• GB News Radio

    From williamwright@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jan 3 16:14:34 2022
    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Incidentally I have a variety of DAB radios:

    1. An all-singing and dancing Sony thing in the office that works great
    and does all the audio in that room, but it's over-complicated. There
    are 48 buttons on the remote plus up, down, left, right, enter. Maybe
    they have over-estimated my intelligence. I keep the book right next to it.

    2. A Sony portable that suffers badly from swamping from the DAB tx 2km
    away.

    3. An early Pure tuner that works fine for ten minutes then goes all low-RF-gain burble burble.

    4. A Pioneer radio that I apparently fitted in the Transit during Nov
    2020 when I had amnesia. No memory whatsoever of fitting it, and I was astonished when I saw it for what seemed to be the first time. It works
    fine but I haven't really got to grips with it. I keep having to get the
    book out.


    Bill

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  • From Scott@21:1/5 to wrightsaerials@f2s.com on Mon Jan 3 18:13:43 2022
    On Mon, 3 Jan 2022 16:14:34 +0000, williamwright
    <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> wrote:

    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Incidentally I have a variety of DAB radios:

    1. An all-singing and dancing Sony thing in the office that works great
    and does all the audio in that room, but it's over-complicated. There
    are 48 buttons on the remote plus up, down, left, right, enter. Maybe
    they have over-estimated my intelligence. I keep the book right next to it.

    I think that would do my head in :-)

    2. A Sony portable that suffers badly from swamping from the DAB tx 2km
    away.

    3. An early Pure tuner that works fine for ten minutes then goes all >low-RF-gain burble burble.

    Also cannot receive DAB+ stations.

    4. A Pioneer radio that I apparently fitted in the Transit during Nov
    2020 when I had amnesia. No memory whatsoever of fitting it, and I was >astonished when I saw it for what seemed to be the first time. It works
    fine but I haven't really got to grips with it. I keep having to get the
    book out.

    I actually think a vehicle is the best place for DAB. The audio
    quality is of less importance (IMHO) and made up for by the robust
    coverage.

    Bill

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  • From williamwright@21:1/5 to Scott on Mon Jan 3 18:33:50 2022
    On 03/01/2022 18:13, Scott wrote:
    On Mon, 3 Jan 2022 16:14:34 +0000, williamwright
    <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> wrote:

    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Incidentally I have a variety of DAB radios:

    1. An all-singing and dancing Sony thing in the office that works great
    and does all the audio in that room, but it's over-complicated. There
    are 48 buttons on the remote plus up, down, left, right, enter. Maybe
    they have over-estimated my intelligence. I keep the book right next to it.

    I think that would do my head in :-)

    Yes.


    2. A Sony portable that suffers badly from swamping from the DAB tx 2km
    away.

    3. An early Pure tuner that works fine for ten minutes then goes all
    low-RF-gain burble burble.

    Also cannot receive DAB+ stations.

    Oh good grief no.


    4. A Pioneer radio that I apparently fitted in the Transit during Nov
    2020 when I had amnesia. No memory whatsoever of fitting it, and I was
    astonished when I saw it for what seemed to be the first time. It works
    fine but I haven't really got to grips with it. I keep having to get the
    book out.

    I actually think a vehicle is the best place for DAB. The audio
    quality is of less importance (IMHO) and made up for by the robust
    coverage.


    Yes, or the kitchen portable, which has its lack of audio quality masked
    by the frying of chips.

    Bill

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  • From Woody@21:1/5 to williamwright on Mon Jan 3 18:48:49 2022
    On Mon 03/01/2022 18:33, williamwright wrote:
    On 03/01/2022 18:13, Scott wrote:
    On Mon, 3 Jan 2022 16:14:34 +0000, williamwright
    <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> wrote:

    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Incidentally I have a variety of DAB radios:

    1. An all-singing and dancing Sony thing in the office that works great
    and does all the audio in that room, but it's over-complicated. There
    are 48 buttons on the remote plus up, down, left, right, enter. Maybe
    they have over-estimated my intelligence. I keep the book right next
    to it.

    I think that would do my head in :-)

    Yes.


    2. A Sony portable that suffers badly from swamping from the DAB tx 2km
    away.

    3. An early Pure tuner that works fine for ten minutes then goes all
    low-RF-gain burble burble.

    Also cannot receive DAB+ stations.

    Oh good grief no.


    4. A Pioneer radio that I apparently fitted in the Transit during Nov
    2020 when I had amnesia. No memory whatsoever of fitting it, and I was
    astonished when I saw it for what seemed to be the first time. It works
    fine but I haven't really got to grips with it. I keep having to get the >>> book out.

    I actually think a vehicle is the best place for DAB.  The audio
    quality is of less importance (IMHO) and made up for by the robust
    coverage.


    Yes, or the kitchen portable, which has its lack of audio quality masked
    by the frying of chips.



    Have you seen the best bit? DAB+ at 24Kb which means mono. Its on D1 mux
    which also carries Classic, but whilst Classic is rock solid GBNews is
    only audible here in short distorted bursts.

    Will have to see if things improve tomorrow when it is <supposed> to start!

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  • From Andy Burns@21:1/5 to Woody on Mon Jan 3 19:01:39 2022
    Woody wrote

    DAB+ at 24Kb which means mono. Its on D1 mux which
    also carries Classic

    LBC News (the 20 minute loop, not the main station) is also 24kbps DAB+ on D1, that seems to play OK in the car ...

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  • From Andy Burns@21:1/5 to williamwright on Tue Jan 4 07:12:33 2022
    williamwright wrote:

    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Remember how long it took Times Radio to get themselves sorted on smart speakers? Place bets now for GB News Radio ...

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  • From Brian Gaff (Sofa)@21:1/5 to Andy Burns on Tue Jan 4 08:38:26 2022
    In the mean time the BBC makes it harder for smart speakers by forcing use
    of bbc sounds and telling you you need to log in soon. You can get around
    that by asking my tuner radio to play the station but then you have to
    answer 1 2 or three as it seems unable to get it straight away. Both of
    these link through solutions mean that you can no longer have multi room music, since it won't work any more.
    Brian

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    This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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    "Andy Burns" <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote in message news:j3iab3Fljo3U1@mid.individual.net...
    williamwright wrote:

    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Remember how long it took Times Radio to get themselves sorted on smart speakers? Place bets now for GB News Radio ...



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  • From Brian Gaff (Sofa)@21:1/5 to Scott on Tue Jan 4 08:31:15 2022
    A lot of the quality problems is naff signal processing at the station the
    rest is the apparent need to cram in as many stations as you can, rather
    than using the system to give high quality output.
    This has basically resulted in there being no broadcast that is truly what
    we might call hi fi at all any more.
    Brian

    --

    This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
    The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
    briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
    Blind user, so no pictures please
    Note this Signature is meaningless.!
    "Scott" <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote in message news:51f6tgd90platsb95bcetfaebamkbfn8ig@4ax.com...
    On Mon, 3 Jan 2022 16:14:34 +0000, williamwright
    <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> wrote:

    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Incidentally I have a variety of DAB radios:

    1. An all-singing and dancing Sony thing in the office that works great
    and does all the audio in that room, but it's over-complicated. There
    are 48 buttons on the remote plus up, down, left, right, enter. Maybe
    they have over-estimated my intelligence. I keep the book right next to
    it.

    I think that would do my head in :-)

    2. A Sony portable that suffers badly from swamping from the DAB tx 2km >>away.

    3. An early Pure tuner that works fine for ten minutes then goes all >>low-RF-gain burble burble.

    Also cannot receive DAB+ stations.

    4. A Pioneer radio that I apparently fitted in the Transit during Nov
    2020 when I had amnesia. No memory whatsoever of fitting it, and I was >>astonished when I saw it for what seemed to be the first time. It works >>fine but I haven't really got to grips with it. I keep having to get the >>book out.

    I actually think a vehicle is the best place for DAB. The audio
    quality is of less importance (IMHO) and made up for by the robust
    coverage.

    Bill

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  • From Brian Gaff (Sofa)@21:1/5 to Woody on Tue Jan 4 08:35:11 2022
    Ah, GB stands for Garbled bytes then no doubt.


    Brian

    --

    This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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    Blind user, so no pictures please
    Note this Signature is meaningless.!
    "Woody" <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:sqvgei$hb6$1@dont-email.me...
    On Mon 03/01/2022 18:33, williamwright wrote:
    On 03/01/2022 18:13, Scott wrote:
    On Mon, 3 Jan 2022 16:14:34 +0000, williamwright
    <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> wrote:

    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Incidentally I have a variety of DAB radios:

    1. An all-singing and dancing Sony thing in the office that works great >>>> and does all the audio in that room, but it's over-complicated. There
    are 48 buttons on the remote plus up, down, left, right, enter. Maybe
    they have over-estimated my intelligence. I keep the book right next to >>>> it.

    I think that would do my head in :-)

    Yes.


    2. A Sony portable that suffers badly from swamping from the DAB tx 2km >>>> away.

    3. An early Pure tuner that works fine for ten minutes then goes all
    low-RF-gain burble burble.

    Also cannot receive DAB+ stations.

    Oh good grief no.


    4. A Pioneer radio that I apparently fitted in the Transit during Nov
    2020 when I had amnesia. No memory whatsoever of fitting it, and I was >>>> astonished when I saw it for what seemed to be the first time. It works >>>> fine but I haven't really got to grips with it. I keep having to get
    the
    book out.

    I actually think a vehicle is the best place for DAB. The audio
    quality is of less importance (IMHO) and made up for by the robust
    coverage.


    Yes, or the kitchen portable, which has its lack of audio quality masked
    by the frying of chips.



    Have you seen the best bit? DAB+ at 24Kb which means mono. Its on D1 mux which also carries Classic, but whilst Classic is rock solid GBNews is
    only audible here in short distorted bursts.

    Will have to see if things improve tomorrow when it is <supposed> to
    start!




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  • From Brian Gaff (Sofa)@21:1/5 to williamwright on Tue Jan 4 08:28:00 2022
    Yes well my Pure is of course pre DAB plus so it is virtually useless except
    on the main stations.
    I have a Roberts which is nice, but really does need some concentration to work since it does not speak even the channel ids so you have to remember
    the program on the button.
    Brian

    --

    This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
    The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
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    Blind user, so no pictures please
    Note this Signature is meaningless.!
    "williamwright" <wrightsaerials@f2s.com> wrote in message news:j3glnaFc4qiU1@mid.individual.net...
    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Incidentally I have a variety of DAB radios:

    1. An all-singing and dancing Sony thing in the office that works great
    and does all the audio in that room, but it's over-complicated. There are
    48 buttons on the remote plus up, down, left, right, enter. Maybe they
    have over-estimated my intelligence. I keep the book right next to it.

    2. A Sony portable that suffers badly from swamping from the DAB tx 2km
    away.

    3. An early Pure tuner that works fine for ten minutes then goes all low-RF-gain burble burble.

    4. A Pioneer radio that I apparently fitted in the Transit during Nov 2020 when I had amnesia. No memory whatsoever of fitting it, and I was
    astonished when I saw it for what seemed to be the first time. It works
    fine but I haven't really got to grips with it. I keep having to get the
    book out.


    Bill

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  • From Mark Carver@21:1/5 to Andy Burns on Tue Jan 4 08:50:29 2022
    On 04/01/2022 07:12, Andy Burns wrote:
    williamwright wrote:

    Might be OK to have it on in the background I suppose.

    Remember how long it took Times Radio to get themselves sorted on
    smart speakers?  Place bets now for GB News Radio ...


    I gave Bauer Radio's 'Premium' streaming service a spin over Christmas.
    That removes the adverts on Jazz FM (and Scala Radio I think) and
    provides access to extra specialist music channels.

    The ad free stream works brilliantly, but I simply couldn't get Alexia
    to accept any of the names of the specialist channels. She recognised
    the names sometimes, and would say, 'I can't play that at present';
    other times she'd just give up and play Planet Rock instead and hope I
    wouldn't notice ! A work around would be the ability to 'cast' the
    streams from the phone ap (where they all play perfectly) but you can't !

    Anyway, the 3.99/mth charge was due to kick in today, so last night I cancelled. I don't expect anyone technical will get to read the feedback
    notes I added on cancellation.

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  • From Andy Burns@21:1/5 to Brian Gaff on Tue Jan 4 08:49:31 2022
    Brian Gaff wrote:

    In the mean time the BBC makes it harder for smart speakers by forcing use
    of bbc sounds and telling you you need to log in soon. You can get around that by asking my tuner radio to play the station but then you have to answer 1 2 or three as it seems unable to get it straight away. Both of
    these link through solutions mean that you can no longer have multi room music, since it won't work any more.

    google/nest speakers work ok (including multiroom) with BBC radio stations when using voice commands

    BBC stations work with the radioplayer app on the tablet itself, but don't like being cast to the same speakers.

    I notice they've added a short "tune in ding-dong" prefix on their channels.

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  • From Andy Burns@21:1/5 to Brian Gaff on Tue Jan 4 08:50:38 2022
    Brian Gaff wrote:

    my Pure is of course pre DAB plus

    My Evoke3 is gathering dust in the back bedroom.

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  • From Pamela@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jan 4 11:20:27 2022
    On 08:38 4 Jan 2022, Brian Gaff (Sofa) said:

    In the mean time the BBC makes it harder for smart speakers by
    forcing use of bbc sounds and telling you you need to log in soon.
    You can get around that by asking my tuner radio to play the
    station but then you have to answer 1 2 or three as it seems unable
    to get it straight away. Both of these link through solutions mean
    that you can no longer have multi room music, since it won't work
    any more.
    Brian

    As I understand it ...

    This problem with Alexa lies with the particular tuner "skill" (eg BBC
    Sounds, MyTunerRadio, Radioplayer, etc) because they ignore the last part
    of the command where the speaker group is specified;

    "Alexa, ask the BBC to Play Radio 4 (in the Kitchen)"

    On the other hand, when the voice command is picked up by other Alexa
    radio "skills" (such as LBC on the Global Player skill, talkRadio on
    the Wireless skill, etc) they usually interpret the multiroom command correctly. For example:

    "Alexa, play LBC on the everywhere group"
    "Alexa, play LBC everywhere"

    Of course, TuneIn's inability to play a BBC station (on Alexa or
    anywhere) is separate matter down to a disagreement

    ----

    Until recently the BBC app wouldn't play on an Alexa-defined
    stereo pair of speakers but that has been corrected belatedly.

    It's such a mess that for multiroom radio I often use either my Sonos
    speakers or, at the other extreme, carry my smartphone from room to room playing radio through its internal speaker.

    Who could have predicted something as simple for multiroom radio on Alexa
    would be so messy?

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  • From Mark Carver@21:1/5 to Pamela on Tue Jan 4 11:23:59 2022
    On 04/01/2022 11:20, Pamela wrote:

    Who could have predicted something as simple for multiroom radio on Alexa would be so messy?

    Oh, don't get me started. We've got three Alexia's, they often fight
    each other !

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  • From Scott@21:1/5 to briang1@blueyonder.co.uk on Tue Jan 4 12:50:52 2022
    On Tue, 4 Jan 2022 08:31:15 -0000, "Brian Gaff \(Sofa\)" <briang1@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

    A lot of the quality problems is naff signal processing at the station the >rest is the apparent need to cram in as many stations as you can, rather >than using the system to give high quality output.
    This has basically resulted in there being no broadcast that is truly what
    we might call hi fi at all any more.
    Brian

    Brave man! Last time I suggested that I was accused of being an
    'audiophile'.

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