Jcorstorphine
Well-Known Member
Has anyone fitted a DAB digital radio such as the ones available in Halfords into a yacht or motor boat. Do they work on a boat and is there any problem with getting an aerial to work on Digital.
DAB Radio on yachts
- Thread starter Jcorstorphine
- Start date
[70521]
Well-Known Member
Mine sounds rubbish at home! Can't see me getting another one untill they improve the digital signal; why do they always sound like you are in a goldfish bowl? 
maby
Well-Known Member
We often listen to DAB using a standard portable radio on our boat. I see no reason why you should not fit a DAB car radio if you want.
DAB is more picky about signal strength and I guess that it will drop out sooner than old fashioned FM. I don't think I would put a DAB-only radio in, if I were you...
DAB is more picky about signal strength and I guess that it will drop out sooner than old fashioned FM. I don't think I would put a DAB-only radio in, if I were you...
DanTribe
Well-Known Member
I've not got a fitted one but use a Pure Evoke Elite portable.
It's OK but not the panacea that I was led to believe. In remote areas the available stations are fairly limited and therefore I reckon we use the FM band 50% of the time.
One of the deciding factors was that this model is one of the few that will run off 12 volts. Why do so many portables have 6volt input plugs?
We only use the telescopic aerial, so perhaps could improve reception with a better signal.
It's OK but not the panacea that I was led to believe. In remote areas the available stations are fairly limited and therefore I reckon we use the FM band 50% of the time.
One of the deciding factors was that this model is one of the few that will run off 12 volts. Why do so many portables have 6volt input plugs?
We only use the telescopic aerial, so perhaps could improve reception with a better signal.
exfinnsailor
Well-Known Member
Depends where the transmitter is. They are not going to turn off the FM transmitters as they said they would and the take up of DAB has not been as good as expected. We have a DAB portable onboard sometimes you get a signal sometimes you don't. You finish up playing with the ariel to get a good signal. We use a normal FM car radio onboard and if its not a good signal try the DAB radio instead. Failing that we switch to an IPOD and play that through the radio.
As DanTribe says not all portables run off 12v. We use an adaptor (12v Plug In) that gives 12v down to 3v with various plug connectors so our Roberts DAB that runs on 9v works fine
..
As DanTribe says not all portables run off 12v. We use an adaptor (12v Plug In) that gives 12v down to 3v with various plug connectors so our Roberts DAB that runs on 9v works fine
..
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Babylon
Well-Known Member
Not answering your question directly, but I just use a Roberts portable stereo FM/DAB radio (http://www.robertsradio.co.uk/Products/DAB_radios/duologic/index.htm) on the boat, held in place using shock-cord. Superb sound, plenty enough power, excellent reception on both FM and DAB (note DAB is more power-hungry than FM), with rechargable D batteries that recharge (inside the radio) by plugging in the power-lead whenever I'm near shorepower.
BTW all fitted car-type radios have a residual power-drain (to maintain memory), which you need to be aware of.
BTW all fitted car-type radios have a residual power-drain (to maintain memory), which you need to be aware of.
Talulah
Well-Known Member
We have one of these fitted. No problems.
Blaupunkt Nashville DAB 35 DAB/CD/MP3 Tuner
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...s=Blaupunkt+Nashville+DAB+35+DAB/CD/MP3+Tuner
The only thing I would say is buy the auxillary input cable as well so you can plug in the iPod.
Blaupunkt - Audio cable - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...ki-uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738
AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
It is worth bearing in mind that DAB is substantially more power hungry than FM, by a factor or more than 2.
Ocean Safari
Member
DAB Radio on Yachts
Why is DAB more power hungry than FM??
Why is DAB more power hungry than FM??
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
Serious amount of digital equipment inside the radio. My Blaupunkt setup is as per Talulah's and draws about 350ma just sitting there.
What's more there's no DAB transmissions in Greece
The proper iPod interface cable for the system charges the ipod and allows limited control of the iPod from the control head.
If refitting I'd go for a unit with usb and ipod interface. Music on a USB stick is just a bit more convenient than an iPod on a cable
elton
Well-Known Member
DAB radio requires a computer (on a chip) to convert the digital data stream into audio. The processing is relatively intense, and intense processing consumes considerable power.
I've heard various apologists from the BBC promising that this issue will be resolved in the future, but there's simply no way round it.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Have both an installed car type radio on the boat and the Evoke Pure Portable maily because it will run direct off 12v.
Yes they do use more power than standard VHF unit..However the signal is normally far better off shore than on land.
Buy a duel DAB VHF portable unit secondhand off ebay for £50/60 quid or get one of the cheaper car DAB units,Halfrauds was flogging of a cheapo Car DAB radio/CD for about £100.00 quid recently.I bought one and its perfectly OK.
BIG advantage is a plethora of interesting music station on DAB as opposed to the double glazing infested tedious moronic kack put out on yawn VHF local radio station
Yes they do use more power than standard VHF unit..However the signal is normally far better off shore than on land.
Buy a duel DAB VHF portable unit secondhand off ebay for £50/60 quid or get one of the cheaper car DAB units,Halfrauds was flogging of a cheapo Car DAB radio/CD for about £100.00 quid recently.I bought one and its perfectly OK.
BIG advantage is a plethora of interesting music station on DAB as opposed to the double glazing infested tedious moronic kack put out on yawn VHF local radio station
Rigger Mortice
N/A
We had a car DAB on the boat which was fine until it packed up. I then fitted a Sony DAB car radio which was excellent but far too power hungry so I put it in my car.
We used a biggish portable for a while, then got a Roberts Unilogic...the younger brother of the one posted earlier...... and it works very well indeed. Low power demand, good sound, plenty of stations. Not a lot of volume but perfectly Ok for our modest needs.
Most places we can get a good signal but in some destinations there is nothing so we use the FM.
I wouldn't want to be without DAB on the boat.
We used a biggish portable for a while, then got a Roberts Unilogic...the younger brother of the one posted earlier...... and it works very well indeed. Low power demand, good sound, plenty of stations. Not a lot of volume but perfectly Ok for our modest needs.
Most places we can get a good signal but in some destinations there is nothing so we use the FM.
I wouldn't want to be without DAB on the boat.
alan_d
Well-Known Member
johnalison
Well-Known Member
That's interesting - much of the West Country coast is coloured white, which explains why SWMBO got nothing on her portable down there a couple of years ago.
dutyhog
Well-Known Member
no signal here
Hi John,
Don't get one if you come through the Crinan Canal.
There's no signal off or on our Argyll coast for DAB, although sometimes it vaguely come on for a while (we bought a portable DAB because a neighbour wrongly insisted there was a signal). There isn't much of an FM signal either, but at least it exists here and there.
Gordon D
Hi John,
Don't get one if you come through the Crinan Canal.
There's no signal off or on our Argyll coast for DAB, although sometimes it vaguely come on for a while (we bought a portable DAB because a neighbour wrongly insisted there was a signal). There isn't much of an FM signal either, but at least it exists here and there.
Gordon D
Laysula
Well-Known Member
Roberts Rechargable
Got one of these http://www.robertsradio.co.uk/Products/DAB_radios/Ecologic_1/index.htm it takes 8 AA rechargables and I made up a lead to connect directly to the 12v supply through the cigar lighter socket. Good signal all round Anglesey and all the way to the Isle of Man.
Got one of these http://www.robertsradio.co.uk/Products/DAB_radios/Ecologic_1/index.htm it takes 8 AA rechargables and I made up a lead to connect directly to the 12v supply through the cigar lighter socket. Good signal all round Anglesey and all the way to the Isle of Man.
Gordonmc
Well-Known Member
The map is for coverage of the D1 national multiplex only. Add to it the local and regional multiplexes and the national BBC multiplex and much of the white would disappear.
In addition the map is three years old.
DAB coverage is being extended. Ofcom has relaxed the restrictions on transmitter power in some areas and new transmitters are being commissioned to meet the government's criterion that DAB coverage must match FM before they will consider digital switch-over. No decision on that and a timetable until 2013.
Jcorstorphine
Well-Known Member
Think I know what I am going to buy (ish)
Many thanks, think I am going to buy a bog standard FM radio with CD player etc and buy a DAB portable.
Thanks to all
Many thanks, think I am going to buy a bog standard FM radio with CD player etc and buy a DAB portable.
Thanks to all
[70521]
Well-Known Member
Thanks, that has explained why my reception at home is so poor
