so only listen to the radio in the car or via podcasts.

The big issue, surely, is the rarity of in-car DAB equipment and, I suspect, the reluctance of manufacturers to fit it as standard given the uncertainty of the future of DAB (well, uncertainty outside the UK, anyway)

I blogged about it elsewhere the other day and one of the interesting responses suggested that the move to digital gives a degree of control to the broadcasting authorities and the government that they've never had before.

but I should imagine that some button counter in the government is looking at the frequency spectrum that FM covers and already counting the money that the sale of it for - let's presume data traffic - it could bring in to the coffers. The whole thing seems unduly hasty though - digital TV was a step backwards in quality, DAB while more fun is also a step backwards in quality. It's possible to listen to a slightly dodgy FM or AM signal, not a digital one.

FM is far too useful and far too democratic - you can buy an FM radio for pence and use it worldwide. That's not going to happen with a digital radio.

Given the time delay with digital radio (which varies from radio to radio), what'll happen about the time signal?

I remember once when Johnny Carson, when his show on Channel 4, getting a cheap round of applause for saying how there was not a licence fee in the US because the airwaves belonged to "you, the people".

Leaving aside the licence fee issue, no government, certainly not this very mildly leftish government has ever regarded the airwaves as belonging to the people, but rather to the state, and as such it was the state's prerogative to sell when and if it so chose.

I feel this is at the root of this, together with the Panglossian faith of these self-styled technocrats who then could care less when real problems emerge (I foresee big problems when the digital switch-over hits the big cities : it is nearly upon us, but my mother's area still can't get loads of channels), plus a more general idea that the point of government is Helping Business to Sell Stuff is at the root of this, rather than a great Orwellian conspiracy to block dissent for when the tanks roll in which is at the root of this.

If there is a coup then I doubt that anyone will look to Radio Free Tower Block as the centre of resistance. It seems now you would be better off with Twitter.

http://community.whathifi.com/blogs/industry_insider/archive/2009/06/25/...

A few points :-
When the UK does switch to Digital, it's highly unlikely it will be to DAB. The new format probably hasn't been invented yet.
As usual, finance is the reason that radio companies are pushing this. Transmission costs have doubled by broadcasting on both digital and analogue, with very little extra income.
That's also the reason reception is currently poor. One of 'attractions' of DAB was the ability to run almost unlimited transmitters on the same frequency, ending the ridiculous situation of some small stations broadcasting on 3 or 4 localised frequencies. Problem here is transmitters and transmission costs money, so everyone has opted for as few transmitters as possible (though it was rumoured that Jenny Abramsky had one installed for herself locally).
Ofcom have stated that fm will continue, with a new raft of local community stations appearing.
The disaster potential of the TV switchover could easily result in the whole thing being shelved, by whichever party is in power by then.

We have our DAB radio in our bedroom tuned to Radio 4 and we awake to the Today programme. I only switched over to DAB because of the variable FM signal affected by the jets flying overhead.

DAB is okay - wouldn't rush out and buy new radios and its not as though you can convert to a digital signal like you can by buying a freeview box for your analogue tv.

We have our DAB radio in our bedroom tuned to Radio 4 and we awake to the Today programme. I only switched over to DAB because of the variable FM signal affected by the jets flying overhead.

DAB is okay - wouldn't rush out and buy new radios and its not as though you can convert to a digital signal like you can by buying a freeview box for your analogue tv.

That with super-fast broadband finally appearing, wi-fi will be the radio delivery method of choice at home come 2015, with 3G or satellite as the in-car option. DAB appeared futuristic 10 years ago but has been outstripped by more versatile emerging technologies; it's starting to look like the radio equivalent of the 8-track.

Here in Oz digital radio went live on July 1st. The system used is DAB+, allegedly technically superior to the straight DAB used in the UK, but I've no idea of the differences. Am very happy with the set I bought (as a birthday present for my lovely wife), and the quality of the service. It definitely sounds better than FM (and we have a clear line of sight to the transmitters).

...that it'll be your typical scenario, once all the problems have been ironed out (in London) and everyone (in London) can receive a decent signal and everyone (in London) is ready for switchover then it will happen nationwide (and bad luck if you don't live in London).

The only stand-alone digital radio I have is in my campervan and to say the reception is crap while travelling is a bit like saying that Jonathan Ross is a bit fond of himself.

Even though a date was announced, the government has its own targets - it will only happen once there's at least 90% coverage across the country and at least 50% of people are listening via DAB (it's currently at 20%).

Also, there's no real incentive to go DAB at the moment. With the exception of 6 Music, what do you get on digital that you don't get on a regular wireless? At least on TV, Sky drove digital sign-up through their sport offering to start with. Until digital content improves, there's no need for me to ditch my variety of analogue radios around the house.

Although talks have started with the manufacturers, there's also no real in-car DAB offering at the moment and I can't see how they're going to realistically achieve that very quickly.

Finally, the fact that it's the BBC who's theoretically going to have to stump up a lot of the switchover cost leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I understand that the commercial stations don't have masses of cash to prop it up (although I think that's a lot of bluster), but where's the incentive for them to put together good digital content, if they've not got anything 'on the line' as it were?

All in all, it's a bit of a farce!

vehicles obsolete with limited resale value. Take an manufacturer installed FM radio/cd/cassette unit out of a car leaves a whacking great hole.

They'd need an additional scrappage scheme to cover it.

*Never thought I'd end up sounding like Clarkson!*

... if Labour win the next election. If the Tories win I suspect they'll have other priorities.