DAB Radio onboard

Moonshiners

Moonshiners

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 Feb 2008
Messages
590
Location
Solent-ish
www.speedandstrip.co.uk
We currently have no stereo on board, and aren't that fussed about cutting a DIN sized hole and speakers etc... in to the Cabin.

We have a 12v socket in the cabin and a small inverter which would be more than adaquate for this purpose linked to a leisure battery.

Has anyone hooked up a stand alone (household style) DAB radio (ideally with IPOD input) on your boat? If so did it work or did you just get annoyed and end up fitting a car/marine DIN style stereo. Also any perticular models to reccomend/avoid that could stand up a little better to life near salt.

I appreciate this may be a little more normal on your Oyster 43 than a 24ft Cabin Sports Boat.

Obviously not looking for a "marine" system, but just something that works on board without the fuss of cutting up my boat for the sake of a stereo.

Any experienced users advise appreciated...

Thanks. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
I have two dab's both roberts one I brought just because it can recharge its own batteries this is does via 12dc ;-) I simply take it every where the van or boat its loud enough, it cost around £65
The other is much bigger quite fancy twin speakers again batteries or mains but I only use it on mains play back thingy cost then umm £135 ish

I GOT THEM TO LISTEN TO PLANET ROCK

cheers
Mick
 
We have a Pure DAB, there is a splashproof one, a hefty thing you wouldn't want flying around in heavy weather.

We use it for Radio 4 and Virgin Radio (called something else now) and it works very well. Easy to swap channels and has a large clear speaker. I'm sure an audiophile would say the music is compressed and not as good as FM, but it sounds fine to me.
 
We have a Pure unit too. The one that records to an SD card, so we can leave it programmed to record 'Old Harry's Game', Just a Minute etc, then enjoy them at the weekend when we're on the boat. When on holiday, I have it record the shipping forecast too (which it does without turning the radio on, phew!).

Have found a few spots where we couldn't get a DAB signal - but we did managed to listen to 5 Live whilst anchored in Lulworth (but had to raise the aerial a bit).

Rick
 
We have one of thease from tesco for £20, if you come up with somthing (perhaps a portable dock, or 12v computer speakers) t play a ipod through, then it might be what your looking for. the reception has been fine for us, although without a dedicated arial it might not be great anchored off somewhere, and you only get about 5 hours per 2aaa bats.
tesco_technika_dab_radio-thumb-240x406.jpg
 
Have both an a "in dash" car radio and stand alone Pure table top type radio.
Advantage of built in jobby is that it is connected to some decent hi-fi speakers for decent sound.....but in wheelhouse only,sound not much good in bedroom etc and no,have no intention of crawling through bilges running extra speaker wires!
Advantage of portable is you take outside and listen (quietly) as opposed to having internal unit blasting out.
Pet hate is prats playing audio so loud that half marina/riverbank gets to enjoy their "music",one of my best boating chums(non forumite) is a prime offender is this area.
Also with portable you can listen in bed on Sunday morning without having to trek the entire lenght of the freezing cold boat in your nightie to turn the blimming thing on
~All you need for fixed DAB aerial is bit of wire about 2ft long no need for poncy amplified stuff........if no signal,no amount of amplification will improve matters,we used modded old marine aerial base .
 
I'd be inclined to go the car stereo route- at least its a well tried solution, and plenty of choice., and choice of speaker.
New ones have an sd card slot and built in mp3, so you dont even need an external mp3 player (Irrelevent if you are stuck with Apple,though)
 
We have an in car stereo with speakers in the saloon and on deck which the in car is designed for, with it's balence and fade (I think it's called) facility. Also we have an ipod with a Griffin FM wireless thingy so it plays through the radio (no wires). We find the disadvantage is that we can't adjust the volume via the ipod which would be handy on deck. Next time around we would get an in car stereo with a remote control so that we have full function on deck control. (They do exist 'cos we had one once in a car)
 
Thanks for the responses guys, we really don't want to go the route of cutting up our cabin to fit car/marine DIN radio and speakers, likewise as far as I am aware DAB hasn't really broken in to the "normal" (£100) car stereo market - leaving you with just FM which we already have on an old "wireless" which is crap but works for 'er getting the results.

However the first few replies seem to indicate a decent stand alone unit will be perfectly adiquate for our needs, mainly speakers for IPOD and DAB five live for SWIMBO when the footys on! (Don't ask..., she's the only footy hooligan dressed in Whitestuff & Henry Lloyd)

Thanks for the responses, will have a look at those specific models on the weekend.

Finally i can irritate, uh i mean swoon - swimbo playing the Real Mckenzies on the boat as well as at home /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
A quick look on Ebay will get you S/H mobile DAB unit for well under £100 not that long ago Goodmans were doing a cheap incar DAB/VHF/MW around £120.
 
[ QUOTE ]
DAB's nae good fur ra pips - pits ye about 1 minute tae the west o' yer true position.

[/ QUOTE ]

The worrying thing is after years of the Murphys, Mckenzies and Flogging Molly that all makes sense... and i'm Swedish, but don't tell the guy on the anti Sweden/HR thread... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I second or third the the pure one, it also has a rechargeable battery pack so you can take it anywhere,lasts about 10 hours. When you plug it back in it recharges while you listen to it,no messing about with batteries.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top