roof aerial.