What happened to the DAB?

After much research I chose a COWON D2 (from Amazon). Everything is just fine, except that, although some 50 or so DAB stations show up as one progresses throught the list, none of them makes a whisper in the ear phones (of which I have tried three others besides those supplied). Fortunately the FM and my house DAB radios are all working well so I am not deprived of radio. I have run the COWON's retune process but to no effect. Is there anything else I can do, or is the item faulty?

DAB has always seemed like a waster of time to me. The sound quality isn't as good as FM, the hardware is more expensive and there are a wider range of radio stations available as internet streams. Perhaps it has some advantages for mobile use, although you could go with a 3G delivered audiostream.

I am open to being corrected here though.