Discussion
Anyone tried fitting a digital radio to their Chimaera yet ?
If yes, did you fit a digital aerial and if so where and how good is the reception whilst driving around.
I need to change my setup as the CD changer has packed up and its still the original naff tape deck version but don't want to go digital unless the radio reception is going to be useful.
Cheers.
If yes, did you fit a digital aerial and if so where and how good is the reception whilst driving around.
I need to change my setup as the CD changer has packed up and its still the original naff tape deck version but don't want to go digital unless the radio reception is going to be useful.
Cheers.
Best off waiting till it becomes more popular for more options
But- parrots new headunit works with smart phones, using 3G and apps
It's probaly the way I'm going to go if I ever use my car again!
http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-k...
But- parrots new headunit works with smart phones, using 3G and apps
It's probaly the way I'm going to go if I ever use my car again!
http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-k...
Edited by Alexdaredevilz on Tuesday 19th July 23:35
We bought one of these http://www.marksandspencer.com/Pure-Highway-In-Car... the intention being that it could be transferred around the three cars. The windscreen aerial was crap, so we bought an externally mounted magnetic one. The reception along the S Wales M4 corridor, is erratic to say the least, the signal is for ever dropping in and out to the point that it really isn't worth it.
Having said that, the in car DAB that was in car we hired in Florida was superb.
Having said that, the in car DAB that was in car we hired in Florida was superb.
taylormj4 said:
Anyone tried fitting a digital radio to their Chimaera yet ?
If yes, did you fit a digital aerial and if so where and how good is the reception whilst driving around.
I need to change my setup as the CD changer has packed up and its still the original naff tape deck version but don't want to go digital unless the radio reception is going to be useful.
Cheers.
I'm using a Pure Highway in my beemer with an in-car windscreen aerial. DAB reception is inconsistent at best but would be markedly better with an external aerial if you are prepared to go down that route.If yes, did you fit a digital aerial and if so where and how good is the reception whilst driving around.
I need to change my setup as the CD changer has packed up and its still the original naff tape deck version but don't want to go digital unless the radio reception is going to be useful.
Cheers.
I've found that on most motorways and major routes the reception is pretty good, there are just some irritating dead spots where the signal drops out. I listen to 5 live all the time and the AM signal here is so poor that DAB is a distinct improvement.
I'll be putting a DAB in my cerb but will do some soul-searching on the aerial front!
Hi,
I dont have DAB radio, but noted that your CD changer had packed up. I changed my head unit to something that was i-pod and usb compatiable so that I could get rid of the CD changer which was positioned a bit stupidly in the boot and was getting in the way of the roof panels when I put them in (split roof conversion).
I ended up with an ebay special, a second hand Pioneer DEH-50UB. It has a single disc slot, but I have got it wired to a memory stick via the usb port. the memory stick sits in the glove box and has the capacity to store lots of muzac.
forgot to mention... I also fitted the modwise amplified aerial and it picks up 'normal' radio far better than the standard aerial setup.
I dont have DAB radio, but noted that your CD changer had packed up. I changed my head unit to something that was i-pod and usb compatiable so that I could get rid of the CD changer which was positioned a bit stupidly in the boot and was getting in the way of the roof panels when I put them in (split roof conversion).
I ended up with an ebay special, a second hand Pioneer DEH-50UB. It has a single disc slot, but I have got it wired to a memory stick via the usb port. the memory stick sits in the glove box and has the capacity to store lots of muzac.
forgot to mention... I also fitted the modwise amplified aerial and it picks up 'normal' radio far better than the standard aerial setup.
My Beemer has built in DAB and it's Awesome. I travel all over the country, to some far flung places, and it works pretty much all the tiime. I had a Pure Highway in my last car with a screen mount aerial and it was fine, not great, but fine.
I also had a Blaupunkt head unit in a car a while back the had DAB built in and used a window mount aerial, similar to the old carphone aerials from back in the day, the ones with the antenna stucking up from the back window. That worked very well too.
A friend of mine in the car audio industry suggested mounting a fixed aerial to a piece of metalwork, hidden in the body or behind the dash to get the best reception. Not sure where you'll find that on a TVR though.
I also had a Blaupunkt head unit in a car a while back the had DAB built in and used a window mount aerial, similar to the old carphone aerials from back in the day, the ones with the antenna stucking up from the back window. That worked very well too.
A friend of mine in the car audio industry suggested mounting a fixed aerial to a piece of metalwork, hidden in the body or behind the dash to get the best reception. Not sure where you'll find that on a TVR though.
Awesome replies guys thanks. Just what I was hoping for.
Marty V8: funny you should say that, I was thinking along exactly the same lines particularly the USB stick, should reduce weight a bit too ! My changer is mounted on top of the petrol tank, which doesn't obstruct the roof panel. I was a bit alarmed initially that it might have been screwed into the tank itself by some idiot audio fitter but thankfully only short screws used it appears.
Thanks again guys, I think I'll steer away from DAB then, I'm certainly not going to fit an external aerial to the body - had thought about one along the chassis, using the chassis as the ground plane earth. I guess I'll just have to listen to "Absolute 80s" at home !
Marty V8: funny you should say that, I was thinking along exactly the same lines particularly the USB stick, should reduce weight a bit too ! My changer is mounted on top of the petrol tank, which doesn't obstruct the roof panel. I was a bit alarmed initially that it might have been screwed into the tank itself by some idiot audio fitter but thankfully only short screws used it appears.
Thanks again guys, I think I'll steer away from DAB then, I'm certainly not going to fit an external aerial to the body - had thought about one along the chassis, using the chassis as the ground plane earth. I guess I'll just have to listen to "Absolute 80s" at home !
Edited by taylormj4 on Wednesday 20th July 23:49
I have had a blaupunkt dab54 headunit in my chimaera for last 2 years or so, i am using a glass mount aerial that is still in its packet shoved under the dashboard, works quite well but i have another helical aerial that i have nt gt round to mounting elsewhere yet, got it from www.dabonwheels.com good range of stuff there, also have a jvc headunit in my fabia vrs witha mag mount aerial reception is far better.
Dab is the only option if you are addicted to planet rock!
Andy
Dab is the only option if you are addicted to planet rock!
Andy
+1 blaupunkt dab54 headunit
+1 www.dabonwheels.com
DAB for Five Live & Sport (and loads of obscure traffic stuff if you have the time to search!!) listened to without the crackling of MW/LW (tech term, not food!)
But mines in the M/Home not Chim!!!
The M'Home is fibreglass like the Chim and I use a window aerial which is susceptable to blocking by the bulk of the M/H - there are still lots of areas without DAB or rather poor DAB reception.
Trev
+1 www.dabonwheels.com
DAB for Five Live & Sport (and loads of obscure traffic stuff if you have the time to search!!) listened to without the crackling of MW/LW (tech term, not food!)
But mines in the M/Home not Chim!!!
The M'Home is fibreglass like the Chim and I use a window aerial which is susceptable to blocking by the bulk of the M/H - there are still lots of areas without DAB or rather poor DAB reception.
Trev
I'm thinking of getting one of these for my Pure highway.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Anybody tried one?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Anybody tried one?
I have a Sony CDX-DAB-6650 in the Chim and the Cerb.
In the Chim I used the stick on window aerial and it is pretty rubbish. I have been meaning to buy a decent aerial. I do still use it but it drops out quite a few times on my commute from A303 to London. Before you spend any cash I would check if the areas you drive in have coverage!
In the Cerb I bought a Magnetwig aerial from dabonwheels. I just jammed it up above the passenger footwell. It performs much better than the window aerial, still area dependent obviously, but less drop outs.
I have them to listen to Radio 5, but if the DAB stations you are listening to has an FM equivalent it will switch between the two.
I would not be without it and am looking at getting DAB fitted to my B5 RS4 also - seems a bit more involved than changing the head unit!!
I also understand that DAB in the current format is unlikely to be around for ever, but I want to listen to sport now not in a few years.
In the Chim I used the stick on window aerial and it is pretty rubbish. I have been meaning to buy a decent aerial. I do still use it but it drops out quite a few times on my commute from A303 to London. Before you spend any cash I would check if the areas you drive in have coverage!
In the Cerb I bought a Magnetwig aerial from dabonwheels. I just jammed it up above the passenger footwell. It performs much better than the window aerial, still area dependent obviously, but less drop outs.
I have them to listen to Radio 5, but if the DAB stations you are listening to has an FM equivalent it will switch between the two.
I would not be without it and am looking at getting DAB fitted to my B5 RS4 also - seems a bit more involved than changing the head unit!!
I also understand that DAB in the current format is unlikely to be around for ever, but I want to listen to sport now not in a few years.
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