Considering a DAB stereo

[t1 pcs]

Anyone got any opinion or experience as to how well these work in TVRs? Do you have to have a aerial on the roof or can it be tucked away and still work?

I'm getting sooo fed up with radio reception in the Chimaera that i'm thinking about treating myself to a new stereo.

Before you say it I know i should be listening to the engine but sometimes I need the radio to keep me awake on the long drives I do...

Thanks

Paul

[K1 Cerb]

Was looking myself recently...followed some threads here and found that the recepetion is patchy due to the small number of transmitters. The ariel has to be mounted vertically - although this may be in the boot. All in all it was gonna cost £1k for something iffy. I have gone for a new Head unit with CD etc instead. Will re-use the Changer in the boot - so have saved £700!

Keith P (K1 CERB)

[budd]

I've been looking at DAB head units and have found a Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB52 for £329 (plus £49 for a glass mount aerial)from Car electronics Ltd(www.cel-direct.com)it as 2pre outs and plays MP3's,it's got to be the cheapest way into DAB reception,has anyone else as found a better deal?

[bruce fielding]

I saw one being done at the TVR Centre - I think they mounted an aerial in the boot - a windscreen one around the rim - this might have been in addition to a windscreen one on the ... er... windscreen.

[fish]

Again I was disapointed with the reception in the Tuscan, and did try to inprove it but due the the limited earthing plane it offers didn't get too far.

Anyhow I've gone for DAB in the T350 which I do have reception for in my area.

Managed to get a top of the range JVC SH707 with aluminium front and DAB controlfor £225 (retail about £400-500) and a JVC DAB unit for £50 (uk not nicked boxed etc). All in all quite pleased its got loads of features and looks good, not too jazzy etc. It will even switch to DAB and back dependant on the best reception seamlessly. Can't wait to get the motor in a week and start playing.

I also understand you get new radio stations you can only get with DAB eg, comedy and news.

[gilesn]

I got a Pioneer DAB receiver factory fitted to my new Cerbera two years ago. The short aerial sticks out at the back of the roof which, I have to admit, doesn't look particularly good.

Reception and quality are brilliant. I live in Cambridge but have taken the car fairly far afield and get reception 99% of the time. Lots of stations. I would never go back to FM.

[t1 pcs]

thanks chaps. I think it sounds like i would need an external aerial which would look a bit shite on the Chimaera. I may give it a whirl though with a hidden one if I can find a cheap enough unit.

[RichB]

Before you give up on the your old fashiojned FM radio, I suggest you try one of www.mod-wise.com/page10.html amplified aerials. I put one in my Griff and reception is now about 95% , e.g. the RDS system etc. all works, whereas previously it couldn't locate anything other than local crap station. Took me about 60 mins to fix, because to do a nice job you need to run the co-ax cable through the nearside sill cavity, however the rest is plain sailing! Rich...

[anonymous-user]

Some people have criticised DAB for broadcasting in 128kbps, which in some instances has lead to a poor signal, some have said worse than analogue FM.

There are more stations available on DAB, but I don't think it has taken off in a big way.

Check out the Media UK forums.

www.mediauk.com

Lee

[jims2]

I have a DAB setup in my S. Which isn't quite as strange as you might think when you know that i won it via TopGear magazine. When you are in a signal area the reception is brilliant but it suffers the same problems as fm with bridges and tunnels etc.
The aerial is on the windscreen and works well. To be honest i spend most of my time listening to CD's and the reception from my old unit was really good so if i hadn't got it for free i wouldn't have bothered most of the additional stations are as bland as the current fm ones.