DAB Radio

[nbcuttlefish]

Hiya,
This is our first posting. Susie and I are fitting out a 65ft traditional narrowboat and have got to the stage of making decisions about wiring/aerial points prior to battening and sprayfoam insulation. As a mad radion lover I am very keen to get DAB radio (and FM) fitted but wonder what the best solution is? A car radio or a stereo system with outside aerial. What types of aerial are available? Can i buy folding poles to support such an item? Any makes anyone can recommend? Anyone out there successful in such a quest? Any hints?
Rob <font color="red"> </font>

 

[Kristal]

Personally, if you are at this stage in that kind of refit, I would (being a techie) go for built-in every time. On a narrowboat, it would probably be pretty inconvenient (and ugly) to fit a visible external aerial (the telescopic kind).

I can't remember which DAB Band the UK uses, but if, as I think, it's Band III, the frequency transmitted on is probably close enough to FM for you to use the same antenna as you would on a standard vehicle FM unit. In other words, either a whip aerial using the fabric of the boat (assuming it's steel) as the ground plane, or using a dipole arrangement (which, in all honesty, you might be able to form by using a simple pair of identical wire lengths placed horizontally behind an interior panel and connected to a BNC jack). You'd make your antenna more directional this way (not helpful on a boat) BUT you could easily test it.

One thing you don't want is an aerial you have to remove or reangle each time you traverse a bridge. You will forget enough times for it to get really painful!

I'll see if I can find out any more on this subject for you.

/<

 

[Gordonmc]

DAB in the UK operates on Band 3, 174 to 240MHz. The good news for boaties is that multiplexes operate on single frequency networks which means aerials need not be directional. In fact, pointing a yagi at a particular transmitter may result in a poorer signal.
Omni, dipole or collinear aerials work best.
Remember too that all DAB transmissions are vertically polarised. FM Tx's are usually vertical (to favour mobile reception eg. cars), horizontal (to favour fixed eg hi fi installs) or mixed; a compromise.

 

[Trevethan]

As others said go for in car option.

Goodmans do one for about £100 with a CD player -- quality isn't that great supposedly but will do the job. Prices seem to jump from there to around £400, at least last time I looked.

Be aware DAB doesn't cover all the UK so worth checking that your moorings/cruising ground are covered.

For antenna, best bet will be from your local auto factor, but they are all pretty ugly.

Not sure how feasible it is but if you are at fitout stage maybe a power driven extending one?

Also remamber that you will probably need to run a constand power line straight from batteries to radio for the memory (via fuse) as well as the main unit power via breaker panel and battery switch.

All the best,

Nick

 

[Benbow]

[ QUOTE ]
Susie and I are fitting out a 65ft traditional narrowboat

[/ QUOTE ]

Isn't that 5 ft too long ?

 

[etypetim]

Hi, read with interest your plans to Go DAB, good choice! I have the Goodmans DAB/FM/ CD player in the garage, tried it in the car, but found it very insensitive compared with the Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB 53 I now use.Installed in the garage with a home-made dipole aerial (as described- can give further details if req'd).Reception very stable but if audio quality is your priority, the Blaupiunkt is the baby.It's available much reduced if you trawl the 'web, and it comes with a glassmount aerial.

 

[milltech]

Probably not relevant but...

I got given a Roberts Gemini 3 and I live near Reading in Berkshire. and it's useless. Loses signal on any channel after a few minutes, or goes to gargling quality. Took it with me on a journey to/from Malvern at the weekend to listen to the cricket commentary as the car radio doesn't have LW. Lousy until I got West enough to clear Berkshire, then it was OK most of the time, but by no means superior to the ordinary radio reception.

Also, on a separate issue, the volume pot on this radio started to crackle within days.

 

[Joe_Cole]

I've got a "Ministry of Sound" DAD/CD/FM/AM radio which was about £140 from Argos. Superb! I rarely use anything other than DAB.

I made my own aerial for a couple of quid.