DAB Digital Radio in Essex

Details of the DAB digital radio stations that can be received in Essex.

DAB – Digital Audio Broadcasting, represents the next generation of radio receivers, offering better quality than FM (with less interference), and a greater choice of radio listening.

DAB is available throughout Essex. With a DAB  radio, you can receive a wider range of stations than you can with just FM, and you can receive stations that are normally only found on medium wave, in much better, stereo, quality. The choice of radio listening in Essex has grown over the last couple of years, and the cost of owning a special receiver capable of receiving DAB has fallen, making the move to DAB more attractive to radio listeners.

This page includes a summary of the radio stations available in Essex. For more details of DAB, go to our DAB page.

You may find our DAB discussion forum, and our Radio in Essex pages useful.

DAB Transmitters in Essex

DAB stations are broadcast using a “multiplex”, which allows multiple stations to be transmitted on a single frequency.

• NOW Digital – Operating the main DAB transmitters for Essex. Operating on Channel 12D (229.072MHz)
• City DAB – Small-scale multiplex for the city of Southend-on-Sea, run by the team behind dance music station Funky SX. Service launched in December 2024 (More details: Radio in Southend)
• Xtra DAB Limited – Small-scale multiplex for Harlow (licence application)
• Essex DAB – Small-scale multiplex for Colchester & Clacton, run by the team behind Actual Radio (licence application)
• Chelmsford Digital Radio Limited – Small-scale multiplex for Chelmsford (licence application)

 

DAB stations available in Essex

BBC National	Digital One	NOW Digital	London 1 – CE Digital	London 2 – Switch Digital	London 3 – DRg London
Radio 1	Absolute Radio	BBC Essex	Absolute Radio	Absolute 70s	Absolute Classic Rock
Radio 2	Absolute 80s	Capital	Absolute Radio 90s	Amazing Radio	Chill
Radio 3	BFBS Radio	Radio Essex	Capital	BBC London	Gaydio
Radio 4	Capital XTRA	Heart Essex	Heart London	French Radio London	Fun Radio Kids
Radio 5 Live	Classic FM	Kiss 100	Heat Radio	Gold	LYCA DIL SE 1035
1Xtra	KISS	Smooth	KISS	Jazz FM	LYCA Radio 1458
BBC 6	LBC	Pop Up Radio	KISS Fresh	Sout Al Khaleej	IBC Tamil
BBC Radio 4 Extra	Planet Rock	XFM	KISSTORT	Spectrum Radio	Share Radio
BBC Asian Network	Premier Christian		Magic London	Kerrang!	The Wireless
BBC World Service	Smooth Extra		Smooth Radio	BBC London News	Polish Radio London
	talkSPORT		XFM	UCB Inspirational
	UCB UK			The Arrow
	Magic UK			Panjab Radio
	TeamRock			Radio Sputnik
				TalkSPORT London
12B – 225.648MHz	11D – 222.064MHz	12D – 229.072MHz	12C – 227.36MHz	12A – 223.936MHz	11B – 218.64MHz

Last updated: March 2015

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Links

• Radio in Essex – Details of the radio services available in Essex
• UK Digital Radio – List of stations available on DAB
• DAB forum – Discuss DAB digital radio in our forum
• DAB Station directory – Radio-now’s list of UK DAB stations
• Radio in Essex – Details of the radio stations broadcasting from Essex
• Radio in Southend-on-Sea – More on radio for the seaside town
• Southend-on-Sea – Links and information on the town of Southend-on-Sea, Essex