DAB Radio for Aston Martin
Discussion
Hello All,
After much buggering about to get it right
..... I have developed a solution to enable the use Digital radio in the current model range of Aston Martins, using the VH platform.
The way it works is as follows;
A hideaway DAB and DAB+ tuner box is fitted to the car. Providing the car has steering wheel controls (all from MY08 on and bluetooth equipped cars prior to this)then this will control the DAB tuner and access to the DAB menu. The unit is powered by a permanent feed for retention of station memory, ground and connection to the car's wake up line for switch on. The antenna for the DAB is derived from the existing vehicle antenna split using an active splitter/amplifier to give FM/AM and DAB frequencies. This allows me to do away with the tacky looking stick on aftermarket antenna.
When in use the DAB tuner takes over the antenna line and modulates (converts) the DAB signal to an FM frequency (87.7 or thereabouts) and gives RDS (Radio Data System) information showing the DAB station identifier. Hope that last bit makes sense, or see the picture below.
In practice, there is nothing on show, display is on the radio display and control via the SWC.
Easy innit!!
Now for the not so good bits....
Coverage. As with new technology, there are gaps in the network. It is certainly better than it was, and it will need to get better before the 50% uptake allows Digital radio to take over from FM. In testing around Stratstone Hagley today, (Thankyou guys. Even Ian, for the ride in the V8S. It certainly handles well..
) BTW the DBS ultimates look very cool.) BBC stations were extremely good (radio 3 listening to quiet pieces with a V8S in Sport mode was a tad difficult) talksport was mostly OK, Absolute 80's was patchy. Having said that BBC stations were better on DAB in the area than FM. It must be remembered though that the DAB tuner can be switched off and FM reverted to, if required. Radio 5 Live and sports extra were spot on.
Cost - £499 inc VAT, fitted. Any VH (Gaydon) Cars. Other cars on application.
Many Thanks for your time.
Kind Regards,
James @ Trackaphone
Monsieur Yeti and DBS Nick, I will be in touch in the next few days, if you are still interested in having it fitted.
After much buggering about to get it right
..... I have developed a solution to enable the use Digital radio in the current model range of Aston Martins, using the VH platform.The way it works is as follows;
A hideaway DAB and DAB+ tuner box is fitted to the car. Providing the car has steering wheel controls (all from MY08 on and bluetooth equipped cars prior to this)then this will control the DAB tuner and access to the DAB menu. The unit is powered by a permanent feed for retention of station memory, ground and connection to the car's wake up line for switch on. The antenna for the DAB is derived from the existing vehicle antenna split using an active splitter/amplifier to give FM/AM and DAB frequencies. This allows me to do away with the tacky looking stick on aftermarket antenna.
When in use the DAB tuner takes over the antenna line and modulates (converts) the DAB signal to an FM frequency (87.7 or thereabouts) and gives RDS (Radio Data System) information showing the DAB station identifier. Hope that last bit makes sense, or see the picture below.
In practice, there is nothing on show, display is on the radio display and control via the SWC.
Easy innit!!
Now for the not so good bits....
Coverage. As with new technology, there are gaps in the network. It is certainly better than it was, and it will need to get better before the 50% uptake allows Digital radio to take over from FM. In testing around Stratstone Hagley today, (Thankyou guys. Even Ian, for the ride in the V8S. It certainly handles well..
) BTW the DBS ultimates look very cool.) BBC stations were extremely good (radio 3 listening to quiet pieces with a V8S in Sport mode was a tad difficult) talksport was mostly OK, Absolute 80's was patchy. Having said that BBC stations were better on DAB in the area than FM. It must be remembered though that the DAB tuner can be switched off and FM reverted to, if required. Radio 5 Live and sports extra were spot on.Cost - £499 inc VAT, fitted. Any VH (Gaydon) Cars. Other cars on application.
Many Thanks for your time.
Kind Regards,
James @ Trackaphone
Monsieur Yeti and DBS Nick, I will be in touch in the next few days, if you are still interested in having it fitted.
)
BingoBob said:
James, is the FM / DAD feed switchable?
Bingo,Yes, you can switch the DAB tuner off from the SWC and revert to FM. The relays will switch the aerial feed back to the FM tuner when the DAB tuner turns off.
What's a DAD feed?
Some sort of Parental responsibility....
James
hornbaek said:
On the topic of DAB I was in the States last week and rented a car with Sirius which was absolutely brilliant. Is that a kind of subscription services and why don't we have it here in the UK. Can anyone enlighten me. ?
Sirius was the on thing that saved me on my daily commute to work when living in the states, the local radio was shocking and it was nice to listen to Radio1 even though it was 5 hrs delayed.Black9 said:
James great work, can you have presets or is the only option to use the SWC to search for the station?
You have what they call favourite stations. These are selected by a long press of the seek up/ down button, rather than a press and release. In practise, say you are listening to absolute 80's and you want to listen to 5live but only have radio 2 in your favourites list. Press and hold seek up for radio 2 then press seek up 3 times for 5 live. If you then want to store 5live, simply press volume down volume up. It will then speak to you and say 'added to favourite list'. If you wanted to delete a station from the favourite list, then it is the same process, volume down volume up. Voice prompt will confirm 'favourite removed. It will also show on the radio display, added or deleted.Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
James
Black9 said:
Sirius was the on thing that saved me on my daily commute to work when living in the states, the local radio was shocking and it was nice to listen to Radio1 even though it was 5 hrs delayed.
Yes, thank God for Sirius and BBC World. Shame that the sound quality is so absolutely appalling though. No one would tolerate it here. hornbaek said:
On the topic of DAB I was in the States last week and rented a car with Sirius which was absolutely brilliant. Is that a kind of subscription services and why don't we have it here in the UK. Can anyone enlighten me. ?
I think it's satellite based?We don't have it here, but it can't be long before 3G streaming is reliable enough everywhere in the UK to make it not worth having here.
In the US of course, being a lot bigger it's a different matter.
- Steve
Is this playing back through the MOST bus, or patched into the radio (looks like the latter - playing through 87.7?).
Also...for pre-08 cars, even with OEM Bluetooth, can the steering wheel still be used? It doesn't have ffwd/rwd buttons...(and if yes, does the iPod kit also make use of the steering wheel buttons?).
Also...for pre-08 cars, even with OEM Bluetooth, can the steering wheel still be used? It doesn't have ffwd/rwd buttons...(and if yes, does the iPod kit also make use of the steering wheel buttons?).
Andy,
Yes it is an FM modulator kit. The MOST integration would make it too expensive. However this switches off the antenna's when they pass through the DAB Tuner. The Aston's use two FM antenna's and the tuner switches between the two to obtain the best signal. 87.7Mhz is at the lower end of the FM spectrum for FM broadcast and not normally used apart from low power temporary broadcasts of traffic info for shows etc or Pirate stations. Therefore with this kit fitted there should be no bleed over of FM channels on the DAB unit.
If you have a pre-08 car with OEM bluetooth, then the steering wheel controls can still be used. It just takes a longer press to make the Bluetooth kit work, over the top of the DAB. There is the facility for a separate remote control unit though for cars without SWC. Unfortunately the SWC do not control the Ipod. SWC on pre 08 are Bluetooth only. The control wire from the steering column goes straight to the BT box. On later cars, the SWC wire goes to the ICM (Radio unit) and is then incorporated into the MOST to control phone, Ipod, CD etc.
All the best,
James
Yes it is an FM modulator kit. The MOST integration would make it too expensive. However this switches off the antenna's when they pass through the DAB Tuner. The Aston's use two FM antenna's and the tuner switches between the two to obtain the best signal. 87.7Mhz is at the lower end of the FM spectrum for FM broadcast and not normally used apart from low power temporary broadcasts of traffic info for shows etc or Pirate stations. Therefore with this kit fitted there should be no bleed over of FM channels on the DAB unit.
If you have a pre-08 car with OEM bluetooth, then the steering wheel controls can still be used. It just takes a longer press to make the Bluetooth kit work, over the top of the DAB. There is the facility for a separate remote control unit though for cars without SWC. Unfortunately the SWC do not control the Ipod. SWC on pre 08 are Bluetooth only. The control wire from the steering column goes straight to the BT box. On later cars, the SWC wire goes to the ICM (Radio unit) and is then incorporated into the MOST to control phone, Ipod, CD etc.
All the best,
James
Edited by Paralight on Wednesday 11th July 09:56
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