Many Digital radios have a signal strength display which enables you to position the Radio for the best reception (usually a number of blocks) as a guide of reception quality. Unfortunately, some radios are less sensitive than others and need careful positioning to work reliably. If your radio displays signal strength, use this as a guide to ensure the best position.
You may need to move your DAB radio around to find the 'sweet spot' - an area where signal strength seems at its highest and reception is clearest as a reasonable signal strength is still required in order to enjoy interference free reception. Every area differs dramatically and it is often difficult to predict signal strength even from a postcode prediction.
This is very important as reception can be affected by the location of the radio in your house, or by the materials your house is built out of e.g. thick stone or reinforced walls. Try moving the radio to other locations in the house to see if it improves reception. The following suggestions should also help:
- Put the radio higher up
- Rather than put your radio on a coffee table, place it on a shelf or bookcase at a greater height in the room. Any height increase will improve your chance of getting a good signal.
- Put the Radio on a window sill. The closer you get to a window, the easier it is for your radio to find a signal. Windows and window sills get you closest to the radio waves outside, giving you the best reception opportunity.
In most circumstances the supplied telescopic aerial should be perfectly adequate, and as a rule of thumb DAB aerials tend to work best when vertical and extended at least 35 cm. If your radio reception is poor then you should consider the fitting of an external aerial for best reception quality. Even in good areas an external aerial will guarantee optimum performance and will also ensure consistent listening quality.
