Dab radio mp3 advice (1 Viewer)

[snowdrops]

In our last campervan, we had a great radio and speaker system. We were able to fade the sound to the back only if we wanted. Great for snuggling with music at night.

We can't remember the make of this. Wondered if anyone has any recommendations on some kit. We defo need mp3, not too bothered about cds. Also, do we need to buy separate speakers for the rear ? We're just about to start the electrics for Jumbo so need to know so we can give the converters the stuff.

Thanx in anticipation of wise words :thumb:

 

[Jaws]

Pretty much any car sterio can do what you want ( inc play MP3's ) but not DAB.

As DAB is still fairly flaky in a good many places it is still not a great idea to fit a DAB car radio..

 

[ivorantony]

I have to disagree with DAB reception, I had a Sony radio CD player in our A class with truly miserable radio reception, so done away with the crappy windscreen aerial and fitted two too the chassis with a splitter and took my power feeds from the leisure battery, it improved by about 50% but still suffered from a weak signal,
So bit the bullet! Brought the latest Sony DAB/CD/iPod/AUX radio, fitted it and though the FM/AM radio hadn't improved the DAB was usable around most of the country,
But last week I decided to sort it once and for all! Brought a quality DAB/fM/AM aerial with AMP, drilled a hole in the roof through to the wardrobe,
Brought some copper tape and made a good ground plane and wired to the chassis, ran the wiring clear of most electrical circuits to cut down on interference, and yesterday done my first trip to Worcester from Kent,
Normally I like to listen to LBC/smooth/ radio4/3/2, with LBC being lossed as soon as getting on the M25 south of London , well what a revelation, had LBC on all the way to Banbury with absolutely no drop outs, stopped for a drink and decided to see if smooth could be listen too, again strength 5 all the way to Worcester, I am delighted with the reception on DAB and FM and MW/ LW are also usable, Easter we re going to Scotland so the true test will be done then but after travelling 180 from London and still being able to pick up a London station speaks volumes:thumb: the Sony radio has the latest DAB+ so can pick up DAB abroad and with a iPod connected can play two solid days of music from a 32G unit,
This is a long way of saying that the DAB radio network is way better than I expected and I would definitely buy DAB radio again if needed:thumb:

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bellini]

I've got and had DAB radio in a few of my cars.

The key is a quality aerial.

On my Land Rover 110, it's a wing-mounted aerial which was fine until I took it off when greenlaning…. oops!

On my last Range Rover, it was a sticky screen-mounted one fitted by a car audio specialist.

Both worked exceptionally well and on travels all over the UK, we've only ever had two brief dead spots on reception.

I'm getting another fitted in Udo soon. Not sure what it'll be yet as a motorhome's requirements are somewhat different from a car. The output power needs to be high to overcome the relative noise of a 22 year-old diesel donk and the speakers need to be of very high quality to avoid distortion. But it's the speaker location that's critical and getting wires hidden.

Regardless, have a good look at this website….

www.dabonwheels.co.uk

Halfords seem to stock a good range these days as well. Interestingly, a few years ago they all but discontinued their DAB range due to low demand but it seems to be gaining justified popularity now.

 

[Zains Pops]

I have DAB in my car for the past four years. Been all over Uk never had a serious problem. Radio5 superb, million times better than on AM. Am now looking for another new car and surprised that the manufacturers are not fitting DAB as standard.
Given a choice I would always fit DAB.

 

[Jaws]

I have to disagree with DAB reception, I had a Sony radio CD player in our A class with truly miserable radio reception, so done away with the crappy windscreen aerial and fitted two too the chassis with a splitter and took my power feeds from the leisure battery, it improved by about 50% but still suffered from a weak signal,
So bit the bullet! Brought the latest Sony DAB/CD/iPod/AUX radio, fitted it and though the FM/AM radio hadn't improved the DAB was usable around most of the country,
But last week I decided to sort it once and for all! Brought a quality DAB/fM/AM aerial with AMP, drilled a hole in the roof through to the wardrobe,
Brought some copper tape and made a good ground plane and wired to the chassis, ran the wiring clear of most electrical circuits to cut down on interference, and yesterday done my first trip to Worcester from Kent,
Normally I like to listen to LBC/smooth/ radio4/3/2, with LBC being lossed as soon as getting on the M25 south of London , well what a revelation, had LBC on all the way to Banbury with absolutely no drop outs, stopped for a drink and decided to see if smooth could be listen too, again strength 5 all the way to Worcester, I am delighted with the reception on DAB and FM and MW/ LW are also usable, Easter we re going to Scotland so the true test will be done then but after travelling 180 from London and still being able to pick up a London station speaks volumes:thumb: the Sony radio has the latest DAB+ so can pick up DAB abroad and with a iPod connected can play two solid days of music from a 32G unit,
This is a long way of saying that the DAB radio network is way better than I expected and I would definitely buy DAB radio again if needed:thumb:

Thanks for that.. I had to review a couple last year. Great when near towns but even on the M11 from where it joins the A11 right down to Stanstead the things were as much good as a brick.

If the powers that be have completed the DAB roll out across the UK ( an average of 400% increase in transmitter power to cover the same area as an analogue unit ) then that is good news indeed.

In the early days all the mobile ( as in car ) units seemed to have only DAB and FM as an option. Having used the supplied link ( thank you Belini :thumb: ) I see that most if not all now seem to have the full compliment of bands available on them.

Quite amazing how far stuff moves on in just a year !

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Forestboy]

Well I disagree my car has the latest Sony DAB system and when it's got a good signal it's fantastic but as soon as it weakens it's rubbish. Unfortunately there are few places between the midlands and South Wales with a decent signal so I've given up and leave it on fm. We are also looking for a new system for our van but wouldn't waste money on a DAB system just not stable enough.

 

[ivorantony]

Well I disagree my car has the latest Sony DAB system and when it's got a good signal it's fantastic but as soon as it weakens it's rubbish. Unfortunately there are few places between the midlands and South Wales with a decent signal so I've given up and leave it on fm. We are also looking for a new system for our van but wouldn't waste money on a DAB system just not stable enough.

When I first fitted the Sony radio using the stuck on screen aerial it was usable but did suffer from drop outs as we travelled, so hence the change to a top quality technic roof aerial from DABonwheels,
I must say it's the best £60 I have spent,
but the proof of the pudding will be Easter on my trip to Scotland, I will report back with a update good or bad,

 

[Zains Pops]

I guess the DAB reception must be linked to the on vehicle set up. My car Jag XF has a factory fitted system and works clear and loud all way from M25 M11 to A1 Newcastle clear and true.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Forestboy]

When I first fitted the Sony radio using the stuck on screen aerial it was usable but did suffer from drop outs as we travelled, so hence the change to a top quality technic roof aerial from DABonwheels,
I must say it's the best £60 I have spent,
but the proof of the pudding will be Easter on my trip to Scotland, I will report back with a update good or bad,

Be interested to see how you get on as mine has the factory aerial which as I said is not very good. If a good quality aerial is the cure might consider one for the van as when it does work it's superb, just not reliable enough at the moment. :thumb:

 

[snowdrops]

Ok, can see the DAB has a pretty polarised following, have decided to abandon DAB and just normal AM/FM radio that plays mp3/ipod/android. Soooooo with this in mind, can anyone suggest a good system and advise on how we go about getting a fading system into the back ? We need front to drive with, back for when we're parked up. The van is a Ford Jumbo so long way to the front, rear speakers essential.