peter.l

There's more to this DAB radio than meets the eye. Nobody really wants it and there's no reason, other than easy money, to change to DAB. In some respects it's inferior to FM. With a weak FM signal you still hear the broadcast with a rushing noise. DAB on the other hand breaks up suddenly without a reasonably strong signal and you lose the program altogether. Everyone will be aware millions of perfectly serviceable radio sets have to be thrown away and replaced. The motive is undoubtedly money. The plot thickens! Tuesday 22nd March 2011, BBC Radio 4 announced Ofcom, the frequency governing body, will be auctioning off the vacated analogue frequencies to the highest bidder. (more money) Another aspect of this debacle is Power Line Transmission. (PLT), a system intended to use the household electrical wiring to communicate throughout the house. Ofcom have ignored or denied hundreds of complaints that these devices cause severe levels of interference to shortwave radio, way above legal limits. In addition, for more than three years Ofcom refused to act on a 2008 report which confirmed these unacceptable levels were illegal, and further refused to reveal the content of the report. They were recently forced to make the report available (Freedom of Information act?) which can be accessed here: http://www.ban-plt.co.uk/truth-lies.php That's what it's all about! Money! Money! Money! Your money! Ofcom and others are playing a double game! Joe Public is being manipulated.

You hit the nail right on the head. The national census, once a basic head count, has been turned into a national circus. Most of those questions belong on a benefit office form. Others are personal, intrusive, medical in confidence, or have nothing to to with national issues. Why should an Englishman be deemed a minority group not worthy of a place in their "Ethnic" list? Why should a 70-year old retired pensioner need to wade through pages of work related questions if "Retired, Invalid" renders them all meaninless. Why ask for a work address and previous address? Answer: So they can chase council tax if necessary. Not impressed with the underhandedness of it all. Sorely tempted - Question 32: "What is (was) your full and specific job title?" Answer: Soldier. Question 33 "Briefly describe what you do (did) in your main job" Answer: Kill people.

I too hope it will never happen. Analogue isn't broken so why fix it with a very expensive and flawed substitute?

There's a lot of controvasy over going digital.. It's seen as nothing but a money spinning exercise. Millions of radios become useless, everyone forced to dig deep into pockets to buy new equipment. Where have I heard this before? The other nail in the HF radio coffin is the gizmos being marketed to route data around the house via the mains electricity wiring. They cause enough interference to HF frequencies to make radio communications virtually useless. In major disasters, communications fail..no phones, no nothing! You can kiss goodbye any thoughts of emergency communications such as those provided by volunteers in recent earthquakes, tsunamis and other major disasters. What happens if that vulcano really blows in a few years time? There's no backup. Not impressed.