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In Touch - Factsheet BBC Radio 4 |
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Tuesday 25 February 2003
Listen to the In Touch for 25 February 2003 PERSONAL DAB RECEIVERS Ian Macrae has reviewed two new personal digital audio broadcasting (DAB) receivers. What is DAB It's a way of broadcasting which gives clearer sound, very much reduced interference and a greater number of stations some of which, such as BBC7, 6 Music and Oneword are only available digitally. It's also possible to listen to other stations, such as Five Live, Talk sport and Virgin which are otherwise only available on crackly medium wave, in near CD quality sound. Until now DAB receivers have been mainly things that you hook up to your hi fi. they've also been quite expensive. But now two small personal DAB receivers are on the market. They are: The DR101 from Personal Telecommunications The RRP for the PersTel DR101 is £169.99 The MOSDR011 from the Ministry Of Sound. The RRP for the MOSDR011 is £149.99. They're both very small with the DR101 being the smaller. Both are personal radios listened to through headphones and neither had a loudspeaker. Both are powered by batterries, however the MOSDR011 has more battery life. Both have LCD screens displaying information relating to the station to which you're listening. The DR101's screen is larger, at about twice the size of the MOSDR011, and it's text is also bigger and more dense. The CDR101 is supplied with a mains power unit. In terms of operation, the DR101 is easier to use, but this is because it is less sophisticated, flexible and responsive. The MOSDR011 has ten possible station presets which makes navigating to and around your favourite stations easier once you've had a bit of practise. Finding your way round the stations on the DR101 is much more difficult because you first of all have to be familiar with the multiplexes, which are the things on which the stations are grouped. Other major differences between the two: The DR101 has an extending telescopic arieal which can be awkward to use and manage, whereas the MOSDR011 has incorporated its aerial into its headphone cable. With the DR101 you have the option of listening either to digital stations or of selecting FM stations. The MOSDR011 is a DAB only receiver. To get started using the units it would be necessary to have either some sight or some sighted assistance. Without either it would be difficult to become familiar with them. However, many visually impaired people are ingenious and determined and will find ways of making things which appear to be largely inaccessible, usable. Reporter Gary O'Donohue also talked to Colin Crawford, Vice President of Pure Digital and Ian Dickens, Chief Executive of the Digital Radio Development Bureau. CONTACTS PEARLY RADIO Tel. 020 8660 9058. Emailsales@simplyradios.com Ian's review models were loaned to him this company, including the Pure Evoke 1 (see below) Other specialist radio retailers would probably be stocking both models which are also likely to be available from big electrical outlets such as Dixons and Argos. PURE EVOKE-1 is the other digital radio mentioned by Colin Crawford, Vice President of Pure Digital. it's RRP is £99.99. It is sold through: Argos, Dixons, John Lewis, Miller Brothers, House of Fraser, Allders, Maplins, Comet, simplyradios.com , Empire Direct and all good independent hi fi dealers. DIGITAL RADIO DEVELOPMENT BUREAU The Radiocentre 77 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5DU Tel: 020 7 306 2630 Fax: 020 7470 0164 Email: info@drdb.org For information about Digital Radio, suppliers and broadcasters. PURE DIGITAL Tel. 08707 74 74 74 Manufacturers of the Pure Evoke-1. NEW HEALTHY LIVING PROJECT FOR DEAF-BLIND PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND Normally healthy living centres are based in buildings within a specific geographical area. Deaf-blind Scotland and Sense Scotland have just launched the first healthy living project which will represent a community of interest throughout Scotland. This new healthy living project has been set up to encourage people who are both visually and hearing impaired to get access to healthy living information. Getting fit and feeling healthy is something that we all should have access to, but getting that kind of support if you have a dual sensory impairment can be very difficult. Being able to communicate with the fitness instructor to work out your programme or discussing your diet with your GP is crucial for a healthy life. This £1.2 million pound project has been funded by the national lottery, deaf-blind Scotland and Sense Scotland to tackle some of these issues from Gretna to Shetland and from Aberdeen to Stornoway. The project will have three full time staff to advise people and organise events, they are also organising guide communicators to accompany people to the gym and the GP. The programme speaks to Michael Johnson who said you can feel: Frustrated, Bored And Isolated. He calls it the FBI factor. CONTACTS SENSE SCOTLAND 5th Floor Clydeway Centre 45 Finnieston Street Glasgow G3 8JU 0141 564 2444 For further information DEAF BLIND SCOTLAND 21 Alexandra Avenue Lenzie Glasgow G66 5BG Drena O'Malley 0141 777 6111 For information advice and support LOCAL SOCIETIES FOR NEWLY REGISTERED PEOPLE Visit the In Touch Message Board Back to the In Touch page The BBC is not responsible for external websites |
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