Adding DAB radio to a 2011 A4

[Ray Singh]

My father in law would like to add a DAB radio to his 2011 Audi A4.
Is there an easy way?

I wondered if the car came with a audio in socket somewhere? I had a quick look, but it was too dark and raining to find....

Thanks.

[Cupramax]

Audio input is under the central armrest. You can retro fit the factory DAB but its £550.

http://hazzydayz.com/genuine-audi-infotainment-dab...

[Dr G]

What's in the car already in terms of media options? If it's on the basic side you could add a Gateway 500 for iPod, USB and analogue inputs which has an optional DAB add-on.

[Ray Singh]

Thanks Cupramax/Dr G

The car has advanced MMI - nav, reversing aid all that jazz....

I have asked my father in law to tell me if the car has an aux in. If so, something from PURE should work, but pretty naff solution.

[Raven Flyer]

You can simulate having DAB by turning the radio off and then on again, for the duration of your journey, at approx 400m intervals.

DAB is quite possibly the worst idea for cars ever imagined. Internet radio is the future.

[Ray Singh]

Raven Flyer said:

You can simulate having DAB by turning the radio off and then on again, for the duration of your journey, at approx 400m intervals.

DAB is quite possibly the worst idea for cars ever imagined. Internet radio is the future.

Father in law wants to listen to some indian radio stations.....

[chimp427]

you could try an add on kit and tuck it away somewhere but when i researched it you would need to add a better aerial than the one supplied as most say the windscreen stick on type is rubbish.
If it has bluetooth you could stream internet radio from a mobile etc but reliability is based on mobile data signal.

http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/Audi_AutoDAB_integrat...

[Cupramax]

Raven Flyer said:

You can simulate having DAB by turning the radio off and then on again, for the duration of your journey, at approx 400m intervals.

DAB is quite possibly the worst idea for cars ever imagined. Internet radio is the future.

Yep, thats pretty much my experience too, i dont know if the coverage is particularly st where i am on the south coast or Audis DAB installation is poor, but after trying it for a few weeks when i first got the car, my tuner is now firmly back on FM. It also seems to sound considerably better on FM so the bitrates on dab must be really poor.

[FUBAR]

Timely post as I just logged on to ask if there was a way of boosting the DAB in my S4. For my 30 minute commute from Horsham to Brighton just about any DAB station 'below' BBC cuts out for half the journey. Bloody annoying, especially as it means I have to keep listening to Nick fking Grimshaw every morning.

[Raven Flyer]

FUBAR said:

Timely post as I just logged on to ask if there was a way of boosting the DAB in my S4. For my 30 minute commute from Horsham to Brighton just about any DAB station 'below' BBC cuts out for half the journey. Bloody annoying, especially as it means I have to keep listening to Nick fking Grimshaw every morning.

If the station you want isn't on the Audi Internet Radio list (why is this list not as full as 'Tunein"?) then stream internet radio from your iPhone using TuneIn or similar.

Otherwise, the bandwidth of FM is far superior to DAB and gives a much richer sound. It might work OK for voice stations in central London. Elsewhere it is useless.

[FUBAR]

Its Radio X...only on FM in London and Manchester.

[Raven Flyer]

It's an internet station, available anywhere.

http://tunein.com/radio/Radio-X-%28UK%29-a38316/

You can stream it from your phone but I'm pretty sure it's in the internet radio list in the MMI high media centre.

[FUBAR]

Im lucky to get through a day with my Samsung just making phone calls...streaming internet radio would kill the battery. Just a shame DAB reception is so bad, particularly in VAG cars.

[Raven Flyer]

DAB is the same in all cars. It is based on lots of low power transmitters. It wasn't designed to work with receivers that are travelling around and so it just doesn't work in cars.

On my last car, someone spent £400 on the DAB option. This was £400 wasted. On my current car it comes as standard so cost me nothing.

Fortunately internet radio is standard too.

[FUBAR]

Need to see if I have that (if I know what I'm looking for!)