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.