Add on units are also available from Pure and Acoustic solutions, among others, which tend to stick on the windscreen in a similar way to portable navigation systems. The audio is normally fed into the stereo via an aux input or the original radio tuner. Installation of these systems is straight forward and does not affect the car. They also have the potential to be fitted to another vehicle, should you change. Aerial placement has to be given some thought, as strong signal is required at all times for the best performance. Most systems are supplied with a stick on glass aerial, which goes across the top of the internal windscreen, although we normally recommend either an externally mounted DAB antennae which can be combined with the FM aerial, or an on glass aerial with an external mast. Some cars with a metal antenna mast can utilize a splitting device that goes into the aerial lead and takes the DAB signal from the original antennae.
These options all depend on the car and the system which is originally installed in the vehicle.
DAB is easy to tune because you don’t have to worry about station frequencies and all available stations are listed and are therefore easy to select. There is no need to retune as national stations stay fixed wherever you travel and if you do go out of range, some units use clever technology which automatically switches to the FM version of the station.
There is also DAB+ now available. The difference with this over the standard format is that it is more compressed (similar to AAC files) and hence is less likely to drop out. This is the format that is used across Europe (not the UK). Most of the new products coming through will do both standards and we presume the UK will go to the + format at some point.
With DAB, you can get your favourite FM/AM stations in other areas as well as many digital-only stations. Digital radio has something for everyone.
There are stations for:
Asian Black music Chill Christian Classical Current affairs and news
Health and environment Hip Hop and R'n'B Jazz Latest and greatest hits
Rock Speech, comedy and drama Sport Traffic radio World news
Like your current shows? Then you'll love DAB, bringing you all the major AM/FM stations and so much more. Whether a replacement stereo with digital radio with iPod, usb and aux functions which will invariable upgrade the sound, a fully integrated unit operating from the original controls displaying the information on the stereo or navigation screen or a dash mounted unit similar to a portable navigation system. All without losing conventional FM/AM station playback.
There is also DAB+ now available. The difference with this over the standard format is that it is more compressed (similar to AAC files) and hence is less likely to drop out. This is the format that is used across Europe (not the UK). Most of the new products coming through will do both standards and we presume the UK will go to the + format at some point. |
