I've never had DAB in any of my cars. I was looking on youtube the other day and remembered this video where he discusses why DAB is so bad. My current car has an android head unit and therefore the ability to add a DAB antenna if I want, but I'm wondering if it's even worth it when I only listen to a few FM stations if at all, and I can use internet radio apps if I want to. Then you have the slight faff of fitting a DAB antenna to your windscreen or window..... what do you think? Experiences?
Do you use DAB radio in your car? Is it worth it?
- Thread starter jaybee
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I have DAB in both my cars and I don't think it's very good.
The biggest issue is signal quality - because its digital, you either have signal or you don't. This means I find it constantly cuts out - sometimes even in the most unlikely of places like in towns and cities. At first I wondered if it was something wrong with my car, but I've experienced the same thing in other cars I drive and the same thing in both of my cars. I've also spoken to others who have experienced the same thing.
When it works, its great - good sound quality, a good range of stations - but the constant cutting in and out of signal is really annoying.
The biggest issue is signal quality - because its digital, you either have signal or you don't. This means I find it constantly cuts out - sometimes even in the most unlikely of places like in towns and cities. At first I wondered if it was something wrong with my car, but I've experienced the same thing in other cars I drive and the same thing in both of my cars. I've also spoken to others who have experienced the same thing.
When it works, its great - good sound quality, a good range of stations - but the constant cutting in and out of signal is really annoying.
Deleted User 298457
Deleted User 298457
It's a pretty terrible technology for cars. I think my Mercedes automatically switches between DAB and FM as sometimes I get static. Could be dreaming though.
Soldato
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I wouldn't bother is its 32Kbs - Radio X at 96 rather than Radio 1 128Kbs is bad enough.
Mine also blends so dont experience the drops outs
Mine also blends so dont experience the drops outs
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Exactly this - the signal strength seems to be so much worse than FM, although some of this I put down to the removal of proper roof aerials. (DAB was better in my MK3 Focus which did have a roof aerial)
My Kuga links DAB and FM so if the DAB signal drops it instantly switches to the same station on FM, which is fine in theory but the FM station is normally a slightly different volume, so you end up with the volume constantly varying up and down, so it's arguably better just to listen to it on FM
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have you tried using them ? (...same as accessing streaming services but) do you find you get good/unbroken reception in the car via your phone,/HU sim, or, need to download playlists.
...but yes, title to the DAB video says it all 32kbs, I don't get out of bed for less than 160
I second this. Had a couple of aftermarket head units, and whilst the first one was okay with DAB, the second one did the same thing. I listen to XFM (or Radio X or whatever it is now), but I'm in Medway. Reception could always be a little patchy with FM, but still audible, but with DAB, it kept cutting out entirely.
I'd rather lose a little quality that just have huge gaps in the output. I think some head units have a feature where they'll switch back to the FM station if the DAB one cuts out, but I don't know how seamless they are.
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Had DAB in last 3 cars and all worked fine. Not sure I would bother if it wasn't already standard though.
I either get absolutely perfect DAB signal everywhere or mine does this seamlessly to the point I don't even realise it's doing it
Soldato
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I just changed the radio in my Golf for a unit with dab and it's terrible. 
DAB is awful, too many channels squeezed together with the quality reduced to get them all in. A good FM signal is always, always going to be better quality.
Admittedly quality isn't the most important thing in the car so let's talk about signal strength instead. With DAB being digital, you either get a signal or you don't. There's no fading away, it's either there or it vanishes. You can be on the edge of a coverage area and listening to the wireless, just waiting to hear the answer to the quiz or the comedy show you're listening to and it just disappears. On FM, the signal would fade, you'd still hear it, albeit noisy.
Digital is not always best, despite what the government tell you. Don't even start me on digital TV.
Admittedly quality isn't the most important thing in the car so let's talk about signal strength instead. With DAB being digital, you either get a signal or you don't. There's no fading away, it's either there or it vanishes. You can be on the edge of a coverage area and listening to the wireless, just waiting to hear the answer to the quiz or the comedy show you're listening to and it just disappears. On FM, the signal would fade, you'd still hear it, albeit noisy.
Digital is not always best, despite what the government tell you. Don't even start me on digital TV.
Deleted User 298457
Deleted User 298457
I think a lot of folk who haven't experienced issues with DAB have decent headunits benefitting from DAB blending.
This thread reminds me of @4K8KW10.
I've used streaming radio in the car, it works well and I don't really recall any dropouts due to the mobile signal vanishing. Just ignore the hourly pips because there's an inevitable delay.
The only reason DAB appealed to me was because there's rare occasions where we will be in the car and want to listen to talksport or the non FM stations like on medium wave / long wave, which I assumed DAB might be better for signal wise. Seems DAB has just really not lived up to its original objectives and the FM masts will be around for a while longer.
Mine will do this as well but obviously it can only do this if the station is transmitting on FM as well - which many are not. One of the main benefits of DAB is the wider selection of stations..
Plus wasn't the point that it would eventually replace FM?
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Caporegime
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I normally just Bluetooth my phone then use the various apps to stream radio/music.
If I am in a rush and cannot be bothered to mount my phone I will quite happily listen to DAB however. Normally Talksport though.
If I am in a rush and cannot be bothered to mount my phone I will quite happily listen to DAB however. Normally Talksport though.
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