Dropsafe

by Alec Muffett

Radio revolution will leave listeners in silence

The Times overcooks the eco-argument slightly – the growth in datacentres is inevitable as work expand to fit the computation power available – but there is an undeniable fact in the power tradeoffs at the consumer end: I have a small transistor radio in the bathroom (no mains power in the bathroom) and it consumes a pair of Duracell AA alkalines every two to three years.

I think it’s on its third set currently, since buying it in 2000. It gets used prettymuch daily for the Today programme, etc.

It would be great if my iPod nano could last that long on a single charge – but it can’t, and that’s rather the point.

Here’s hoping that an “analogue switchoff” for radio, dies a rapid death.

⊞

Comments

3 responses to “Radio revolution will leave listeners in silence”

  1. Darren J Moffat

    The analogue switchoff for radio is a stupid idea in my opinion. DAB for me is a complete and utter disaster, it does not deliver, it is HARDER to tune than analog and the sound quality isn’t better than FM. I’m not using a cheap radio either (actually I have used a cheapone and it wasn’t any different).

    The turning off of analog radio will have a big impact on people listening in cars – in particular those that depend on RDS and Travel news. Some cars just don’t have easily replace-able radios – and many of them are actually high end cars.

    Reply
  2. Chris Samuel

    We’re also looking at incompatibility between countries too – we’re getting DAB+ in Australia and DAB receivers won’t be able to cope – hopefully DAB+ ones can cope with DAB..

    Reply
  3. Jane Hopkins

    whoon earth thought this was a good idea? I can think of lots of arguments against it e.g. the need to dispose of existing radios, the need for increased power – the reason why you can;t get a wind up DAB:)) the fact that DAB doesn;t work in cars etc …
    unlinke TV where penetration is high enough to justify the switchover – I would like to know what went on behind the scenes – there is obviously a vested interest here – my current bet is that t he government can see pound signs from the sell off of the analogue frequencies ….

    Reply

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