AM, FM, Digital Portable Radios

Hi Heather, Digital, in my opinion is not all it's made out to be. I live high on a hill and frequeltly have interupted signals and the like. We often turn the old radio to get our station back. Its a bit like digital TV when you lose part of the picture for a few seconds. I dont know haw well they work in country areas, but i have to say the sound is superior. Michael

Thanks Michael,
Just thought digital might be good for the times I HAVE to be in a city!

I would not put too much emphasis on DAB until you can get what you want on FM. Eventually they will kill everything but digital (digital is in their favor, not ours), but for time been I would not pay premium for it. Face it - to get superior audio quality (FM with descent tuner deliver damn good quality anyway) one need not only receiver, but speakers (or high-end phones), amplifiers and so on. And quality still will not approach CD anyway. So why bother?

Aldi have Dab+ something else for $30 at the moment and they might be OK for your use. Battery and 240V Ac operation.Check out the site for the specs.
Digital is pretty sparse at the moment. Big Sh1tt1es yes, country areas sometimes, Outback no way.

Ross M

Hi John,

I own a Sangean DPR-34. (portable unit that fits in my shirt pocket)
Cost was around $130 from Dick Smiths.
It is bloody excellent.

I wanted a radio that I could use to tune into my favourite radio station in Adelaide, (Cruise 1323) and this is not available on an FM radio.

I also wanted one I could use to drown out my work colleague, who starts the day listening to talk back radio on his crappy AM radio he has sitting on his shelf.
The bugger is also an incessant whistler and not a good one either who would drive me crazy if I didn't have something to drown him out. He now has the urge to listen to the same station as I do and because the am signal is out of sync with the digital one, (digital lags by about a couple of secs) I need to "tune his incessant noise out"

So when his valium level is low and he's a bit (or a lot) hypo, I can plug in the ear pieces on my digital radio and listen to some quality music and sing along silently.
Sometimes I even get by with just one earpiece in, so I can communicate with the rest of the staff. Just depends on HIM and where in the building I am.

I alternate between the Sangean, generally in the mornings listening to music and the news, and my iPod in the afternoons tuning in to a range of my favorite songs I have loaded, unless of course the cricket is on, then it is the Sangean for most of the day.

Reception where I work (metro area) is excellent and I don't even need to extend the built-in aerial. The battery lasts in excess of 10 hours between charges and the radio itself is easy to "drive".

I love the Sangean and I don't think you would be disappointed in the investment.

If your relying on AM in the rural areas you wont achieve much better than your car radio unless the Sangean it has an external aerial jack for AM....most dont for AM..so check the specs

I gave up looking and now use another dedicated AM aerial (long whip) on the bull bar that I srcew in and hook up to the car radio when reception fails on normal vehicle antennae.......(Y piece from the radio to in reach under the dash for a quick change over.....city/country)........vastly improves AM on the car ........

I know you wanted portable so did I.... but the above works for me very well.

I have a "PURE one classic" battery/240v, also from DSE. I love it because of all of the extra stations, sound quality, and I can understand song lyrics etc. It was about $150 I reckon.
Bob

Thanks everyone,
Have the van radio & the car radio but have lived through cyclones & fires so think I need a really portable battery radio for rural use. Looks like I need to find a DME and try a few! I'm an ABC local radio girl - great local news on spots & events & people.
Cheers Heather

Hi Heather

I can't not comment on the other States in Australia, but as far as country South Australia is concerned, forget it. Where we live, it is only 136 kilometres from the Big Smoke and we get no digital radio reception what so ever.

Yes the concept sounds fantastic and those that have heard it, say it is great, but again it is only available for the city folks.

Our question is that they have repeaters and radio links for TV in the country, so why don,t they have repeaters for the digital radio.

What I personally do is use an iPod and dock and listen to my favourite FM Station on wifi over the Internet and it is crystal clear and perfect.


All the Best for 2013



Cheers



Stephen

Hi Heather
I have the DPR 45 and it gives good reception – when compared to other portables I have had.
I don’t believe its AM reception is good as the car radio I have – but have not done specific tests.
It Has no external antenna jack.
It has no provision to charge internal batteries – it requires 4 D cells.

John

I have a Degen DE1103 - bought about 18 months ago after doing lots of online research. Seems to be many happy owners and comprehensive reviews put it on a par with Sangean and Sony at a much lower price.

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