Buying a German radio
 

Hallo!

I am studying French and German at university and will be heading off to Berlin (and Lille) for my year abroad next year. I am a devoted radio-listener in the UK and would like to continue that when I am abroad. I am looking for a radio that will reliably pick up German (and ideally French) DAB/FM radio stations during my time away.

I am not too worried about picking up British stations, which I know if nigh-on impossible without WiFi access anyway. In terms of WiFi access, I am not yet sure what the situation in my accommodation will be, so I would prefer not to rely solely on the internet for radio.

Is there much use of the DAB signal in Germany? I am aware that France and Germany use L-Band DAB (rather that the Band-III we use in the UK) so I would need to buy a foreign radio to pick up DAB stations in Germany. Does anybody have any experience of German DAB radios?

I would be immensely grateful for any suggestions of models that people have found work well in mainland Europe.

Vielen Dank!

Re: Buying a German radio
 

Aroh,

I can't answer your technical question but you may find the German Wikipedia page on DAB helpful:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitalradio
This sentence is particularly interesting:

Weiter gibt es heute bislang keine speziellen Radioempfänger für DVB-T. Der Radioempfang erfolgt über die reguläre Set-Top-Box oder einen mobilen DVB-T-Fernsehempfänger.

Browsing around www.amazon.de (e.g. enter l-band dab) might also be revealing.

In your shoes I would buy a receiver over there. You will then know what the local conditions are (e.g. Internet access in your accommodation), you can ask locals/stores about the technical aspects, your options, etc., and this kind of interaction is a major reason why you are there in the first place.

If WiFi access were to be available, have you ruled out using a mobile device that could also be used for other purposes? I have a dedicated Internet radio now but for a while I used an Asus netbook.

As general advice from someone who did what you are doing, 30 years ago: travel light, take only what you really need, and source other stuff there as you need it – if necessary from the same places that the local impoverished students go to. Think like a local rather than like a tourist, that's part of the experience.

Good luck!

Re: Buying a German radio
 

Wait until you get there is my advice. Make it a priority to ask around after arrival.

I am envious.

Re: Buying a German radio
 

Get a smartphone and a paygo sim. Most will offer about €5-€10 per gigabyte, a few will offer a lot more for a lot less. You can buy them anywhere. Even Lidl.

Re: Buying a German radio
 

Thanks for all the kind input! I think, as suggested, I may be best to wait until I arrive and buy a radio when I have had a chance to ask around.

Out of interest, what is the DAB coverage like in Germany? I have found this Sony model (http://shop.pure.com/FR/Digital-Radi...0D/2Q6O058207N) which claims to pick up both Band-III and L-Band DAB, so I could get this ahead of time, if the DAB stations in Germany are easy to pick up.

Re: Buying a German radio
 

My UK DAB radio worked fine in Germany last summer. I had to re-tune it first as they aren't that clever in knowing where they are. :)

Re: Buying a German radio
 

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