Anyone got a DAB Radio in their bus, if so what is it, is it any good and what sort of aerial are you using? If you have any photos as well would be great.
I've just bought an Alpine CDE 136BT unit with DAB and Bluetooth. The hands free is really clear. All I really wanted was a remote control so I can switch on the radio while in bed but got swayed by the packaging I'll let you know about the antenna. Having a problem with the Alpine one. It needs to be stuck to both window as body work. Popping back to Safe n Sound in Croydon to discuss options. The window rubbers on buses is far larger for it all to come together. I'll get a photo later of this.
I'll be interested how this turns out as I really want DAB in my bus. I have it in my car and its ace. i have got used to 6 music wherever I go and it is hard losing that when I am in the bus.
I have for 3 years now been great. http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jvc-kddb52-dab-car-digital-radio.html http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jvc-dab-fm-combination-roof-aerial.html loads of aerial options http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/dab-antenna-and-cables/
You need an external aerial. I've had all of the options, proper external DAB aerial, external screen mount aerial and internal screen mount aerial. Don't bother with the internal option, it needs a strong signal and coverage isn't good enough yet. The external screen mount isn't quite as good as the proper hard mounted external version, but it is good enough and you don't need to drill a hole in your van.
thats odd i had a screen one and had no problems and i had the radio dropped out more on FM than dab dab map http://www.ukdigitalradio.com/coverage/postcodesearch/
I'm not convinced. I need to read the manual about tuning in DAB. The internal antenna by Alpine is probably the worst thing about this set up. Cheers for the heads up on options. I'll look into it.
I've got 2 cars in the drive now, one with an internal screen mount DAB aerial and one with a properly hard mounted aerial. We have a weak signal at home and the screen mount doesn't get a signal whereas the hard mount is perfect. The screen mount is OK when the signal is strong, but otherwise a bit of a waste of time. Obviously, this is only my experience with particular products but the extrenal screen mount fitted to the works pickup is significantly better than the internal screen mount as well.
I bought a cheapo Sony from Halfords with DAB for £99 with remote. I only bought it as it has all the old FM,MW etc as well and when they get round to turning the signal old signal off I will be ready, well all bar a DAB aerial. This one http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_918359_langId_-1_categoryId_265865
Pity that DAB coverage is patchy - bought a DAB radio for the house and soon got fed up with the MPEG blorp and sploot noises . Some parts of Europe have dumped DAB because it is hopeless in a lot of places .. in favour of DAB+ with better error correction. And the powers that be have gone a bit quiet on dumping FM. I will hang on.
If you get a proper hard mounted DAB aerial coverage is actually pretty good, but then the install cost goes up a lot. Cheapo aerial = Marmite results with DAB.
I have a head unit with a pop out 7" screen so I've just ordered a freeview receiver so I can listen to digital radio and watch tv too. It comes with two amplified aerials which stick to the windows and you are supposed to put them at opposite sides of the vehicle eg front left, rear right. It has two tuners and two aerials to get a better signal and is supposed to work up to 230km/h. Theres also a spare video out so I could fit a second screen on the roof if I want. I'll post a review when I get it.
I'm not convinced. I tried tuning my radio in this weekend while out in the open and it picked up nothing. I'm about to buy a booster thing. I'll report back when I have results.
Well I tried the booster antenna and it seems to work far better than the Alpine made window thing. Bought from eBay for £23.90. Tap in "DAB Radio Car Stereos Aerial Splitter Antenna for Alpine Headunits" or whatever your head unit is. Seems to do the trick. Picks up far more stations but still I have the drop out while driving. Perhaps I should extend the buses antenna all the way?? That said I get drop out from the DAB at home so I'm not surprised but it does work.
I've got a jvc dab (db 52 I think). It's in my car, rather than my bus. It came with a remote control & internal mounted aerial. This aerial mainly works fine, but I think it depends on reception. In Sheffield it works fine, it works fine all the way down the M1 to J17. Recently I've been in the Midlands a lot and it is terrible around Warwick and Leamington, so it's all about the dab coverage. If you need a new radio then id replace with dab, if its not urgent I'd give it a couple of years until the technology gets better. Hope that helps
I am not convinced its DAB coverage thats the problem its aftermarket radios and antennas. My car came with a DAB factory fitted and I have yet to travel anywhere and not get a good Radio 6 reception. To be fair I haven't been to the Scottish highlands but have driven up to to Glasgow, Edinburgh and back and have done pretty much all regions of England, some of Wales. I am in Cornwall at the minute and its still fine everywhere.
Perhaps, but why does mine work perfectly in some areas, but not at all in other areas? Same aerial in all areas
Thats my point. There will be signal variation but I honestly get spot on reception everywhere so with the right ariel and radio it ought to work fine.
Bertiebot, I think you are right. I've just replaced my aerial and all is good with my dab reception again! It is only a stick on aerial but it works perfectly in my car. As an alternative to shelling out for dab radio someone told me about a mobile pone app called tunein radio. I tried it the other day whilst driving and i could listen to digital radio by connecting my mobile phone to the stereo in my van. So if you have a mobile phone and a stereo that accepts inputs, then you can go digital without getting a new stereo. I know this is an old thread, but this info may be of use to those considering digital radio in their vans!
