DAB radio and aerials

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George25

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54
Location
Wales
I want to replace the radio with a DAB radio not so much for quality of sound but more option on stations available especially when travelling in europe. As well as Blue tooth aux input stuff like that.
1) Anyone any ideas on best DAB aerial
2) Do I need anything else to boost the signal
3) literally any helpful suggestions appreciated
 
Most DAB radios come with an aerial, these tend to be adequate. Its where in the vehicle you place it that is the thing. The ones that go on the outside of the vehicle are the best. Although, even in Europe, DAB reception is dodgy. Personnally, I'd just get a head unit with Bluetooth, handset calling and just connect your mp3 player/smart phone to it, and listen to your own music. Saves the inane talk radio crap.
 
I've used the self adhesive ones that stick to the screen on several cars now, and get good reception with them. Make sure that the element is as vertical as possible, so a fixed side window can be better than a steeply raked screen, and that you scrape paint off to get a good connection for the earth strip.

I've been through various head units and found that there's a huge variation in what they make of the signal, but even with the best of them the transmitted bitrate is dire and you're not going to get hifi. It's disappointing when you've spent a shedload on the head and speakers and then can't bear to listen to decent music on DAB, so as someone said, get your music onto your 'phone and use the bluetooth. It is good for talk stuff though.

That and the patchy coverage aren't really going to get better until government grow a pair and turn off FM, allowing the DAB stations to whack the power and bitrate up.
 
George25 said:
I want to replace the radio with a DAB radio not so much for quality of sound but more option on stations available especially when travelling in europe. As well as Blue tooth aux input stuff like that.
1) Anyone any ideas on best DAB aerial
2) Do I need anything else to boost the signal
3) literally any helpful suggestions appreciated
Click to expand...

I've just replaced my old aerial with one made by Nakatanenga from these guys:

https://www.4x4overlander.com/product/defender-aerial/

It is absolutely brilliant. You can find cheaper but the reception (both DAB and FM) is awesome with this one. Much better than I was expecting and so much better than the original. Installing was easy enough - it comes with an adapter to fit the existing hole in the wing. Feeding the wire behind the dash to the stereo was a bit of a fiddle (inevitably) but not impossible. I used the wire from the original aerial to pull a fishing line through then used this to pull the new wire through. You might need an SMA to SMB adapter (I did) to get the DAB wired in and working but you can pick one up on ebay for a couple of quid. You will also a power source but easy enough to take this of the power supply to your stereo or the cigarette lighter. It's half the size of the original aerial too so much less likely to get twanged by over head branches on narrow lanes.

I was a bit skeptical about splashing out £85 for an aerial but really pleased that I did.
 
Jason Page said:
I've just replaced my old aerial with one made by Nakatanenga from these guys:

https://www.4x4overlander.com/product/defender-aerial/

It is absolutely brilliant. You can find cheaper but the reception (both DAB and FM) is awesome with this one. Much better than I was expecting and so much better than the original. Installing was easy enough - it comes with an adapter to fit the existing hole in the wing. Feeding the wire behind the dash to the stereo was a bit of a fiddle (inevitably) but not impossible. I used the wire from the original aerial to pull a fishing line through then used this to pull the new wire through. You might need an SMA to SMB adapter (I did) to get the DAB wired in and working but you can pick one up on ebay for a couple of quid. You will also a power source but easy enough to take this of the power supply to your stereo or the cigarette lighter. It's half the size of the original aerial too so much less likely to get twanged by over head branches on narrow lanes.

I was a bit skeptical about splashing out £85 for an aerial but really pleased that I did.
Click to expand...
Hi Jason, where did you end up taking power from for the aerial? Thank you
 
I used a powered fm to dab adapter cos I wanted to keep my telescopic aerial. Rubber ducks are for baths. I don't like em on landys. I took the power from the radio accessory socket
 
Iv just fitted my Nakatanenga aerial and JVC DAB head unit, I’m pleasantly surprised with the DAB signal (maybe I’m in a good area ‍♂️) . The aerial isn’t cheap but definitely does the trick .
 

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Tobes211191 said:
Iv just fitted my Nakatanenga aerial and JVC DAB head unit, I’m pleasantly surprised with the DAB signal (maybe I’m in a good area ‍♂️) . The aerial isn’t cheap but definitely does the trick .
Click to expand...
I’ve done the same but no signal. The head unit simply says ‘Antenna’ which confuses me. Is your powered dab adapter simply still in the dash? Mine must have power as I power it before it goes into the unit.
 
DefenDad said:
I’ve done the same but no signal. The head unit simply says ‘Antenna’ which confuses me. Is your powered dab adapter simply still in the dash? Mine must have power as I power it before it goes into the unit.
Click to expand...
I had some sort of error code on the head unit but I went into the settings and played with the "power" setting or something like that and it's fine now, maybe worth a read of the head unit book just in case
 
Tobes211191 said:
I had some sort of error code on the head unit but I went into the settings and played with the "power" setting or something like that and it's fine now, maybe worth a read of the head unit book just in case
Click to expand...
Yes, that rings a bell, you may need to tell the head you're using a powered one. Mine aren't, and that's been the default setting on all of mine.
 
v8250 said:
@boguing , I bought a JBL Extreme wireless speaker that simply links to my mobile phone :. no wires, no aerials and I can listen to any radio station anywhere in the world. This speaker is quite powerful, powerful enough to overcome Landy noise and sits perfectly behind the cubby box.

https://uk.jbl.com/bluetooth-speakers/JBL+Xtreme+2.html?dwvar_JBL Xtreme 2_color=Midnight Black-EMEA-Current&cgid=bluetooth-portables#start=1
Click to expand...
I've so nearly bought that, or the UE Boom, for the lightweight but then stop because I think I want stereo. (I can't remember now, but I think the Boom let's you use two to get that). I then balk at the cost of two, and there's the fact that I have a lurverly pair of Sennheiser Bluetooth noise cancelling cans. Problem there is that I've felt a bit self conscious abour wearing them! That's going to change though because the gearboxes have a very high pitched whine that's going to damage my ears, so either I get round to rebuilding its original boxes or it'll be headphones time when I go and fetch the boat back...
 
boguing said:
I've so nearly bought that, or the UE Boom, for the lightweight but then stop because I think I want stereo. (I can't remember now, but I think the Boom let's you use two to get that). I then balk at the cost of two, and there's the fact that I have a lurverly pair of Sennheiser Bluetooth noise cancelling cans. Problem there is that I've felt a bit self conscious abour wearing them! That's going to change though because the gearboxes have a very high pitched whine that's going to damage my ears, so either I get round to rebuilding its original boxes or it'll be headphones time when I go and fetch the boat back...
Click to expand...
The other gearboxes may whine as well, it is probably the straight cut gears in the transfer box.

And I doubt if there is any point in having stereo unless you use headphones, because you will never be in an optimal position between the speakers to take advantage of it.
 
As @Turboman , there's near no point having true stereo in a Land Rover, far too much ambient/background/engine/gearbox/tyre noise. I'd be reluctant to use headphones whilst driving...though have seen millennial ****s using them...as one needs to hear surrounding noise/sensory for safe driving - it's that sixth sense thing we all need for good driving.

I looked long and hard at stereo/hi-fi options for the Land Rover wanting DAB et al. It was my son who suggested a good quality single speaker with phone hook up. I was reluctant as bit of a techno' luddite, then came across the JBL Extreme, read the reviews, watched the YouTube videos, did some measuring and...hey presto, bought unit and dropped it in. Works flawlessly, perfect DAB worldwide signal as via mobile phone + can listen to GQT, R4 Extra Plays, any Deezer/Spotify type account and when alone Rogue Traders, Voodoo Child [I have a thing for Natalie Bassingthwaighte...well who wouldn't!]

I'm writing here from the French Alpes, on Monday thought an audible education of the natives useful so we played Boston's, Boston album at reasonable volume with tilt rolled up and sunglasses on whilst driving through Annecy and along the lake shore road. The natives appreciated "le look..." :cool:

Here's Natalie showing you how to do it in a Landy :)

 
Being an old fogie who grew up with valve technology, I get confused with the claimed specs on modern loudspeaker systems. If a unit has four seperate speakers in it and the spec says output is 20 watts, is that 5 watts per speaker? I have a single speaker that is 50 watts rms and it is much louder than a multi speaker unit claiming to be 50 watts

Col
 
It can be confusing with many manufacturers not stating RMS [true music power]. 50 watts rms is blisteringly good from one speaker, as good as my old KEF kits with early flat diaphragm bases - hand made in September 1976 with extra-ordinary clarity. They generated so much emf they turned part of my old Sony Trinitron TV screen green...:eek:

Re the JBL, it's only 40 watts total [2x 20w sub-woofers] but does the job quite well
 
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