Boom Radio.

[Junk Box Nick]

Originally Posted by rambo1152

The DAB radio in my car lists two streams, Boom Radio, and Boom Radio UK. Its the same station, maybe the adverts are different, I haven't investigated.

Boom Radio UK is the national one – DAB+ 24k mono.

The other is one you are seeing is one of the (original) SSDAB outlets but is probably the better option if you get a good signal as will probably have a better bit rate and stereo too.

I can get the 'UK' version on my Panasonics which are mono kitchen type radios. It sounds ‘good enough’ to my ageing ears though some might have issues with it. Anyway content and style of presentation trumps the other issues for me. I said my final goodbye to Radio 2 after 40+ years in January when Clare Teal signed off – her’s and Don Black’s (which had already been axed) had been the only shows I’d listened to on there for several years.

The Birmingham SSDAB is very small in coverage and don’t reach me except when the wind is in the right direction.

[G6Tanuki]

Originally Posted by Junk Box Nick

Boom Radio UK is the national one – DAB+ 24k mono.

I guess that in using such a pathetic amount of Muxspace they're re-imagining the old cheap-MW-tranny-running-from-near-flat-batteries AM sound and bringing it forward to the 2020s.

Either that or they've managed to lease this minimal number of bits at a truly bargain-basement price.

[slidertogrid]

I too have just about given up on Radio 2. I turn on, listen to pop-master and then turn it off again! I now realise why. I am not the audience they want anymore! The terrible auto tune winey stuff is aimed at the generation that doesn't listen. its just background noise. That's why they can get away with repeating one line of lyrics over and over, I can visualise them recording the song looking at their watch... "yep that's 3 minutes that'll do!".
What I have noticed is that contestants on pop master know little about current or recent stuff, no one bothers with it.
I have had a listen to Boom, I will give it a try tomorrow. It will make a change from Gold and Classic FM. I hope they have a bigger playlist than Gold... They play some great tunes but they seem to be the same ones every day!

[Graham G3ZVT]

Originally Posted by Junk Box Nick

I said my final goodbye to Radio 2 after 40+ years in January when Clare Teal signed off.

I gave up in 2003 when Jeremy Vine got JY's slot!

[Junk Box Nick]

Originally Posted by slidertogrid

I have had a listen to Boom, I will give it a try tomorrow. It will make a change from Gold and Classic FM. I hope they have a bigger playlist than Gold... They play some great tunes but they seem to be the same ones every day!

There is a far wider playlist than your average wallpaper oldies station. Today I have heard songs I hadn't heard in years and a wide variety. Today I heard Lynn Anderson, Len Barry, Kate Bush, Andy Williams, Bob Dylan, Dobie Gray, The Platters, Eddie Holland and not the 'usual suspects' greatest hits from these performers. What's more, they give credit that the audience might like some current stuff that is melodic. I heard pleasant songs new to me today by artists I've never heard of - had to look at the scrolling display to see who they were.

Since giving up Radio 2 I've been out of touch with anything new. I gave up R2 afternoons when Steve Wright arrived (1999?), lunch times when the Vine show descended into sensationalist hysteria (never really took to him - I much preferred JY), drive-time when Johnnie Walker finished in 2006 and breakfast when Wogan called it a day. Ken Bruce was the last bastion and remains popular with what remains of the older R2 listeners. Interestingly it turns out that they had a plan to remove him around a dozen years ago but the fall-out from the Ross-Andrew Sachs affair that saw the controller resign saw the plan dropped. I stayed listening to the specialist shows but they've all been eased out. Radio 2 is mainly interested in taking on Heart FM and attracting the audience that is getting too old for Radio One.

I look back to the days of Ray Moore, John Dunn, David Jacobs and Wogan in his pomp with great affection. Happy days.

[Nuvistor]

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

Either that or they've managed to lease this minimal number of bits at a truly bargain-basement price.

That’s the most likely reason, it appears to be a very small company and DAB is expensive.

[Nuvistor]

Originally Posted by Junk Box Nick

I look back to the days of Ray Moore, John Dunn,

Ray Moore and John Dunn, two really great professional broadcasters.

[See_Mos]

Yes, there is a bit too much chatter but at the moment not too many ads, let's hope they don't spoil it!

They do play some strange ones occasionally but variety is the spice of life and the music selection is much calmer than the screamers and shouters favored by Radio 2.

The internet feed sound quality is very good on my Yamaha internet system.

[murphyv310]

Hi.
I gave it a listen this afternoon. Quality isn't too bad on DAB+ but when I listened it was adverts and chat with little music, perhaps I was unlucky.

[See_Mos]

They ruined it already!

Since going live on the National DAB at the weekend the number and repeat advertisements have increased massively so I am out.

[raditechman]

On the London 3 multiplex Boom radio is in DAB and not DAB+

John

[stitch1]

Originally Posted by See_Mos

They ruined it already!

Since going live on the National DAB at the weekend the number and repeat advertisements have increased massively so I am out.

Only to be expected, it has to be paid for somehow unless they can attract the advertisers it won't be around for long.

I found it a reasonable listen and nice to broadcast to the radios, the chat is a bit tedious after a while but I don't tend to listen to the same station all day.

Pleased its gone national make it easier to listen to in the car.

John

PS it says 24kbps DAB+ up here.

[raditechman]

Indeed in London Boom is available twice, on DAB (London 3 Multiplex) and DAB+ (SDL National Multiplex) maybe they will close the DAB feed eventually.

John

[Junk Box Nick]

Originally Posted by raditechman

Indeed in London Boom is available twice, on DAB (London 3 Multiplex) and DAB+ (SDL National Multiplex) maybe they will close the DAB feed eventually.

John

It disappeared from the ‘Birmingham’ SSDAB quite quickly. I say ‘Birmingham’ as its coverage is pathetically small and barely reaches the city centre from the Tx in Castle Bromwich, in fact it only covers a small area of NE Birmingham. A shame because Radio Caroline is on there.

Originally Posted by See_Mos

They ruined it already!

Since going live on the National DAB at the weekend the number and repeat advertisements have increased massively so I am out.

Not ideal but I put up with it in the same way as I used to put up with ads and whistles and fades listening to Radio Caroline in the 1960s. The lack of big ego shouty DJs, adult presentation and broad spread of music being the compensation. There was little on the BBC for me in the 60s and the clock has come full circle as there’s little for me now. I haven’t listened to a ‘pop’ station for such a long time at a stretch in years.