Retro fitting a DAB radio into an 'old' car

Stat Brother · Sep 1, 2016

Is it worth it?

Much to my surprise Halfrauds have a car DAB radio for only £69 with a 'stick on the windscreen' aerial for an extra £20.

That all seems too good to be true, does it work well enough?

mikeyjh · Sep 1, 2016

Stat Brother said:
Is it worth it?

Much to my surprise Halfrauds have a car DAB radio for only £69 with a 'stick on the windscreen' aerial for an extra £20.

That all seems too good to be true, does it work well enough?

We paid a load more for a multi function GPS/DAB thingy that cost about £500 from Huets but effectively the aerial is still internal and stuck to the windscreen. Works brilliantly, only blackout points on DAB between here and Derbyshire or South Wales are for a couple of seconds at a roundabout just after Worthing and just by the Rose Bowl, other than that.....

Dick Swiveller · Sep 2, 2016

Got DAB with my new car. Different stations seem to have different drop out rates. I like Absolute 80s but it drops out 8 times in my 15 minute commute. Nice listening to TMS without squealing though.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

happypig · Sep 2, 2016

Depends on your windscreen too, some block more UV (and therefore more of the RF spectrum) than others.

HantsSeagull · Sep 2, 2016

got mine done at Halfords - only had a radio/cassette thing in my old heap of junk - and it works fine. no regrets at all.

Hugo Rune · Sep 2, 2016

I retrofitted a cheap Chinese Android 'look-a-like-OEM'. It's touchscreen with apps so I use Tunein.

Stat Brother · Sep 2, 2016

Hugo Rune said:
I retrofitted a cheap Chinese Android 'look-a-like-OEM'. It's touchscreen with apps so I use Tunein.

Hi, I don't think we've met.
My name is Stat, and I will be removing a CASSETTE player. :lolol:

I have another car on 'standby' just in case I manage to lose a rear wheel, during the procedure!

What are you talking about? :lol:

Tim Over Whelmed · Sep 2, 2016

I have a factory fitted DAB Radio, if you live anywhere near Arundel or travel via The South Downs forget it!

Moshe Gariani · Sep 2, 2016

HantsSeagull said:
got mine done at Halfords - only had a radio/cassette thing in my old heap of junk - and it works fine. no regrets at all.

Did you get it for £89 all in...?

HantsSeagull · Sep 2, 2016

Moshe Gariani said:
Did you get it for £89 all in...?

I paid for a pioneer DAB radio/cd player with the internal aerial thing plus fitting - approx. £120 I think

Stat Brother · Sep 4, 2016

I've only gone and bloody well done it.

For £90 I've gone from a cassette player to fully functioning (in my driveway at least) DAB radio + all the extra gubbins.

I'm an absolute idiot at this sort of stuff but 2 separate Youtube vids made the job a piece off wee-wee.
If you're thinking of doing the upgrade, do it.

I guarantee it's easier than you think.

BN9 BHA · Sep 4, 2016

Stat Brother said:
I've only gone and bloody well done it.

For £90 I've gone from a cassette player to fully functioning (in my driveway at least) DAB radio + all the extra gubbins.

I'm an absolute idiot at this sort of stuff but 2 separate Youtube vids made the job a piece off wee-wee.
If you're thinking of doing the upgrade, do it.

I guarantee it's easier than you think.

What are the extra gubbiing?
And how much do Halfords charge for installation?

Worried Man Blues · Sep 4, 2016

Oh dear, cassettes are the new vinyl

Stat Brother said:
I've only gone and bloody well done it.

For £90 I've gone from a cassette player to fully functioning (in my driveway at least) DAB radio + all the extra gubbins.

I'm an absolute idiot at this sort of stuff but 2 separate Youtube vids made the job a piece off wee-wee.
If you're thinking of doing the upgrade, do it.

I guarantee it's easier than you think.

Stat Brother · Sep 4, 2016

bn9 bha said:
What are the extra gubbiing?
And how much do Halfords charge for installation?

I-Pod, Android, USB connection all the stuff that wasn't standard when cassette players were installed in cars :lol:

I think Halfords charge £30 but I don't know if that's for aerial AND the unit or not.

All I did was copy these 2 fellas:-

&

This one was even easier than the video, as the harness connection didn't need attaching, as they just clip together.

Stat Brother · Sep 4, 2016

Worried Man Blues said:
Oh dear, cassettes are the new vinyl

Oh no definitely not.
Driving around and teaching the kids lazy racial stereotyping while listening to Panjab Radio, is the new vinyl. :lolol:

spongy · Sep 4, 2016

dab is all well and good but if you have a weak signal, instead of getting hissing and faint signal through the speakers the whole signal goes and you have nothing, rather like trying to watch a buffering stream of football.

When I lived in woodingdean I bought a dab tuner for the house and loved it. Had loads of channels. Then I moved to Burgess Hill and with the same set up I could only get 5!, now I live in Hassocks and I can't get any signal whatsoever. I might as well use it as a rather expensive door stop. Even with an extended aerial I can't receive anything.

knocky1 · Sep 4, 2016

spongy said:
dab is all well and good but if you have a weak signal, instead of getting hissing and faint signal through the speakers the whole signal goes and you have nothing, rather like trying to watch a buffering stream of football.

When I lived in woodingdean I bought a dab tuner for the house and loved it. Had loads of channels. Then I moved to Burgess Hill and with the same set up I could only get 5!, now I live in Hassocks and I can't get any signal whatsoever. I might as well use it as a rather expensive door stop. Even with an extended aerial I can't receive anything.

I'm sure you have, but just in case, have you done an auto retune each time you moved?

Motogull · Sep 4, 2016

Sounds like you've doubled the value of your motor [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION].

Stat Brother · Sep 4, 2016

Motogull said:
Sounds like you've doubled the value of your motor [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION].

That's not even a joke.

I'm going to have to start locking it now it's got a £70 wireless.

spongy · Sep 4, 2016

knocky1 said:
I'm sure you have, but just in case, have you done an auto retune each time you moved?

Yep. I've tried everything, even extending the aerial lead, it appears I live in a black hole for radio signal!

Even my fm signal is rubbish. When I'm not at an away game and I need to listen in I have to use my phone and sit by the window as I can't trail the aerial lead across the floor with a 2 year old running riot. Bloody nightmare....

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