Excuse me, i may be having a bit of a moment.
I have originally been of the train of thought, that Analogue, traditional "listen to the wiiiirelesss" radio would have used less power, than me having my computer running to listen to something i actually WANT to listen to.
(probably helped by me turning the wiiirelllesss off every other song because it offends my ears, but lets ignore that)
but having had a think (if brief) perhaps the internets uses considerably less power, than pumping out a signal from the BBC mast, that can reach me over here in Devon. that going to be a fair amount of power isnt it?
so: for reducing your carbon footprint: Digital online, or Analogue? (or DAB i guess?)
The amount of power consumed by the device is likely to be overwhemingly influenced by the output amplifier - are you trying to compare two identically "loud" radios? If so, have a look at the number of "bits" required for each device - an analogue radio is really, really simple - almost certainly ahving very little in it. A digital radio, of either DAB or Internet source will have to have some sort of computer to do all the wizardry. This will consume some power all of its own.
As far as getting the signal to your radio, an analogue signal is transmitted either at a quite high power for a very long distance (AM) or at a fairly low power over a shorter distance but requiring more transmitters to cover the country.
I'd reckon an Internet "signal" has to go through many, many pieces of equipment, all consuming power, before it gets to your kitchen table.
For your personal carbon footprint the biggest factor is which one do you own already?
😯
oh - sorry - I reckon the answer is almost always an analogue radio - not only because it uses less power to receive the signal but also because you won't need to keep replacing it every time someone changes the standards*.
* DAB is on its way out folks - new DAB radios support the DAB+ standard that will replace DBA soon. Original DAB radios will then stop working with no upgrade path...
DAB is on its way out folks - new DAB radios support the DAB+ standard that will replace DBA soon. Original DAB radios will then stop working with no upgrade path...
Yup, but bearing in mind the BBC is commited to it by law untill 2016 IIRC? And they're selling like hot cakes. It'll be arround a while yet, politicians like being ellected, telling people that their £100 radio isn't going to work next month doesn't win votes.
Good point on DAB+
I have a wind up AM/FM radio I bought 10 years ago.
I listen to 5 live on AM in the morning because I can wind it for a minute or 2 and it will last through my 'grooming regime'. :/
If I put on something on FM, I have to wind it at least twice as fast.
I know DAB uses around twice the power of FM, so a wind-up DAB radio is a non-starter. You'd be winding in real-time I reckon.
An internet radio stream needs a PC or Stremaing radio, a router, a server, and all the power for the bits in between.
An AM transmitter needs ????? Watts to cover the whole country? Anyone know?
Actually I've got a feeling that LW may be the most efficient!
Without a shadow of a doubt the lowest impact would be analogue, assuming that you own one already.
The only thing that might change this is as follows....
1. if you already have a computer,
2. ...it is already switched on,
3. ...and already connected to the internet,
4. ...and it is not in any sleep type mode... Then listening to the radio with it will probably use such an insignificant ammount of energy that its not measureable.
If your worried about your environmental impact in general, there are many many other things to look at before looking at your radio listening habits!
Thing is, the "computer" to stream the net radio could be my very low power consumption phone. But then it needs wifi or 3G radio to connect to the internet...
wind it for a minute or 2 and it will last through my 'grooming regime'. :/
Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
I've never found 5 Live [i]that[/i] exciting... 😯
forget radios, a town cryer is the greenest option, or whistling a happy tune to yourself
or whistling a happy tune to yourself
save energy and just [b]imagine[/b] it in your head 🙂
Skidartist - that's beautiful man
http://nrgkits.shopfactory.com/workshop/mediumwave_big_ones.htm
150kW for the 5 live transmitters
Approx 6 million listeners
So assuming all on AM= 6000000/150000= 40W per person for transmission
Hmmmm that's actually more than I would have thought...
If you assume router @15W, PC@100W, 5W for server (?) approx 120W for desktop listening (yes OK, if you are doing nothing else on your PC)
Streaming on Phone - say phone@4W, base station (??W), 5W for server....maybe you're right, that could be the lowest
ooOOoo, you've forgotten to include all the high power telecoms equipment in the telephone exchanges, ISPs, etc...
If your worried about your environmental impact in general, there are many many other things to look at before looking at your radio listening habits!
i realise its hardly top of the list, hence the "im having a bit of a moment"
think of it as a "what would win" or a "will it blend" question:
utterly pointless
BBC Radio transmitters - location and power output:
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/transmitters/radio/index.shtml ]http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/transmitters/radio/index.shtml[/url]
I love it that Radio 4 still gives the beeps so we can set our watches accurately, but if you have it on:
Long Wave
FM
DAB
Freeview
Internet
Digital Telly
Virgin Cable
They all "pip" at a different time. I know, I tried it.
And a DAB portable radio EATS batteries.
So assuming all on AM= 6000000/150000= 40W per person for transmission
FAIL, actually 25 [b]milli[/b] W each (150000W/6000000) 🙂
oops yes, epic fail 🙂
So AM kicks ass, hurrah!
Yup, HF transmissions may not have a high bandwith but they do only require low power. IIRC, in ideal circumstances, an HF wave can go round the globe with just 1W power.
Been a while since Uni so I can't remember exactly & i can't be bothered googling it, so may not be spot on, but still...
1W! Not bad at all.
I love my DAB for the lack of hiss & ease of use, but in eco terms it's like 47" flat screens and SUVs - more power needed to do the same job.
save energy and just imagine it in your head
But thinking uses a disproportionate amount of calories, so don't imagine anything too complicated. Whenever I'm on a long fireroad climb I get the theme tune for Garden Force stuck in my head. I'm sure thats the reason I'm so knackered at the top.
oh my god ,are you my greener than green wife??!!
just learn to play the guitar, then you can switch everything off and make your own beautiful music man!!
on another note, why are things like dvd players and digi boxes now available dirt, dirt cheap these days but any nice dab radio worth listening to is over £50??