DAB USB for Windows PC

rajeshk4u

I have seen USB DAB receivers on eBay. However, a lot of them are from Chinese companies and I am concerned about the software, which could be riddled with adware or spyware. Is there a reputable company offering a similar product?

Norman_Castle

These are normally for car radios. A lot of radio stations are available online. If so, you don't need a receiver and the quality may be better.

almillar

I've got a USB DAB receiver, and as Norman says, it's for my car stereo. Why would you need one for a PC, when you can just listen to most of the stations on the internet. On the PC in front of you. Through the same speakers, and without the need for a DAB aerial?!

DoaM

+1 to the above ... a USB DAB receiver is usually to enable DAB capability to a non-DAB car stereo.

db2016

your mixing up the software and hardware.



you don't need to use the supplied software.


eg do you have a printer that only lets you print docs from word? nope. a printer can print from any program. you can print from pdf, word, photoshop anything.



or to put it even more simply, can you only watch bbc on a samsung tv, no as long as the tv (any tv) can pick up the channel, you can then do with it as you please (pause / rewind, record using any device that can pick up the BBC).



same as, as long as the usb dab or whatever device works with the operating system (commonly called driver software, that is the driver, errm drives the hardware). the actual software for scanning for stations or in my analogy above printing, etc can be anything usually.



i rarely use bundled software, once i get the hardware working, i make my own choices on what to use. my pc dvd player software for eg is rubbish, so i use another program that works better.

rajeshk4u

I prefer DAB, as I am familiar with the radio stations layout. I know it is live radio.

I dislike many of the radio listening apps. Also, I never know if they are live broadcast or some internet replay.....

Hauppauge don't seem to have a DAB product in their line up....

ThemeOne

In the early 2000s, before USB or internet radio really got going, I had a PCI DAB card which worked very well. I guess I still have it somewhere.

It only worked with the supplied software though, and only worked on Windows. Do modern OS's now include drivers for DAB chips?

Norman_Castle

rajeshk4u wrote: »

I prefer DAB, as I am familiar with the radio stations layout. I know it is live radio.

I dislike many of the radio listening apps. Also, I never know if they are live broadcast or some internet replay.....

If you're using a windows pc why will you be using an app?
If you go to the stations website and select listen live you will be listening to live radio.

stator

I find internet radio streams are poor quality, I looked into this sort of thing a while ago and came up with nothing.
It's too niche a product


Does the radio station you're after broadcast on Freeview or Freesat?

I know it's a bit of overkill to get a satellite dish for a radio station, but I'm considering it

ThemeOne

stator wrote: »

I find internet radio streams are poor quality

It does depend on the station. Last time I checked it out, for most stations it was actually DAB which offered the lowest bitrates.

That said, I would consider a USB DAB stick. I think it's a useful alternative to anyone who listens to radio a lot but wants to preserve their bandwidth for other uses.

I have just discovered that Debian Linux, and no doubt other distros, does now include gqrx which appears to be generic software which can drive some of these radio chips.

coffeehound

rajeshk4u wrote: »

I prefer DAB, as I am familiar with the radio stations layout. I know it is live radio.

I dislike many of the radio listening apps. Also, I never know if they are live broadcast or some internet replay.....

Perhaps then a dedicated internet radio would suit you better, e.g.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8522250