DAB+ Switzerland: Coverage, Receivers and the FM Switch-off Explained for Residents from Abroad
Radio finds no stations? Check DAB+ Switzerland coverage first
- Start a station scan.
- Check that the radio says DAB+. A plain FM radio will not receive SRG stations.
- Pull the antenna out fully and move the radio to a window.
- In the car: check for an adapter or a DAB+ car radio.
Which radio do I need? DAB+ receivers by room
DAB+ and FM compared after the FM switch-off
| FM | DAB+ | Internet radio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works without internet | yes | yes | no |
| When the signal gets weak | crackles | drops out | depends on the connection |
| Device needed | FM radio | DAB+ radio | smartphone, speaker or internet radio |
| SRG stations since 2025 | no | yes | yes |
Anyone who moves to Switzerland and switches on a radio from their last home may hear nothing from the main national stations. The reason is a change of system. SRG, the public broadcaster behind SRF, RTS and RSI, left FM on 31 December 2024. Its programmes now come over DAB+ and the internet.
DAB+ is the digital radio standard that Switzerland uses. A radio has to say DAB+ on the device or in the manual, and DAB+ stations show a plus sign after the name. According to dabplus.ch, DAB+ covers over 99 percent of the population, and all national road tunnels longer than 300 metres have been equipped with it since the end of 2019. For DAB+ Switzerland coverage, the [coverage and reception page](/en/coverage-reception/) shows how to check your own address.
FM is not simply gone. Parliament decided in December 2025 to continue it, and new FM licences run from 2027 to 2034. Whether and when SRG returns to FM is not confirmed, so a DAB+ radio is the safe choice for now. The FM switch-off page keeps the dated log. A DAB+ radio also contains an FM tuner, which covers both cases.
The pages cover DAB+ Switzerland coverage, DAB+ Switzerland receivers for kitchen, car and hi-fi, and the FM switch-off. Coverage depends on the address, which is why the coverage page shows how to check it. Receivers are described by what to look for when buying, and each page carries a date, since the situation has changed more than once.
For context on the figures: dabplus.ch counts 12 language-region and regional DAB+ networks and 18 local ones, carrying more than 150 programmes (as of 7 October 2026). According to SRF, the SRG runs about 260 DAB+ transmitters, against more than 850 FM sites in 2024. SRF also reports that over 80 percent of listening is digital and only 8 percent is FM-only. To check whether a home address is covered, the reception maps from BAKOM and Broadcast Networks are linked on the transmitters page.
Anyone who wants to keep an older FM car radio has several routes according to SRF: an adapter on the AUX input, an adapter with an adhesive antenna, or installation by a specialist garage. In November 2024 the TCS tested four simple DAB+ adapters. All four received DAB+ well, and sound over the AUX cable was clearly better than over an FM transmitter. The Swiss consumer foundation lists further options: keep using the FM radio, play from a smartphone over Bluetooth or USB, or buy a new radio.
Is FM radio still available in Switzerland?
Yes, but not from SRG at present. SRG stations left FM on 31 December 2024. Parliament decided on 9 December 2025 to continue FM, and new licences run from 2027 to 2034.
Does my radio from abroad work in Switzerland?
Only if it is a DAB+ radio. Look for the DAB+ label and run a station scan. A plain FM radio will not receive the SRG stations.
Where can I see which stations I can receive?
Use the BAKOM transmitter map and the programme filter on dabplus.ch, then run a station scan on the radio. The coverage page explains the steps.
What should I look for in receivers?
For DAB+ Switzerland receivers, look for the DAB+ label on the device or in the manual, a station scan that finds stations, and a plus sign after the station names. A plain FM radio is not enough after the FM switch-off of SRG.