The Big Switch to DAB+ 

Like many other broadcasters we're changing the coding of our DAB signals to DAB+ and we will use this page to notify these changes as they take place.

DAB+ encoding generally allows a wider range of services to be broadcast in an area and/or an improved sound quality for listeners. However, a small number of sets are not capable of decoding newer DAB+ signals.  

If a set cannot decode the signal the station may not appear on the list of available stations or it may appear on the list but be silent.

Unfortunately, if you are no longer able to receive a station because your DAB radio cannot decode DAB+, you will need to find an alternative way to tune in - or upgrade your radio to one which is capable of receiving DAB+ stations.

Forthcoming changes

30 March 2026

The Big Switch arrives in South Hampshire and Dorset!

We will be converting signals for Nation Radio South and Nation Easy Radio to DAB+ on the South Hampshire, Bournemouth and Salisbury multiplexes. 

This will accommodate the addition of Nation 80s and Nation 90s across South Hampshire and Bournemouth.

As a result we will also be making some station changes to our decades and genres services on multiplexes in Salisbury, Portsmouth and Southampton on the same day.

After these changes you may need to rescan your DAB radio and reset your preset to continue listening to Nation Radio South or Nation Easy Radio on DAB in Hampshire and Dorset.

We also plan to change our DAB signals in North Hampshire, Sussex and Somerset to DAB+ later this year.

This will supported by a campaign of on air and social media publicity in the period around the change.

9 March 2026

We are making changes to our station line up in Cardiff and South East Wales.  Nation 60s and Nation Rocks will leave the multiplex in order to accommodate an increase in the bandwidth allocated to Nation Radio, Nation 80s, Dragon Radio and Bridge FM Radio in the area.  We will also be making upgrades to bandwidth allocations for some of our radio stations broadcasting in Mid and West Wales, Ceredigion and North West Wales.

2 March 2026

From March 2026 we will be launching a separate version of Dragon Radio on the Ceredigion, North West Wales and North East Wales multiplexes.  This will enable us to send more localised information including travel bulletins and advertising in the future.  As this technical change involves a change of station identification code in these areas, listeners in Ceredigion, North West Wales and North East Wales will have to retune to find Dragon Radio or reset their preset following this change.  This will supported by a campaign of on air and social media publicity in the period around the change.

Recent changes

December 2025

The Big Switch has arrived in Scotland!

Nation Radio and Nation 80s have converted to DAB+ on the Central Scotland and Ayr multiplexes.

After these changes you may need to rescan your DAB radio and reset your preset to continue listening to Nation Radio Scotland and Nation 80s on DAB.

November 2025

We have converted Nation Radio Yorkshire to DAB+ and extended coverage.

We were broadcasting on the Humberside multiplex and have moved to the North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire multiplexes instead (taking over the slots previously occupied by Nation 80s).

After these changes you may need to rescan your DAB radio and reset your preset to continue listening to Nation Radio Yorkshire on DAB.

November 2025

We have converted Dragon Radio, Nation Radio Wales, Nation 80s and Bridge FM Radio to DAB+ in South Wales.  This has enabled us to add coverage of Nation 60s, Nation 70s, Nation 90s and Nation Rocks in this area.

We have converted Dragon Radio, Nation Radio Wales, Nation 80s, Radio Pembrokeshire, Radio Carmarthenshire and Swansea Bay Radio to DAB+ in Mid and West Wales.  We have added Nation 60s and Nation 70s to this area.

In North West Wales have added Nation 70s to the area.

After these changes you may need to rescan your DAB radio and reset your preset to continue listening.

July 2025

Nation Radio has retired FM transmitters in Aberystwyth, Cardigan and Lampeter - we expect some listeners in the south of the county will be able to hear an alternative version of Nation Radio (Nation Radio West Wales) on 102.9FM or 107.1FM whilst Nation Radio is also available on DAB Digital Radio from Mid and West Wales transmitters in some parts of the impacted area. 

Nation Radio North Wales (the existing service on FM) can also be heard online at nationplayer.com and on smartspeakers "Play Nation Radio North Wales" and on DAB+ Digital Radio in Ceredigion, North West Wales and North East Wales.  

June 2025

Radio Pembrokeshire has retired infill transmitters on 107.5FM in Fishguard and Tenby - coverage continues from the main transmitter in Haverfordwest on 102.5FM, on DAB+ Digital Radio in Mid and West Wales, online at nationplayer.com, the Nation Player mobile app and on smartspeakers: "Play Radio Pembrokeshire".  The station is also available on the UK Radio Portal ch 277 for connected freeview televisions.

April 2025

Easy Radio has left the Portsmouth Trial multiplex but remains available on the South Hampshire multiplex.  

March 2025

Dragon Radio in North West Wales has converted to DAB to DAB+

Nation 80s in North West Wales has converted from DAB to DAB+

Nation Radio in North West Wales has converted from DAB to DAB+