Connecting DAB Radio to PCM via Aux

[peregrin99]

Has anyone tried connecting a DAB radio to the PCM via the Aux connection?

If yes, does it work reliably? Any tips?

Given the Ashes are coming up, I would like to get 5 Live Sports Extra via DAB. I'm considering connecting a portable DAB radio (like the Pure Move 2500).

I'm wondering if such a portable DAB radio will pick up a good enough signal when it's just sitting in the glovebox / on the passenger seat without a dedicated DAB aerial installed into the car.

Thanks for any tips / experience.

[Perec]

peregrin99 said:

Has anyone tried connecting a DAB radio to the PCM via the Aux connection?

If yes, does it work reliably? Any tips?

Given the Ashes are coming up, I would like to get 5 Live Sports Extra via DAB. I'm considering connecting a portable DAB radio (like the Pure Move 2500).

I'm wondering if such a portable DAB radio will pick up a good enough signal when it's just sitting in the glovebox / on the passenger seat without a dedicated DAB aerial installed into the car.

Thanks for any tips / experience.

I am probably going to fit a Pure to my 991 with a glass mount aerial. They are the size of a matchbox. I gather the Pure one is not great but there is a better one available.

[Stokepotter]

I did exactly the same thing with a portable Dab although not to PCM (it was on my last car). Reception is very, very dependent on the area you are in, unfortunately, there are still many, many black spots which mean without a dedicated aerial it will be very hit and miss.

[Stokepotter]

Just to add to my last post, the way around this is to simply to install the Tunein radio app to your smartphone and plug that in (assuming you have plenty of internet air time).
Although not 100% perfect, it is not far off.

[peregrin99]

I've tried connecting my iPhone using the BBC Radio Player app. However, I found I got very poor reception - usually lagging out to nothing after a few minutes.

Most of the dedicated car DAB kits seem to want to connect via their own FM signal, which seems a waste when we have a USB & Aux connection in the car.

Maybe I should just risk buying a portable DAB radio and hoping the reception in my area is OK.

[Porschecraig]

Use the Tunein app that is available for all smart phones. Best way for worldwide radio/dab and costs nothing!!

[PGM]

I'm interested in this too, connecting via bluetooth media into PCM.

How much data does it use?

Mobile phone signal isn't too good near me either so I take it neither will the service be?

[Perec]

I have so far not been able to get PCM to do anything but phone stuff over Bluetooth. Will it do audio?

[Porschecraig]

It depends on which version of PCM you are using.

If you have the current PCM 3 used in 991/981 cars then you will have the facility of Aux BT when connecting a bluetooth phone. This will allow bluetooth transfer of audio ie music stored on the device or streamed to the device over 3G from apps like Spotify, Napster, Tune In and BBC radio iplayer.

If you do not have this feature but you have a 3.5mm jack plug Aux input socket in your car which is available on all 981 product as standard and optional on 997/987 PCM systems then you can send the audio via this input.

On using these apps over your mobile phone network they use very little amount data from your mobile contract but best to check how much data you can use first. If you have say 1gb monthly data allowance i wouldn't be worrying about how much data radio/music apps use as it will be so little in comparison

Edited by Porschecraig on Monday 1st July 21:57

[Perec]

Porschecraig said:

It depends on which version of PCM you are using.

If you have the current PCM 3 used in 991/981 cars then you will have the facility of Aux BT when connecting a bluetooth phone. This will allow bluetooth transfer of audio ie music stored on the device or streamed to the device over 3G from apps like Spotify, Napster, Tune In and BBC radio iplayer.

If you do not have this feature but you have a 3.5mm jack plug Aux input socket in your car which is available on all 981 product as standard and optional on 997/987 PCM systems then you can send the audio via this input.

Mine is a 2012 991, which PCM is that? If it's the "right" one how do I access the Aux BT.

Thanks

[Porschecraig]

Perec said:

Mine is a 2012 991, which PCM is that? If it's the "right" one how do I access the Aux BT.

Thanks

You have PCM 3

When you press the Media button on your PCM you should see an option for Aux BT along with CD and Aux ones. Obviously your mobile phone must be connected 1st via bluetooth. If you do not see this option you should be able to go into the PCM settings to switch it on. If you select a media source ie Aux first then press the option button you will see a list of settings and one of them should be Aux BT. Make sure the box is ticked.

Edited by Porschecraig on Monday 1st July 22:06

[Perec]

Porschecraig said:

Perec said:

Mine is a 2012 991, which PCM is that? If it's the "right" one how do I access the Aux BT.

Thanks

You have PCM 3

When you press the Media button on your PCM you should see an option for Aux BT along with CD and Aux ones. Obviously your mobile phone must be connected 1st via bluetooth. If you do not see this option you should be able to go into the PCM settings to switch it on. If you select a media source ie Aux first then press the option button you will see a list of settings and one of them should be Aux BT. Make sure the box is ticked.

Edited by Porschecraig on Monday 1st July 22:06

Great, will give it a go. Thanks.

[Porschecraig]

Perec said:

Great, will give it a go. Thanks.

I suppose another easy way for you would be to connect your phone via the 3.5mm jack socket in the glovebox and switch pcm to Aux, but doing it wirelessly is much more convenient!!

[David W.]

Using Pure Highways here in farm tractors which works well broadcasting to cab radios. However, ipad with tuneit app with jack plug lead to Aux socket did Le Mans radio very well for me in a different machine so is a good option.

[Agent51]

You never know Porsche might release a DAB retrofit! Yeah right ....

[Porschecraig]

Agent51 said:

You never know Porsche might release a DAB retrofit! Yeah right ....

With FM frequencies going to be turned off in a few years like TV has done then every car manufacturer will eventually need to release a DAB upgrade option or the UK will have 99.999% of cars on the roads with a defunct radio!!!

Now that Porsche have released DAB for PCM 3 and CDR plus systems it will no doubt release a retro fit option over the next 12 months but will only be for PCM 3.

[dts439]

In case it helps anyone I ran a portable Pure PocketDAB 1500 in my old B7 A4 through the Aux input into an RNS-E for over a year just to get Radio 5.

The PocketDAB uses the mini jack cable as an aerial and I just had to find a reasonably long route for it to take. Did not get any interference and it lasts a long time on the rechargeable batteries. Quality was surprisingly good. Much better than the awful AM reception I had in that car.

[Agent51]

I would have thought Porsche would have had the courtesy to let it's customer base know what it intends to do regarding DAB. There are many owning 80k plus Porsche cars fumbling around for ideas on how get basic DAB radio to work, it really is quite riddiculous. BMW announced it's intention to fit DAB across the range 6 months in advance and released a retro fit at the same time. Pity Porsche are so conceited.

[Agent51]

Porschecraig said:

With FM frequencies going to be turned off in a few years like TV has done then every car manufacturer will eventually need to release a DAB upgrade option or the UK will have 99.999% of cars on the roads with a defunct radio!!!

Now that Porsche have released DAB for PCM 3 and CDR plus systems it will no doubt release a retro fit option over the next 12 months but will only be for PCM 3.

No doubt?

Craig How do you know this? And why would it only be for PCM 3 ? Do you know any of this for sure? only Porsche GB are telling me there are no plans to release a retrofit. I dont think they give a flying you know what about what they have sold - No DAB tough then buy a car with it fitted if you want it is their attitude and I don't see that changing. I think it would cause them too much trouble lol. My locall OPC were unable to retrofit a steering wheel ( car would not accept the codes) so I can imagine the sort of problems they could have with DAB !!

[henrycrun]

Any updates ?