Which areas are capable of receiving DAB+ stations? I live in the Tonbridge area – are there any stations using Castle Hill transmissions or Wrotham Hill also? I receive DAB from them and have just upgraded to a new DAB+ receiver. Any help with this would be appreciated.
– John
There are now six DAB+ digital radio stations which are available across the UK. The stations Jazz FM, Fun Kids and Magic Chilled have been available since Spring 2016 with the launch of Sound Digital, the UK’s second national commercial DAB multiplex. British music station Union JACK and forces station Forces Radio BFBS joined more recently, with Jack 3 becoming available this week.
The Sound Digital network of transmitters reach 77% of UK households, according to their operator. An online postcode checker at getdigitalradio indicates that you should have ‘fair reception’ of these six stations in your postcode area. You can enter your full postcode and house number on that postcode checker for a more accurate prediction.
In addition to these six national stations some local radio stations are now using DAB+.
There are ten trials of ‘small scale DAB’ taking place in various parts of the UK. DAB+ stations are available in the following trial areas:
- Birmingham
- Brighton
- Cambridge
- Glasgow
- London
- Manchester
- Norwich
- Portsmouth
- Woking
Additionally some of the existing local digital radio multiplexes – or groups of stations – offer at least one DAB+ station. These areas are:
- Lincolnshire
- London
- North West Wales & West Cheshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
You mention two transmitters from which you receive DAB digital radio stations.
The Wrotham Hill site provides national commercial radio stations (Digital One and Sound Digital), BBC National DAB, local digital stations for Kent and local digital stations for London (the London 1, London 2 and London 3 multiplexes). As Sound Digital and the ‘London 2’ network offer a combined nine DAB+ stations you may be able to receive these from Wrotham Hill.
The Castle Hill transmitter, which may also be known as ‘Tonbridge’, appears to offer stations from the Digital One, BBC National and Kent multiplexes. None of these currently offer any DAB+ stations.