Digital Radio or Not ?

[Salmon]

Can we receive digital radio with a new radio installed?
I guess the Aerials are the same?
And should I? I hear the signal can be less than ideal on car digital is this true.
I don't have my radio code so thinking of buying a new radio.
Any advice experience very welcome.
75 diesel. 2005 saloon

[coolcat]

Originally Posted by Salmon

Can we receive digital radio with a new radio installed?
I guess the Aerials are the same?
And should I? I hear the signal can be less than ideal on car digital is this true.
I don't have my radio code so thinking of buying a new radio.
Any advice experience very welcome.
75 diesel. 2005 saloon

Hi Neil,

Pleasure speaking to you earlier.
Just found this post and in answer, only if you buy a radio with DAB built in or you buy an extra external DAB tuner to use in addition.
Unfortunately they do not use the same bandwidth as FM so another aerial would be required to get decent reception with the DAB system.
Please be aware that DAB reception can be variable depending on location as well


Edit....could a Moderator please move this to the Ice section and also get in touch with the OP as he can't seem to start a thread other than in 'Technical'

[suzublu]

And done Jeff.

[okenora]

Ideally you would need a new/second antenna tuned for DAB (225-230Mhz) as well as the currently fitted one for FM (88-108mhz). Having said that, most people report satisfactory reception using an existing FM antenna for DAB reception. This is possibly due to the fact that most car aerials are not actually tuned for their frequency of use and OE setups with FM and DAB rarely have separate antennae, simply using one for both systems.

The only possible problem with the Rover is the diversity amplifier (if fitted). It may be relatively narrow banded which will hamper the DAB reception, though I do not know if it is or not. Only way to know is try it.

[coolcat]

Originally Posted by okenora

Ideally you would need a new/second antenna tuned for DAB (225-230Mhz) as well as the currently fitted one for FM (88-108mhz). Having said that, most people report satisfactory reception using an existing FM antenna for DAB reception. This is possibly due to the fact that most car aerials are not actually tuned for their frequency of use and OE setups with FM and DAB rarely have separate antennae, simply using one for both systems.

The only possible problem with the Rover is the diversity amplifier (if fitted). It may be relatively narrow banded which will hamper the DAB reception, though I do not know if it is or not. Only way to know is try it.

The bad news is that they do not work well with our factory fit diversity aerials and in fringe reception areas you really do need to use a DAB aerial to stand any chance of reliable reception.
In the larger towns and cities I should think you would be more likely to have better results using the existing aerial but even then I would suggest using a separate aerial to maintain signal quality

[Doghouse]

I always found the DAB radio in my old car a right pain in the a*/? forever losing digital signal then reverting to analogue, losing the last 2-3 seconds of whatever you were listening to, then it would find a DAB signal and lose the next 2-3 seconds of what you were listening to on fm as it jumped forward.

Eventually i just left it on FM

[coolcat]

Originally Posted by Doghouse

I always found the DAB radio in my old car a right pain in the a*/? forever losing digital signal then reverting to analogue, losing the last 2-3 seconds of whatever you were listening to, then it would find a DAB signal and lose the next 2-3 seconds of what you were listening to on fm as it jumped forward.

Eventually i just left it on FM

It would seem that our part of the world is dealt a poor show with DAB broadcasting.
Our local last is only a few miles up the road in Manningtree and yet we still get a bad reception!
Typical of coastal locations for both Radio and Tv transmissions

[klarzy]

Originally Posted by Doghouse

I always found the DAB radio in my old car a right pain in the a*/? forever losing digital signal then reverting to analogue, losing the last 2-3 seconds of whatever you were listening to, then it would find a DAB signal and lose the next 2-3 seconds of what you were listening to on fm as it jumped forward.

Eventually i just left it on FM

agree... it just does not seem to work well

[Tatts]

Best money I've spent on the ZT, was an DAB HU and upgraded speakers.

I listen to rock music, and there's nothing on FM that caters for that type of music genre only. On DAB there's quite a few

As said above, your location will dictate what stations you can receive, I'm lucky here in S Yorks, loads of choice.

One other thing, digital reception is either on or off, FM is a bit more forgiving to poor reception areas; I lose DAB in the trough of hills sometimes, and occasionally in heavilly wooded areas.

[murphyv310]

Hi.
Our outmoded DAB system falls behind Europe who uses DAB+
Lets not forget that a good analogue system will always be better than a digital system unless said digital system has a very high sampling rate, then though it will use the same bandwidth if there is no compression etc.
FM has been around in the UK since 1955 when the Wrotham transmitter opened and in reality the quality is higher than DAB especially when you listen to some stations with low bit rates. No wonder there is now no set plans to switch off Band 2 FM transmissions.