BBC Listen Again .rm -> .mp3

Does 'Listen Again' count as digital radio? Apologies if not.

I occasionally download .rm files from the BBC's Listen Again service,
and convert them to .mp3 for use in the car.

I imaging that the limiting factor in the quality of these files is
[related to] the bitrate of the .rm file. Is there an optimum bitrate I
should be using for the .mp3 files - I'm currently using around 96kbps
mono to get as many files as possible onto my sd card, but the .mp3 file
is several times larger than the source .rm.

Any suggestions?

I think you'll find that 48kbps wouldn't lose anything. That's what I use
when I convert to WMA. I keep it in stereo, though. The files end up

How come you can't even manage to stretch to 64 kbps WMA? Is space that
tight?

slightly larger than the .rm file, siggesting I could possibly drop the rate
even more.

One annoying thing I find is that a number of programmes don't use the full
dynamic range available, so the peak amplitude can be as low as 50% of what
is available. I tend to renormalise the files, so I don't have to turn up
the volume to maximum to hear them.

I also hear (on Feedback, I think) that they are planning to make more
programmes available as MP3 podcasts, thus making it a lot less hassle.

TIA

Nik

PS: Is there a tool anywhere that I could use to put in a UK route and
get accurate details of DAB coverage along that route?