Hey guys.

Another question I know... But what ever happened to DAB radio? I would have thought it would be standard in new cars by now... but that doesn't look the case. Can the 500 be fitted with DAB without affecting the look of the dash?

crabman

it won't be standard until the government decide when they will switch over the analogue radio signal. The car manufacturers aren't going to put it into new cars until they know there will be a need for it. Apparently the conversion cost will be c£300. Personally I won't bother as i only really listen to music on my USB stick!

DAB doesn't lke a moving target.

Isn't it an option? Think it was for the bravo.

There was a programme on tv the other day where they were testing DAB car radios in London... and the upshot of it was that the signal wasn't good enough, although that was balanced out by the extra choice.

I have read that the coding of DAB may be changed to DAB+ in a few years time when the government can make its mind up about the future of DAB, rendering most DAB radios available at the moment redundant. Some (eg the Pure Evoke Flow) are being sold with the capability to upgrade them to DAB+ for a fee if/when it becomes necessary.

crabman said:

I would have thought it would be standard in new cars by now...

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It was only 12 months ago Fiat fitted CD players as standard across the range

DAB will be a while longer

chrome500 said:

There was a programme on tv the other day where they were testing DAB car radios in London... and the upshot of it was that the signal wasn't good enough, although that was balanced out by the extra choice.

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That's available here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8137429.stm

Actually one of DAB's design objectives was for use in cars.

Unfortunately the suppliers of DAB tuners insisting on using a "price skimming" model (i.e. really high price) for so long that the technology has been completely superceeded by FreeView and Internet radio, leaving just in-car use where it would really be of benefit.

It would be greatly beneficial for the Government to get rid of AM & FM since, like FreeView, DAB needs far less transmitters. But realistically there are far too many sets that would become obscelete so it's unlikely to happen any time soon.

Re conversion cost, frankly it is next to nothing. Bosch have had a single-chip DAB tuner for a long time, hence the arrival of the £25 DAB sets in Sainsbury's etc.

Cheers

I reckon we'll have upgraded our mobile wifi before DAB gets a chance to take off, we'll all be listening to internet radio in our cars...yay!

Hellcat said:

DAB doesn't lke a moving target.

Isn't it an option? Think it was for the bravo.

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I know it's not the most elegant solution but we've got one of these and it works great

http://www.pure.com/products/product.asp?Product=VL-60905

Shminty said:

I reckon we'll have upgraded our mobile wifi before DAB gets a chance to take off, we'll all be listening to internet radio in our cars...yay!

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Agree with this. DAB has no future IMO.

DAB on grande puntos......but who listens to the radio especially radio one:tosser:

several people have written in to Radio Times complaining about the quality of DAB radio when compared to a good FM signal, and enquiring about when the FM signal will be turned off... I think the reply was that DAB has to have been taken up by a fairly high percentage of the population before this will happen, which I doubt any time soon.

T14086 said:

DAB on grande puntos......but who listens to the radio especially radio one:tosser:

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Planet Rock is good though

306maxi said:

Planet Rock is good though

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96.3 rock radio :slayer:

http://www.rockradio.co.uk/scotland/

DAB signals are crap. The present analogue system works just fine thanks, and if the government thinks we are all going to throw our old radios out just for some crappy novelty replacement, offering nothing but any number of puerile kiddy stations, it has got another think coming.

T14086 said:

96.3 rock radio :slayer:

http://www.rockradio.co.uk/scotland/

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Don't get that here of course. We have a Rock radio here which seems to play non-stop dance, rap and R&B. WTF?

Ulpian said:

DAB signals are crap. The present analogue system works just fine thanks, and if the government thinks we are all going to throw our old radios out just for some crappy novelty replacement, offering nothing but any number of puerile kiddy stations, it has got another think coming.

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Have you ever used a DAB radio?

Ulpian said:

DAB signals are crap. The present analogue system works just fine thanks, and if the government thinks we are all going to throw our old radios out just for some crappy novelty replacement, offering nothing but any number of puerile kiddy stations, it has got another think coming.

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I have a DAB radio next to my bed. It's great having the choice of stations (especially 5 Live) but I have to agree the signal is total pants. Try and use laptop in bed, DAB signal goes. Open door onto balcony, DAB signal goes. My lodger goes into his room, DAB signal goes. Get the ironing board out of the airing cupboard, DAB signal goes. This in itself is enough to put me off buying a DAB radio for the car!

Yep. A friend has one, and the sound is tinny and fades in and out all the time. It is the most annoying instrument I've heard. Unless it can offer a real improvement over a beautiful mellifluous analogue, which so far it can't, I'll stay where I am.

I only ever listen to about four stations anyway.

Seems a bit like washing machines: a million different cycles and we only ever use two.

Wow, I'm surprised about everyone's posts regarding the quality of DAB and it's reception. I was well up for getting a DAB radio so I would have more choice, and thinking the sound would be better - thank goodness for this forum!

I would like to possibly get an iphone and stream internet radio off that, quite a few people I know manage it although I know there can be buffering when on the move...

I'll just play with my interscope for now