TO DAB or not to DAB

[DirtyDog]

Now my zed has passed her MOT with flying colours I am at the stage to start gradually getting her back to a decent state but on a budget

One of my issues is the stereo - sorry if this has been covered loads in the past.
At present I have a Business head unit ( no Code) with a multi stack cd in the boot ( no cassette) and an aerial base which is damaged . I spoke to @spurs fan in a coupe to see if he had a used replacement as they are so overpriced new and even Ebay they are silly money.
He mentioned that one of the cars he has has a Dab aerial on the screen.

Now firstly I was going to change the head unit anyway as I want to be able to connect via bluetooth, usb .
A radio is not massively important but it would be nice.
I started looking at Sony units in Halfords which @Mnbrennan had mentioned to me the other day.
I think its this one -
http://www.halfords.com/technology/...luetooth?cm_re=Carousel-_-Position3-_-sonya60

Now this unit is not DAB so I will still need to find a replacement aerial so my question is has anyone done an after market aerial replacement.

If not I may look at a slightly more expensive unit, something like -

http://www.halfords.com/technology/...-bt39dab-car-stereo-with-bluetooth-hands-free

Any advice, experiences pictures would be great.
thanks.

 

[5harp3y]

i LOVE the DAB stereo in my volvo company car and i'm seriously considering one for the zed.

no experience of the window aerials but follwing with interest.

 

[DirtyDog]

i LOVE the DAB stereo in my volvo company car and i'm seriously considering one for the zed.

no experience of the window aerials but follwing with interest.

I love the range of stations you get on Dab these days and the coverage is getting so much better. My main car is programmed with so many dab stations now for different moods and different times of day/night.
Spurs fan in a coupe did say the stereo unit on the car he is stripping has a window aerial and sounds great.
The reviews on the net seem to be good as well.

 

[5harp3y]

This looks good, but check the web too as halfords arent always great on pricing

http://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/dab-car-stereos/pioneer-deh-4800dab-car-stereo

 

[Tracy Dee]

If you need to replace the Stereo anyway might as well go for Dab radio with the screen aerial
As the Z3 aerial has poor radio reception.

 

[DirtyDog]

Im liking the look of this one price wise -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pure-Headunit-Stereo-Control-Bluetooth/dp/B00PDCNR6Y
Same unit is £110 in halfords.
So i could get the aerial and adapter plug for just over £100

 

[oldcarman]

I have a Sony HU and shield aerial in my car from the UK. The sound is okay with CDs but can't pick up radio stations so not sure if it's the HU or the aerial! Will be changing both in spring and going with original BMW of some sort, either cassette or business as I hate the lighting on the Sony!! JIM

 

[Redline]

We're installing DAB transmitters around the country on a daily basis. Last week 45 went live ready for a new national DAB system carrying loads of services (some existing, some new).

The BBC are already starting to switch off (by stealth) some of their local medium wave (AM) stations and the expectation is, that with Dab gaining much wider coverage, that they will start the same on VHF (FM) stations sometime soon. I think we're approaching timing point for a large number of the commercial stations too with more switching off analogue transmitters and moving to DAB (where they haven't already). None of them can afford to power both analogue and digital transmitters, especially when on DAB you get 6-8 services at lower power and greater efficiency. More than 50% of new cars are now sold with DAB and its an option pretty much on all cars.

My advice is that if you do listen to the radio, you'd be getting potentially just a few years life out of a new radio if you don't go the DAB route.

 

[littlefeller]

what is exactly wrong with your Arial base?

 

[DirtyDog]

what is exactly wrong with your Arial base?

The aerial got knocked off and I belive it ripped the thread out the base unit.
I have nothing to screw the aerial Into now.
New ones cost too much and as the above remarks Dab ismore and more the future .

 

[littlefeller]

was considering removing mine and covering the hole up with something else, i dont use radio, if i do i will give you the nod, you can have it for free

 

[Synclare]

What is going to happen with current new/nearly new cars that have radios built into the dash, clearly these cannot be replaced with DAB ones from Halfords or wherever. Is there an upgrade unit for radios similar to a freeview digibox for analogue T.V's?

 

[t-tony]

A good point, there surely has to be some sort of a cross-over?

Tony.

 

[Redline]

What is going to happen with current new/nearly new cars that have radios built into the dash, clearly these cannot be replaced with DAB ones from Halfords or wherever. Is there an upgrade unit for radios similar to a freeview digibox for analogue T.V's?

The dab on most built in units is an additional device not part of the head unit. They can be added on afterwards but most manufacturers refuse to do it or make it too expensive.

You can get add on units that either use the FM to link in or via one of the interfaces. You usually loose any integration though. Not many about and it's something else to add in after phones, dash cams and satnav.

Massive pressure is being put on car manufacturers to install dab.

 

[Dino D]

was considering removing mine and covering the hole up with something else, i dont use radio, if i do i will give you the nod, you can have it for free

I believe BMW make a little grommet to fill in the hole left behind if you remove the antenna. If I ever get a restart I'll have the hole filled.

I've given up on getting radio reception (I stream 3G radio from the phone if needed instead) so have a super short stubby to replace the whip antenna.

 

[markvrs]

Hi Dino D

To save me getting a random ebay stubby, would you recommend the one you got? Which is it, looks nice and neat.

Cheers

 

[FRANKIE]

I have a Sony HU and shield aerial in my car from the UK. The sound is okay with CDs but can't pick up radio stations so not sure if it's the HU or the aerial! Will be changing both in spring and going with original BMW of some sort, either cassette or business as I hate the lighting on the Sony!! JIM

@oldcarman's quote: "The sound is okay with CDs but can't pick up radio stations so ......"

I think if you mount a 10 foot whip antenna off the bumper, you might pull in one from Ottawa........... Frankie

 

[5harp3y]

Hi Dino D

To save me getting a random ebay stubby, would you recommend the one you got? Which is it, looks nice and neat.

Cheers

i got a citroen one off ebay for mine

 

[Dino D]

I actually got a random one from EBay- as signal quality didn't matter just went for one I liked and was a good price.
If you want to get signal then it's another matter!

 

[FRANKIE]

i got a citroen one off ebay for mine

The wall looks like a past project gone awry.................. Frankie