DAB tuning information

To listen to DAB radio, you need to tune to the correct frequency to receive the service you want, just as you do with AM or FM. However, as the frequencies allocated to DAB are not particularly easy to remember, they have been allocated a code, known as a frequency block.

Below is a list of the BBC radio services on DAB and the frequency block they are broadcast on.  To see what DAB services you can receive at your location, use our Transmitter Checker tool.

BBC National DAB           

BBC National DAB includes radio services such as BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Live, and digital-only services like BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 4 Extra, BBC Radio 1Xtra can be found on block 12B. 

BBC Local DAB  

BBC Local and Nations radio services on DAB digital radio are transmitted by commercial broadcasting operators. In some areas there is not yet a local DAB service on air, so not every BBC station is currently available on this platform. This is because the BBC's digital multiplex is already used to full capacity for BBC Network services. 

Station

Block

BBC Radio Berkshire

12D

BBC Radio Bristol

11B

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

 

Peterborough

12D

Cambridge

11C

BBC Radio Cornwall

11B

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

12D

BBC Radio Derby

10B*

BBC Radio Devon

 

Exeter and Torbay

11C

North Devon

10C*

Plymouth

12A

BBC Essex

12D

BBC Radio Gloucestershire

10C* 

BBC Hereford & Worcester

12A 

BBC Radio Humberside

11B

BBC Radio Kent

11B

BBC Radio Lancashire

12A

BBC Radio Leeds

 

Leeds

12D 

Bradford and Huddersfield

11B

BBC Radio Leicester

11B 

BBC Radio Lincolnshire

12A

BBC London

12A

BBC Radio Manchester

11C 

BBC Radio Merseyside

11B

BBC Radio Newcastle

11C

BBC Radio Norfolk

10B* 

Kings Lynn

9C

BBC Radio Northampton

10C*

BBC Radio Nottingham

12C 

BBC Radio Oxford

10B* 

BBC Radio Sheffield

11C

BBC Radio Shropshire

11B

BBC Radio Solent

 

Bournemouth

11B

South Hampshire

11C

BBC Somerset

10B* 

BBC Radio Stoke

12D

BBC Surrey

10C* 

BBC Sussex

11B

BBC Tees

11B

BBC Three Counties Radio

10D*

BBC Wiltshire

 

Swindon

11C

Wiltshire

12D

Salisbury

8A**

BBC WM

 

Birmingham

11C

Wolverhampton

11B

BBC York

10C*

BBC Nations

BBC Nations radio services on DAB are transmitted by commercial multiplex operators.  This is because the BBC own DAB multiplex is used to its full capacity for network radio services.

BBC Radio Scotland

 

Covering

Block

Glasgow

11C

Edinburgh

12D

Dundee & Perth

11B

Aberdeen

11C

Ayr

11B

Inverness

11B

   

BBC Radio nan Gàidheal

 

Covering

Block

Central Scotland

11D

Dundee & Perth

11B

Aberdeen

11C

Ayr

11B

Inverness

11B

   

BBC Radio Wales

 

Covering

Block

SE Wales

12C

North East Wales

10C*

Swansea

12A

   

BBC Radio Cymru

 

Covering

Block

SE Wales

12C

Swansea

12A

North East Wales

10C*

   

BBC Radio Ulster

 

Covering

Block

Northern Ireland

12D

   

BBC Radio Foyle

 

Covering

Block

Northern Ireland

12D

 

DAB+

DAB+ is an upgraded version of DAB digital radio that gives you access to even more stations. 

DAB+

Jersey

Jersey Extra

Guernsey

Guernsey Extra

Cumbria

 

*Services in Blocks 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D

**Due to be launched shortly

Some older radios may require a “full scan” to pick up stations in blocks 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D. There are a few different ways to perform a full scan, this depends on the radio model. 

Press "Menu" > Select "Scan Type" > Select "Full Scan" (not "Local Scan") 

Press and hold the button labelled "Auto-Tune" or "Scan" to start a full scan (a short press starts a "Fast Scan").

It may be necessary on occasion to perform a factory reset if the channels are not found after a full scan. 

Resetting your DAB Radio removes all presets, stored stations and favourite stations and alarm/timer settings and resets all options to defaults. To reset:

1. Press and hold the Menu button for three seconds. The screen shows ‘Do you want to reset?’.

2. Select OK to reset or cancel to exit without resetting.               

The instructions above should apply to most radios but may not apply to yours. If this is the case please check your manufacturer instructions.