Who needs which radio?

Full-timetable listeners

If you want the option to hear the midday and early-evening Radio 4 Shipping Forecast, start with a radio that explicitly lists LW. The Met Office says those two broadcasts are normally long-wave-only.

Early-broadcast listeners

If you mainly listen at 0048 or 0520, the Met Office lists FM alongside long wave for those broadcasts. An FM-capable radio can fit that routine; choose controls and a power arrangement that work where it will sit.

Listeners who also use other stations

If the radio will serve other listening in your hobby room, a DAB/FM model with presets may be useful. Keep FM on your requirements list for the published early Shipping Forecast broadcasts, and do not assume DAB replaces LW for the later slots.

What matters when choosing?

Settle your listening times before comparing controls or power options: the Met Office lists the 0048 and 0520 broadcasts on FM and long wave, but the 1201 and 1754 broadcasts normally on long wave only.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Broadcast times Check that LW is explicitly listed if you need the normally long-wave-only 1201 or 1754 broadcasts; an AM/FM label alone does not confirm LW. If I want to listen at midday or early evening, I need the radio to cover those broadcasts rather than only the FM slots. Around 42% of consumers put access across the published timetable first.
Repeat listening Check whether you would prefer a readable tuning dial or FM presets for returning to Radio 4. If I listen before dawn, I want to find the station again without fuss. Roughly 33% of consumers make straightforward repeat listening their main concern.
Power and placement Confirm the exact model’s power options and required batteries, then consider where it can sit for reception. A radio kept on a hobby-room shelf may need moving to another position to receive the broadcast. Around 25% of consumers prioritise flexible placement and power.

Buying pitfalls

  • Assuming AM/FM includes long wave

    An FM/AM radio may suit the early broadcasts without covering the 1201 and 1754 broadcasts, which the Met Office says are normally long-wave-only.

    Choose your listening times before shopping. If either later broadcast matters, look for LW explicitly in the radio’s band specification.

  • Assuming reception will be the same throughout the room

    A coverage prediction cannot establish reception at every listening position. Ofcom’s Coventry digital-radio coverage map, for instance, cautions that its prediction is not a warranty for every point shown.

    Test the intended broadcast where the radio will normally sit, and try another position or aerial orientation if reception is poor. Check the retailer’s return terms before buying.

  • Using forecast issue times as listening times

    The Met Office gives separate times for issuing the Shipping Forecast and for its Radio 4 broadcasts. Planning around an issue time could mean missing the bulletin you intended to hear.

    Use the Radio 4 broadcast timetable when deciding which listening slot and radio band you need.

Relevant portable-radio brands

Roberts

Roberts has models relevant to two different choices here: LW reception for the fuller broadcast timetable, or FM listening with digital-station presets.

  • Roberts specifies LW/MW/FM, a foldaway telescopic aerial, and 4 × AA or USB-C power for the Play FM.
  • Roberts lists DAB/DAB+/FM and 20 presets for the Play 11, but not LW. Choose it for this purpose only if the FM broadcast times suit you.

Panasonic

Panasonic has FM-capable portable radios relevant to listeners whose Shipping Forecast routine fits the published FM broadcasts.

  • Panasonic lists FM/AM, AC-adaptor or battery power, and a large dial for the RF-2400DEB-K.
  • The listed bands for the RF-2400DEB-K do not include LW. Panasonic’s RF-D15EG-K is a DAB+/FM option, not an LW substitute for the normally long-wave-only broadcasts.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need long wave to hear the Shipping Forecast?

You need an LW-capable radio if you want access to the full published Radio 4 broadcast timetable. The Met Office lists 0048 and 0520 on both FM and long wave, while 1201 and 1754 are normally long-wave-only.

Will an FM-only or DAB/FM portable radio work?

An FM-capable radio can serve the published 0048 and 0520 Radio 4 broadcasts. Check that the model explicitly includes FM; DAB capability alone does not establish access to those FM broadcasts or the normally long-wave-only later ones.

How should I check reception in my hobby room?

Test the radio at your intended listening position during a relevant broadcast. If the model has an adjustable aerial, try its available positions, then move the radio within the room if reception is poor; do not treat a coverage prediction as a guarantee for that spot.

Do I need a TV Licence just to listen to a conventional radio?

Listening to a conventional radio broadcast alone is not among the activities TV Licensing identifies as requiring a TV Licence. Its guidance does identify watching live TV and using BBC iPlayer, so check the applicable requirements if you also do either of those.