I wish to purchase a DAB+ digital radio to listen to 3AW in Melbourne.
My question is, will a DAB+ radio pick-up both AM/FM digital stations or just FM stations?
This is the radio I am interested in;
http://www.harveynorman.com.au/panasonic-dab-dab-portable-fm…
Will this radio pick-up digital AM 3AW? Digital 3AW is available in my area.
Thanks, guys.
AM/FM is analog radio.. So strictly speaking, no it wont pick up AM, but it may pick up FM, if it has an FM tuner built in (some do).
The actual answer you want to hear though is that yes, you will be able to listen to the same content (and more) on digital radio as you can receive on an analog AM/FM radio.
Digital is actually designed to "replace" AM radio (apart from the incredible transmission distance you get on AM). You'll find the FM stations are actually slightly worse than just listening to FM, but the AM stations will be crystal clear and in stereo.
If the station you want to listen to has a digital counterpart, then it should work. I have one that picks up the digital station for 3AW no problem.
Hey Op, that radio, along with 90% of DAB radios do FM & DAB only, no AM. Personally I hate the lack of AM as the DAB signal can be quite patchy (it's been deliberately crippled so those nasty big city staions can't be picked up by regional listeners). I had a Philips indoor reciever. Even though we live 8km from Melb cbd, on a hill, the signal kept cutting in & out. I ended up going back to AM/FM radio & internet streaming (which works a treat)
But if you really want DAB try a Sangean. Their dpr-45 has AM/FM/DAB for ~$160
That way you get the lot.
Thanks for the help everyone.
I bought a cheap Audiosonic digital radio from Kmart for $35 to test the digital AM & it works beautifully.
I just can't get analogue AM which is OK as the same shows are on the digital 3AW. Very happy.
Thanks again for your responses.
Digital radio is a bit like digital tv, the stations have more than one stream. In Sydney, for example, 2BL (ABC 702), has the main AM broadcasting all day with a grandstand sports secondary channel. This allows, for example, people to keep listening to talkback while the cricket is on. On the old AM station it obviously only has one choice, whatever the broadcaster chooses.
The digital radios for sale do not receive the standard AM signal, but that doesn't matter because the show sent via AM is also sent via digital. As to how 3aw broadcast their programmes, you probably want to check their web site to understand which shows are on the "main" digital channel and which are on the secondary.