FM radio signals can be affected by fine weather including high pressure and the only solution is to wait for the weather to change, you should not re-tune during this time. Our information on how clear skies and fine weather can affect your radio receptionmay be useful, please see our Weather Guide. Pirate Radio Yes, you can listen to regular radio stations for free on Alexa. The only costs will be your internet connection and the Alexa device itself. TuneIn lets you listen to thousands of radio stations from across the globe, including almost every national, regional and local radio station in the UK (see the full list of UK stations available here). iHeartRadio Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The Roberts iStream 3 has a very conventional speaker array. It uses a woofer and a tweeter, and no passive radiators. Some Alexa-compatible online streaming services such as Spotify have paid premium plans, but these are optional. You can listen to the same stations that are available on AM, FM and DAB for free using Alexa (as long as they also broadcast online).

8. Best bedside DAB radio: Pure Siesta S6

If you're still using an analogue FM radio, it might be time to switch over to a digital radio instead. That's because DAB radios offer a wider range of stations to choose from and the sound tends to be crisper as there's less disturbance. Most FM car radios have a Radio Data System (RDS) built in. We use the RDS to ‘tell’ your radio if there is a better or stronger frequency for the radio service you are listening to, as you travel around. However, if you are using a frequency, you have preset and there is no radio service on that frequency in your location, then the RDS may not work. At that point you will need to tune your radio until you find a signal. Aerials

If you are experiencing pixellation or picture break up, it may be that your signal is too strong as this often presents itself similarly to a weak signal. This is likely to happen if you live close to a transmitter. Plus, you can also listen to Virgin Radio Anthems, Virgin Radio Chilled or Virgin Radio 80s Plus - just say any of those station names instead! If you want to treat the iSteam 3 such as a classic DAB radio, you can. Use the knobs to select stations on the colour LCD and you can ignore all its streaming features. This is handy if you live with someone much less techy than yourself. We make sure to test each model in a range of environments and against its chief competitors too, so you can be sure that the product will work just as well in your home, in whichever spot you've chosen to put it. We live with these radios in our homes to make sure that the performances are consistent, and we don't finalize our testing until we are certain of the sound quality. They’re also particularly useful for radios with lots of functionality, such as internet radios, where performing a long series of button presses can get clunky.

Can Alexa play local radio stations?

You can find out more about Global Player and the Global family of brands including Capital, Capital XTRA, Capital Dance, Heart, LBC, Smooth and Classic FM right here. While the Echo is classed as a ‘smart speaker’, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s just a fancy speaker. It’s really much more than that. The Echo uses voice-recognition technology and artificial intelligence to be a multi-purpose personal assistant/home entertainment device. Radioplay gives you a choice of over 450 UK radio stations (see the full list here). You can also ask it for recommendations based on where you live, what’s popular and other things you have listened to. If you and your partner need to get up at different times, look for a model with dual independent alarms, an increasingly common feature. Snooze button

Alexa has thousands of ‘skills’, which allow it to perform different functions such as telling you the latest news and weather, controlling the lights in your home and playing radio stations. If you have a smartphone, you can stream everything internet radios offer to a Bluetooth DAB radio instead, which will cost less. All of which means you need a DAB radio. After all, most DAB radios double up as a Bluetooth speaker, so you’re getting a 2-in-1 device. Before you part with your hard-earned cash, it’s worth knowing more about DAB radios and what they can do. What is DAB radio? Missed your favourite Virgin Radio UK show? If you register for a free account you can catch up on demand in the app! Just head to the schedule and choose the date and show you want to hear.Internet-connected radios have wi-fi, usually in addition to DAB and FM radio. They generally now have Bluetooth, too, to stream audio from your smartphone or tablet. This means you get a wide choice of ways to listen. The best internet radios tend to be sold at a premium as a result, and there aren’t that many internet radios on the market to choose from in the first place. They’re usually either tabletop or portable radios. Pros of internet radios: