Advice Needed Dab radio purchase disappointing

Topper

Topper

Amo Amas Amant Admin
Staff member
My Satellite Setup
Has gone to a good home elsewhere
My Location
Blackburn, Lancashire
My wife was given a John Lewis voucher when she retired and decided to purchase a DAB radio with some of the money on the voucher. Reviews were generally good for this radio so she went ahead and purchased. We have had it about a month now and whilst the unit was easy to setup and scanned in all the channels when initially switched on, for some as yet unknown reason, at random times the unit switches into standby mode without touching it. At first I thought it was the signal dropping out, but then I setup the aerial and now have a constant 75% signal, whereas without aerial it was 50-60% but it still jumps back to standby mode. We then thought electrical interference or central heating system. Having now switched those off yesterday to do a definitive test with all other equipment switched off yesterday it was still happening. I am used to this sort of function on my Sony TV but at least you get a two minute warning and press any key stops it, the same with my BTYouview box, no such warning with this radio, any ideas anyone or should we just return it, which means either a trip to London where we bought it or our nearest J.L. which is Manchester 30 miles away.
 
Many DAB radios out there are in need of continued updates to prevent such situations. Do you have a screenshot of the startup where the firmware number appears on the screen ?
 
We have three Roberts DAB radios and all are fine - I would recommend them. Good sound quality too (well, as good as you can get on a DAB station)
 
Topper said:
... we just return it, which means either a trip to London where we bought it or our nearest J.L. which is Manchester 30 miles away.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily...

"You can return for free in the UK via John Lewis shops, Royal Mail, Collect+ or MyHermes. If you need to arrange collection of large or heavy items, call us on 03456 049 049. For international returns queries, call us on +44 1698 545 454"

from about half way down the pages on the link you posted.
 
I have 3 Roberts Dab+ radio's,
Roberts make the best I would not buy any other as the tuners are by far more sensitive than Philips or Pure radio's,
Dab works best with an external aerial to get all 3 London Multiplexes for National Dab & BBC Dab the telescopic aerial is sufficient,
I converted my old band II VHF/FM aerial to band III VHF/Dab:)

DSCN1902[1].webp
 
I have a Sangean DAB radio ordered from Amazon Germany. It has in the System Settings > Inactive Standby > timeout:
off, 2, 4, 5 or 6 hours.
Could be the reason?
I have set mine to 4 hours and it just switches off without warning.
If you are going to buy something else instead, I recommend Sangean (I think Roberts is a Sangean branded radios sold in the UK).
Sangean Europe » DAB+ Radios
 
Thanks for the replies,
@HB13DISH16 I will investigate further re the standby mode, although it appears to be very random ATM
@PaulR Good to know we can get it returned easily, had not spotted that
@Captain Jack This is for her kitchen and the only one that fit the bill for her if only it worked:(
 
I listen to AM
 
This cures all DAB radio problems:

Sledgehammer.webp
 
@ william-1 , Topper

How do you connect the cable from the antenna to the receiver! Directly to telescopic antenna or through a capacitor (which capacity), otherwise?
Thanks in advance!
 
Connect the cable from the antenna direct to the receiver 95 x dab received here,
By aiming the aerial due south west at Crystal Palace from my location this gives me all 3 London Multiplexes via the 4 elements as I receive the very strong signals for BBC Essex Multiplex on the 2 central elements @ 90 degrees from Crystal Palace thus reducing signal overload so no need for any signal reduction capacitor.
 
popovp said:
@ william-1 , Topper

How do you connect the cable from the antenna to the receiver! Directly to telescopic antenna or through a capacitor (which capacity), otherwise?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Using telescopic on ours, there is no aerial socket, I am waiting for SWMBO to tell me what course of action she wants me to take.
 
No aerial socket on my Renkforce radio аs well.
 
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