Digital radio questions (flurry)

Hookay, pursuivant to the recent thread about Freeview digiboxes, I've now
got the Sagem (that PJO *made* me buy! :-) all nicely hooked up so that we
can view and record 'digital' simultaneously, rip to disc and do gawd knows
what else (but *not* set timed recordings from more than one digital channel
in the same session....!!).

(Gotta say it while I'm on, I thoroughly recommend these little buggers at
the knock-down price - ugly as sin but quick and zippy to use with good
onscreen graphics and perfectly acceptable 'digital' picture and sound
quality!)

One of the dubious benefits with Freeview is you get a number of Radio
stations included (like they're not oiling us up for the FM switchoff!)

Now, entirely disregarding my 'personal preferences' (otherwise we'll have
Rudi reaching for his squirrel gun, but I'll give you a clue - right now
I've got FM mono going through a pair of vintage Yank valve monoblocs and
it's so damn mellow I can slow the traffic down outside by 30%, just by
opening a window...) I've got a flurry of questions:


Anyone know when the FM switchoff is likely to be (sorry if this is already
well-known by everyone else)?

I've got it bypassed, but how long does it take to bugger up the screen on a
valve (CRT) telly with a fixed 'radio station' logo?

Conversely, will routing the digibox through a DVDR (which needs to be
switched on) for hours at a time do any harm to said DVDR? (Heat, laser or
summat?)

Anybody know a two click way of getting the audio only (up to 6 hours
worth!) off a DVD-RAM disk to HD/CDRW?

When FM is switched off will there be any independent/pirate FM
broadcasters?

Does Jazz FM *ever* broadcast actual Jazz?

Do the Freeview bitrates compare favourably with DAB broadcasts?

Is 'digital radio' really *radio* at all or is it just TV with a very boring
picture?

Is that right 'digital radio' will also broadcast pictures.... ?? (getting
*really* confused now!)

If they broadcast pictures with the radio will they be wanting a TV licence
fee paid...???

Will they/do they use any form of 'copy protection' with digital radio
(other than the DJ or presenter gabbling over the end of the music, like
they do...)?

And probably a dozen other things at a later date......!


(Questions like these need to be asked. - Enquiring minds need to know!)