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• 1. At 09:23am on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  New?
  
  Well I haven't looked for a few weeks - but I find the DAB text that scrolls during the Today programme very slow and repetative - probably serves a limited purpose for some I'd imagine.

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• 2. At 09:24am on 06 Nov 2008, Fearless Fred wrote:

  Is this the same text that I'm getting on the display on my car (analogue) radio? I noticed it in my new(ish) car after I'd played with the settings. During Today on the drive to work, it changes during the drive, highlighting when the next weather/sports/thought for the day is coming up, as well as giving a contact email for the programme. For PM, they only give the generic R4 contact email address... You should get them to change that, Eddie!

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• 3. At 09:49am on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  FF - I think the text that is encoded on to the DAB and Freeview is more detailed than that sent over the FM transmitters - however I may be wrong - but will check during tonights PM and let you know the definitive answer.
  
  I did read somewhere a while back that In car entertainment manufacturers were encouraged not to have rolling text displays (RDS) for obvious reasons - and should only display the station name and genre.

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• 4. At 10:05am on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  After some research on the net it seems that Radio Text is not permitted in car radios in the UK - so not sure how you have achieved that Fearless?
  
  RDS Text is limited to 64 Characters 64 characters for the RT (Radio Text) code.
  
  Todays_best_music,_news_and_information_for_the_county_-_iPod_FM
  
  DAB Live text - and the Freeview text has 128 - so double the information available.

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• 5. At 10:13am on 06 Nov 2008, Fearless Fred wrote:

  Don't ask me, Jonnie! It just appeared when I played around with the controls a bit. I'll see if I can count the characters on the RDS Txt (while stationary of course!) this evening...

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• 6. At 10:31am on 06 Nov 2008, David_McNickle wrote:

  No, I haven't.

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• 7. At 10:42am on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  So aswell as presenting the programme - it's also Eddie's duty to type in the text of the items coming up?
  
  I wonder if Jonathan Ross had such responsibilities?

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• 8. At 10:48am on 06 Nov 2008, Big Sister wrote:

  Jonnie: Don't put ideas into Eddie's head or he'll be asking for a rise! ;o)

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• 9. At 11:27am on 06 Nov 2008, ValeryP wrote:

  I don't have a DAB radio (I know, heresy), but does that mean I'd see it if I watched the programme on tv through my Freesat box? Hmmm, perhaps I should try, seeing as how you're going to all that trouble.

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• 10. At 11:29am on 06 Nov 2008, Big Sister wrote:

  Would it be possible to have the tickertape on the webcam? That way PM could become a truly multimedia experience ;o)

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• 11. At 11:36am on 06 Nov 2008, kathyafrica wrote:

  After reading Big Sister's comment, I just had to add my tuppenceworth: I think they should give Eddie a HUGE increase; he's one of the best the BBC have got and why they don't ask him to chair the Any Questions programme on a permanent basis is beyond me!

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• 12. At 11:54am on 06 Nov 2008, David_McNickle wrote:

  VP 9, Classic FM (can I say that here) runs a thing across telling the name of the piece of music that is playing and the composer and orchestra/musician. It also sells drinks and popcorn.

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• 13. At 12:53pm on 06 Nov 2008, Eddie Mair wrote:

  It's quite fun actually. I can write what I like. On the first night we did a "shout-out" to people who could see it. Got quite a few emails...

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• 14. At 1:02pm on 06 Nov 2008, Fearless Fred wrote:

  but that's very unfair to thos of us who never see it as we're travelling back from work at the time :-(

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• 15. At 1:09pm on 06 Nov 2008, MrsEffingham wrote:

  Eddie - I've just checked my trusty Murphy radio. With, I might add, LW, SW, and MW in a lovely walnut cabinet (slightly damaged grillcloth). But the only text I can see is as follows.
  :THIRD:NORTH:WELSH:NORTH:LYONS
  :MUNICH:WEST:MIDLAND:SCOTTISH
  :SWEDEN:THIRD:R.EIREANN:HOME:LIGHT
  :LONDON:MOSCOW:HILVERSUM:LUX'BG
  Now, this radio has worked perfectly for years, so I can only think Eddie, the fault is in Studio S1. Are you turning the right dials?

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• 16. At 2:53pm on 06 Nov 2008, Vyle Hernia wrote:

  Mrs. E (15). Yesterday I was speaking with someone who knows a man who restores ancient radios (let me know if you need him) and that reminded me of my mother's trusty Murphy radio which has Long, Medium and VHF.
  As for texts, I send them to PM on 84844, but that's the last I see or hear of them.

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• 17. At 3:00pm on 06 Nov 2008, ValeryP wrote:

  DmcN - 12 - Mmm-must try it.

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• 18. At 3:14pm on 06 Nov 2008, Anne P. wrote:

  Vyle I could really do with someone to restore an old wooden cabinet radio presented to my grandfather as a retirement present in 1938. It was the companion of my somewhat sick childhood and still has all the old station markings such as Hilversum. Gave it to brother-in-law to do years ago and it's still sitting in his house un-restored!

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• 19. At 3:43pm on 06 Nov 2008, Vyle Hernia wrote:

  Anne (18) I'll ask when he returns to the office.

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• 20. At 4:15pm on 06 Nov 2008, MrsEffingham wrote:

  VH (16)
  Much obliged.

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• 21. At 4:18pm on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  Well it must be very new as when Carolyn was standing in a few weeks back it was constantly telling me that PM was being presented by Eric.
  
  Perhaps Eric could do some text dedications during the pre-recorded items ;-)

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• 22. At 4:28pm on 06 Nov 2008, Frances O wrote:

  Ohh, yes, Hlvsm, as it was on my grandmother's radio... gosh, sound of harps, screen goes all wiggly, cue flashback...

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• 23. At 4:56pm on 06 Nov 2008, Gillianian wrote:

  Oh....is that what the dot matrix multi function display box is for?
  It stopped working a long time ago, and I never thought I'd be bothered about it..... *sigh*

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• 24. At 5:05pm on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  Ha Ha ha --- just had a quick peep on DAB, haven't yet checked Freeview.
  
  Very funny - The PM Blog is always on - Eddie Mair here: Harriet is reading the news - we love Harriet. - etc . etc --
  
  Will check Freeview and FM and report back

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• 25. At 5:06pm on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  and a mystery word to email to PM
  
  Three letters ending in G

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• 26. At 5:24pm on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  Interesting that Freeview seems to be slower in updating --
  
  However the DAB is very fast: Now a text feed on Congo.
  
  I'm filming a little to stick on YouTube for those who haven't witnessed it
  
  

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• 27. At 5:31pm on 06 Nov 2008, RxKaren wrote:

  Eddie, I'm intrigued. Does it spell and grammar check for you too? Hate to think that a slip of a finger could trigger another Ofcom investigation!

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• 28. At 5:31pm on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  In PM Shortly : Nils on the interest rate cut and oh so much more (two the's)

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• 29. At 5:34pm on 06 Nov 2008, RxKaren wrote:

  Thanks Jonnie! Evidently not...!

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• 30. At 5:38pm on 06 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  Should Jeremy Clarkson be sacked: Go to the blog

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• 31. At 08:32am on 07 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  I notice on this mornings edition of 'Today' the text is just reminding us how to listen again?
  
  Would that be Evans or Ed Stourton's responsibility to update it I wonder?
  

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• 32. At 08:54am on 07 Nov 2008, Fearless Fred wrote:

  Oh well, I'll just have to imagine the text as I'm driving back home :-(
  
  As an aside, Jonnie, I'm pretty certain that I'm getting scrolling RDTXT in the car! For Example, I got "Today: Hardhitting interviews and news stories *** bbc.co.uk/radio4 *** Sports coming up at 8:28am" for a while as I was on the M£ this morning...

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• 33. At 10:35am on 07 Nov 2008, jonnie wrote:

  Re Fearless,
  
  Yes after a quick search is does seem that various manufacturers do support Radio text. There are some reports that it is however illegal but can't see anything that relates to that on the Ofcom site.

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• 34. At 4:26pm on 10 Nov 2008, Chris_Ghoti wrote:

  Thinking of daft things to do while driving (reading the text on the radio seems to me to fit into this category) wasn't there a chap the other day who got done for driving in town whilst watching a film? Or maybe it was a telly programme?
  
  I don't really care whether it's legal or not, I just reckon that it is so stupid as to merit instant candidature for the Darwin awards, though unfortunately the people doing it are likely to hurt someone else and may not actually manage to kill themselves in the process. Pity, really.
  
  FF, you are certainly safer (for you and everyone else) just imagining the text as you're driving. :-)

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• 35. At 01:00am on 11 Jul 2009, jonnie wrote:

  I thimk Eddie got bord with updating it in the end - and Carolyn doesn't bother ;-)

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