DAB stands for Digital Audio Broadcasting and involve technologies that broadcast sound digitally across radio waves. This means audiences enjoy digital quality sound that's hiss and crackle free.

DAB can also transmit many services in a single area of airspace that takes almost the same space as just one FM station, giving listeners a huge choice of radio entertainment. From rock to RnB, classical to country, trance to talk radio, for sports fans, news hounds, soul lovers and jazz buffs, in most areas you'll get at least double the number of stations available on AM/FM. In some areas it's even more!

There are many reasons why it makes sense to switch to a DAB digital radio. Whichever DAB digital radio you choose, you'll find it clear, easy to

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use, simple to tune, packed with stations and available at prices to suit every pocket.

when did DAB begin?

A consortium of manufacturers and broadcasters developed DAB in the 1990s. In 1995, the BBC was the first broadcaster in the UK to transmit DAB. By 1996, when Digital One received the first commercial license, the corporation had achieved around 60% digital coverage nationwide. Seven years later, Digital One covered 85% of the UK with services including Virgin, Classic FM, and OneWord. Between 2000 and 2004, Ofcom, the UK regulator, awarded 35 local and regional licenses across the UK. For the first time, most of the country could receive national, regional and local stations.

I love the clarity of DAB and the ease of changing channels. I can't see why anyone would buy a radio that isn't DAB these days.

Jacob Thorne

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how does DAB work?

DAB's technologies – MPEG and COFDM – convert sound from analogue signals into digital code. So, bad weather, weak signals and interference are less likely to spoil the sound quality from your digital radio. What's more, because broadcasters transmit DAB on just one frequency, if the signal weakens, they can add a new transmitter on the same frequency to improve quality. DAB also delivers more than audio: it contains data, which means your digital radio can display information including station names, song titles, contact details and, depending on your model, free programme guides.