Choose an FM or DAB/DAB+ pocket radio rather than a long-wave-only set for future BBC Radio 4 Shipping Forecast listening: the BBC ended Radio 4 Long Wave on 27 June 2026 and says Radio 4 remains available on FM and DAB. For quiet listening, choose a built-in speaker if you need sound in the room, or wired earphones if you do not want to disturb someone; check reception and the lowest volume setting where you plan to listen.
If you listen to an early Radio 4 bulletin, you may want a low speaker setting in a private room but earphones when someone else is asleep. The Met Office lists Shipping Forecast bulletins at 00:48 and 05:20 on FM; check the current schedule before relying on those times.
A pocketable radio and wired earphones suit listening while walking, travelling or carrying the set in a bag. Roberts says the supplied earphones for its SportsDAB 55 also act as its aerial, so check a model’s aerial arrangement before changing earphones.
A Radio 4 receiver can provide supplementary weather listening, but it is not a complete maritime-safety-information setup. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency describes dedicated methods for receiving safety information; follow its guidance for your vessel and voyage.
The BBC says Radio 4 remains on FM and DAB after its Long Wave closure. Once you have chosen a suitable reception format, decide whether you need room sound or private earphones, then consider power and controls.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet listening | Check for a built-in speaker or the earphone connection you need. Try the lowest volume setting in your intended listening space. | When someone nearby is asleep, I need sound that stays quiet enough for the room or earphones for private listening. Around 39% of consumers put quiet listening first. |
| Radio 4 reception | Choose FM and/or DAB/DAB+ rather than LW alone. Check local coverage and reception at the place you will listen. | If I am buying a radio for future forecasts, I need a way to receive Radio 4 after Long Wave and a usable signal at my location. Roughly 38% of consumers make reception continuity their primary concern. |
| Power and controls | Compare rechargeable and replaceable-battery models, then check preset access, a key lock and display-light controls. | For an early broadcast or a radio kept in my bag, I want to find the station quickly and manage the power without fuss. About 23% of consumers prioritise portable controls and power. |
The BBC ended Radio 4 Long Wave broadcasts on 27 June 2026. An LW-only receiver therefore does not meet this need for future Radio 4 listening.
Check the exact radio for FM and/or DAB/DAB+ reception instead.
Some personal radios depend on earphones: the LEMEGA PR1L listing says it has no built-in speaker, while Roberts says the SportsDAB 55’s supplied earphones also act as its aerial.
Confirm whether the exact model has a speaker and whether earphones must be connected for reception.
Ofcom’s DAB coverage maps show predicted coverage, not how a radio will receive inside a particular room, berth or cabin.
Check the map for your area and try reception at the intended location; an FM-capable model gives you another reception format to check.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency describes dedicated methods for disseminating maritime safety information, including NAVTEX and recognised satellite services. A consumer Radio 4 receiver does not replace the arrangements appropriate to a vessel and voyage.
Follow MCA guidance for your boating plans and treat the pocket radio as an additional listening source.
The SportsDAB 65 and SportsDAB 55 illustrate two different DAB+/FM listening arrangements for this choice.
The A2 is a compact, rechargeable DAB+/FM option for listeners planning to use wired earphones.
The PR1L is a small DAB/DAB+/FM choice for consumers who expect to listen through earphones.
The Petersfield Go is listed as a DAB+/FM pocket radio to consider when comparing reception formats.
Not if future Radio 4 reception is the reason for buying it. The BBC ended Radio 4 Long Wave on 27 June 2026 and says the station remains available on FM and DAB, so check for FM and/or DAB/DAB+ rather than choosing an LW-only set.
An FM or DAB/DAB+ radio is a suitable format choice for receiving Radio 4 where that service is available. The Met Office lists Shipping Forecast bulletins at 00:48 and 05:20 on FM; check the current Radio 4 schedule close to when you plan to listen, rather than relying on older Long Wave listings.
Choose a built-in speaker if you need to hear the forecast in a private room without wearing earphones; choose earphones when keeping the sound to yourself matters more. Roberts specifies both a speaker and supplied headphones for the SportsDAB 65, while the LEMEGA PR1L listing says that model has no built-in speaker. Try the lowest volume setting before relying on any speaker model for bedside use.
Check reception at the actual listening location before depending on it. Ofcom’s maps show predicted DAB coverage, but a prediction does not establish reception inside a particular building, berth or cabin; an FM-capable radio lets you check that format too.
No. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency describes dedicated methods for disseminating maritime safety information, including NAVTEX and recognised satellite services. Use a Radio 4 pocket receiver as supplementary listening and follow the information arrangements appropriate to your vessel and voyage.