DAB Car Radio

[Sterillium]

I drive an old Jag with a regular car radio, but I'd like a DAB radio in the car that is removable.

I've seen a few things, like THIS, anyone know if they're any good?

[Scrump]

I have a bit of second hand experience with a few similar devices, I have observed that the type/quality/location of the aerial makes a huge difference to how well these perform.

[Tyre Smoke]

Yes. Is the short answer.

I had a Pure Highway and it was brilliant. What I would say though is get a mag mount DAB aerial. Markedly better and consistent reception.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BT64MXF/ref=cm_sw_r...

[FilH]

I have a nextbase one in my sierra.

Yep pretty good if you have a line in on your original stereo, as via fm not so good. Make sure its dab+ to get all the stations.

The supplied antennas are a wire film that sticks on a window, thats just about okay for me, but im east of london, its not so good in more remote areas.

If you have a factory fitted external antenna , look to see if you can swap it for one that has a dab and fm connection, something from eightwood ( about £30 via Amazon ). Ive done this on my mondeo and the reception is very good most of the time.

[Emily's dad]

I’ve got the “200” version of the Pure Highway in my Volvo.

Works as well as the factory fitted DAB in my wife’s car.
Both lose signal once in a while, but can’t fault it for the £35 it cost.

[Sterillium]

Are they a bugger to fit?

[Tyre Smoke]

Sterillium said:

Are they a bugger to fit?

Awful.

Stick the holder to the windscreen like a phone holder, screw aerial cable to back of the radio, take the power lead and plug into the cigarette socket. Tidy the aerial lead away, tune the in car radio to the DAB frequency and away you go.

5 minutes? And that includes not reading the manual.

[MXRod]

I fitted an after-market( Pioneer) unit to fit in my MX5 , and after fitting, I replaced the OEM retractable aerial with a short , about 30cm ,dedicated amplified FM/DAB aerial ( Amazon ) I am well satisfied with reception quality ( better than the OEM DAB radio in my Tiguan) The radio also has Bluetooth and external memory input .
The unit will automatically switch from DAB to FM and back depending on signal strength and if stations are running parallel .
I had used Pure Highway units in my van , but they struggled finding blank space to use FM to retransmit to the main unit , perhaps newer versions now use Bluetooth

[Emily's dad]

Sterillium said:

Are they a bugger to fit?

https://youtu.be/uMUwsPB9Lmg

Absolute doddle to install.

[MC Bodge]

I fitted a Sonichi S100 plug in DAB with an external magnetic aerial to our ye olde Fiesta (via a cable into the secret aux-in pins on the back of the radio)

It works really well.

I did have a Pure Highway for many years until it failed.

I use another Sonichi S100 in the garage (powered from a USB supply), plugged into a hi-fi amplifier, that we had in another car.

[FilH]

MC Bodge said:

I fitted a Sonichi S100 plug in DAB with an external magnetic aerial to our ye olde Fiesta (via a cable into the secret aux-in pins on the back of the radio)

It works really well.

I did have a Pure Highway for many years until it failed.

I use another Sonichi S100 in the garage (powered from a USB supply), plugged into a hi-fi amplifier, that we had in another car.

Would avoid that one doesn't appear to be dab+ , so won't get you all available

[MC Bodge]

FilH said:

MC Bodge said:

I fitted a Sonichi S100 plug in DAB with an external magnetic aerial to our ye olde Fiesta (via a cable into the secret aux-in pins on the back of the radio)

It works really well.

I did have a Pure Highway for many years until it failed.

I use another Sonichi S100 in the garage (powered from a USB supply), plugged into a hi-fi amplifier, that we had in another car.

Would avoid that one doesn't appear to be dab+ , so won't get you all available

It's only used for 6Music and R4