A DAB radio is still the simplest way to get live radio in a UK kitchen or bedroom, and Roberts points out that a standard DAB set works without WiFi. The choice has more traps than the shelf suggests, though, from older radios that cannot play DAB+ stations to local services that do not reach every postcode. This guide covers DAB and DAB+, coverage checks, the future of FM and AM, internet radio and smart speakers, the features makers list and better reception.
Buy a radio that lists DAB+, not just DAB, and check your postcode first. Digital Radio UK says DAB+ stations need a DAB+ enabled radio, and both its postcode checker and the BBC's Transmitter Checker show which stations reach an address. Keep FM on the spec sheet too: DCMS says FM continues until at least 2030 while a 2026 review weighs a move away from it in the 2030s.
Key Takeaways
- Digital Radio UK says DAB+ stations need a DAB+ enabled radio, and Roberts says its radios made before 2014 are highly unlikely to support DAB+ and cannot be upgraded.
- The BBC's Transmitter Checker and Digital Radio UK's postcode checker show which DAB stations reach an address, and the BBC says its UK-wide multiplex covers 97% of the population.
- DCMS says the 2021 review concluded FM should continue until at least 2030, and a review launched in February 2026 is weighing a managed transition away from FM in the 2030s.
- The BBC says its Local Radio medium wave services in Cumbria, Derby, Gloucestershire, Norfolk and Somerset close by the end of November 2026.
- The BBC's reception advice is to extend the telescopic aerial fully, keep it vertical and move the radio higher or onto a window sill before fitting an outdoor DAB aerial.
DAB+ Carries Stations an Older DAB Radio Cannot Play
DAB and DAB+ share transmitters but not an audio format. Digital Radio UK's FAQ calls DAB+ an upgraded version of the technology behind DAB digital radio, says it uses the same transmitters, and says a DAB+ enabled radio is needed to hear DAB+ stations. Pure's guide to digital radio puts the difference down to the codec: DAB+ uses MPEG-4 audio, while original DAB uses MPEG-1. The government's response to the Digital Radio and Audio Review adds that DAB+ is more spectrum efficient than DAB.
Plenty of stations now broadcast only in DAB+. Digital Radio UK counts over 180 in the UK, including 25 national stations such as Fun Kids, Jazz FM and Forces BFBS. An older set does not fail loudly, either. Roberts' FAQ says DAB+ stations can appear in an older radio's station list but stay silent, and that its radios made before 2014 are highly unlikely to support DAB+ and cannot be upgraded. Digital Radio UK says some DAB-only models can take a firmware upgrade, so the radio's maker is the one to ask.
A Postcode Check Shows Which Stations Reach Your Home
Coverage decides which stations a new radio will find, so check it before choosing. The BBC's Transmitter Checker, part of its reception advice site, shows which national and local DAB services are available at a location and flags transmitter faults, although the BBC says fault reporting currently covers network stations only. Digital Radio UK runs a separate postcode checker with an option to show only DAB+ stations.
Local radio is where the gaps appear. The BBC says its UK-wide multiplex covers 97% of the population, but its Nations and Local stations travel on commercial multiplexes whose coverage it does not control, so a local BBC station can reach an area on FM and miss it on DAB. Buildings matter too. The BBC warns that basement flats and steel-framed or reinforced concrete buildings can affect coverage, and Roberts' FAQ adds that a postcode checker cannot take account of local conditions, obstructions or building materials. Treat the result as a strong guide rather than a promise.
FM Stays Until at Least 2030 While Medium Wave Closes
The analogue question is settled for now, but not for good. DCMS said in February 2026 that the 2021 Digital Radio and Audio Review concluded FM should continue until at least 2030, and recommended that government and industry revisit a possible analogue switch-off in 2026. The new review, DCMS said, will consider whether there should be a managed transition away from FM in the 2030s and, if so, over what timescale, and it reports to government in autumn 2026. The same announcement put digital and online platforms at almost 75% of all UK radio listening.
Medium wave is further along. The BBC says its Local Radio medium wave services in Cumbria, Derby, Gloucestershire, Norfolk and Somerset will close by the end of November 2026, the final phase of a switch-off first announced in 2011. The alternatives it lists are FM, DAB, BBC Sounds, the BBC website and smart speakers. For a new radio, that points to DAB+ as the main tuner, with FM kept on board as the backup while the review runs its course.
Internet Radio and Smart Speakers Need WiFi, Not an Aerial
A DAB radio and an internet radio solve different problems. Roberts' buying guide says a standard DAB radio works without WiFi, while internet and smart radios need a connection for online stations and streaming services. In return, Roberts says its Revival iStream 3L reaches over 20,000 internet radio stations plus thousands of podcasts, alongside DAB, DAB+ and FM.
Smart speakers cover similar ground with no tuner at all. BBC Sounds' help pages say its Alexa skill plays every BBC radio station live, and that live BBC radio also works on Google Home, Apple's HomePod and supported Sonos speakers. The government wants that access protected: a DCMS consultation in July 2026 proposed designating Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple's Siri under Media Act 2024 powers covering UK radio streams on voice services. The Echo guide compares Amazon's speakers.
WiFi is the weak point. Roberts' FAQ says its internet radios cannot join public networks that use a web page to grant access, and a patchy signal where the radio sits is covered in the weak WiFi guide.
Presets, Power and Alarms Vary From Model to Model
With DAB+ and FM on the label, the extras do the separating. Presets come first for most people: Roberts lists six on the Play 10 and up to 20 on the Play 20, Pure gives its Classic H4 kitchen radio 40 DAB+ and 40 FM presets, and Ruark lists eight per mode on the R1S smart radio.
Power decides where a radio can live. Pure lists the Classic H4 as mains powered with Bluetooth 5.3, while Majority quotes up to 15 hours of battery for the Little Shelford and Roberts quotes up to 20 hours for the Revival Petite 2. Roberts' Stream 219 runs from the mains or six AA batteries.
Alarms suit the bedside. Roberts gives the Ortus 4 dual alarms, a large snooze button, an adjustable sleep timer and USB device charging, and Pure adds a kitchen timer to the Classic H4's two alarms. For private listening, Roberts lists a headphone socket on the Petite 2 and Play 20, Majority a headphone jack on the Little Shelford and Ruark a headphone output on the R1S.
Aerial Position Fixes Most DAB Reception Problems
Most poor DAB reception comes down to where the radio sits. The BBC's reception advice says a portable radio's telescopic aerial should be fully extended, and that DAB aerials tend to work best vertical and extended at least 35 cm. The BBC also suggests putting the radio higher, on a shelf or bookcase rather than a coffee table, or on a window sill, and using the radio's signal strength display to find the best spot. Pure's guide likewise recommends a window or an outside wall.
The sound itself is a clue. Roberts' FAQ says a bubbling or underwater noise on DAB is caused by poor signal. After moving the radio, the BBC advises an autotune and, if that fails, a full rescan. If reception stays poor, the BBC recommends a DAB-specific outdoor aerial, ideally on the roof, and Ruark lists an aerial connector on the R1S. Two odd causes are worth knowing: the BBC says some LED lights fitted to old halogen transformers can interfere, and that during high pressure weather listeners should wait rather than retune.
Five Roberts DAB+ Radios Cover the Common Jobs
First, the limits. No radio can add a multiplex that does not reach your postcode, so the coverage check comes before the purchase. Roberts' FAQ also says the Bluetooth in its radios only receives, so these sets play music from a phone but cannot send sound to Bluetooth headphones; the Bluetooth speaker guide covers speakers built for portable music. Internet radio needs a steady WiFi signal where the radio sits.
With those settled, the table covers the common jobs, all from Roberts. The Revival Petite 2 is the all-rounder: Roberts lists DAB, DAB+, FM, Bluetooth, an alarm, up to 20 hours of battery, USB-C charging and a headphone socket. The Play 20 adds a rubber bumper, a colour display and a built-in battery charger for the garden. The Ortus 4 is the bedside pick, with Bluetooth and dual alarms in a body Roberts gives as 157mm wide. The Play 10 is the budget set with six presets. The Revival iStream 3L adds internet radio and Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer, and Roberts says it works with Alexa.
| Product | Best for | Key specs | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Roberts Revival Petite 2 Our pick | Kitchens, bedrooms and gardens, with Bluetooth | DAB/DAB+/FM, Bluetooth, up to 20 h battery, USB-C | Check price → |
 | Roberts Play 20 Rugged portable | Garden, shed and room-to-room listening | DAB+/FM, 20 presets, colour screen, headphone socket | Check price → |
 | Roberts Ortus 4 Bedside | Bedside tables that need an alarm clock | DAB/DAB+/FM, Bluetooth, dual alarms, USB charging | Check price → |
 | Roberts Play 10 Budget | A simple second radio for any room | DAB/DAB+/FM, six presets, headphone socket | Check price → |
 | Roberts Revival iStream 3L Internet radio | Internet radio, streaming and DAB+ in one | DAB/DAB+/FM, internet radio, Spotify, Bluetooth, Alexa | Check price → |