Is DAB any good in the TF?

[c13amb]

As per title guys n dolls ..need to change my head unit as I'm considering a DAB unit with all the other usual functions.
Has any one tried this and fitted the aerial that fits on the windscreen to pick up dab signal?
Look forward to your tales of woe or otherwise

[mgtfnut]

DAB signal has not much to do with the car, more your location in the UK

I was looking at a DAB coverage map last night strangely, as last year I replaced the OEM Kenwood and CD changer in the boot, and DAB is hit and miss near me, central Wales is a DAB desert.

Large population centres seem to be better served, so might be worth checking your area. I'm not really bothered as FM is fine for me - I don't try to listen to anything normally, the TF sound is enough for me

If you were in a "modern" vehicle, a sound system might be of importance to some as you could hear better in the low level of background noise. I've been in some cars where you would not know if a wheel fell off.

[c13amb]

Good comments Jerry.. I'll check my local area 1st..I just wondered how people who have it fitted were justifying it really or as you say is FM enough?

[markvrs]

Hi, I have gone the DAB route in my TF and as mgtfnut said the reception and which stations are available depend on your location. Towns and cities are well covered but I am out in the sticks.

I had tried DAB/FM splitter on original antenna and stick on windscreen type but signal was not good apart from BBC stations.

I fitted a proper DAB / FM radio by Calearo and now have strong signal just about everywhere, Planet Rock, 70's, Boom Radio, Capital, Scala etc. Huge difference from stick on type.

Not cheap at about £70 but I plan to keep the car for a while and it was that or Local FM or BBC . If you do go for a proper DAB antenna make sure it is a 60 degree one as that fits the MG TF wing spot on.

Cheers, Mark

[c13amb]

Hi, I have gone the DAB route in my TF and as mgtfnut said the reception and which stations are available depend on your location. Towns and cities are well covered but I am out in the sticks.

I had tried DAB/FM splitter on original antenna and stick on windscreen type but signal was not good apart from BBC stations.

I fitted a proper DAB / FM radio by Calearo and now have strong signal just about everywhere, Planet Rock, 70's, Boom Radio, Capital, Scala etc. Huge difference from stick on type.

Not cheap at about £70 but I plan to keep the car for a while and it was that or Local FM or BBC . If you do go for a proper DAB antenna make sure it is a 60 degree one as that fits the MG TF wing spot on.

Cheers, Mark

Hi mark thanks for the info on the aerial..do you have any links for it ? I've had my TF for almost 8 yrs so would consider fitting a decent aerial

[markvrs]

I got mine last year from dabonwheels.co.uk. It was a Calearo DAB/DAB+/FM/AM Aerial 60 degree mount with 5 meter cable.

Straight swap for standard aerial, same angle, same hole. Wished I had just gone straight to it rather than wasting money / time on cheaper options that when in bin.

Cheers Mark

[markvrs]

I got mine last year from dabonwheels.co.uk. It was a Calearo DAB/DAB+/FM/AM Aerial 60 degree mount with 5 meter cable.

Straight swap for standard aerial, same angle, same hole. Wished I had just gone straight to it rather than wasting money / time on cheaper options that when in bin.

Cheers Mark

[Gavin207]

I fitted one of the DAB aerial converters from Dab On Wheels to the standard aerial and it works really well, car is a daily driver and I travel around the South West quite a bit and the signal rarely drops out.

[Stan_B]

Yes I have a DAB head unit and a small antenna that sticks to the windscreen, works well

[c13amb]

Yes I have a DAB head unit and a small antenna that sticks to the windscreen, works well

When you say works well how many channels to you get a good signal from? I see your in the Thames Valley region..I'm in the North West and after looking at the dab signal locally it's supposed to be up to 90% effective..but it doesn't say anything about the aerials for reception though

[mgtfnut]

I've got a new aerial, but want to keep the old OEM cable if possible.

Are there enough openings to get a fish wire through if the passenger seat is removed and the carpet lifted? Normally I would use the old cable to try and pull a new wire through, but I don't want to do that.

[Deepfat]

I fitted a Sony unit that requires no screen aerial and runs off the OE aerial, I just had to plug a couple of aerial wires together before fitment, easy. The radio works very well on both FM & DAB but if you read up on DAB the quality is not as good as FM, I agree but as I'm not listening to low volume classical music I don't care, old comedy/plays on 4 extra is my bag.
I remember when young sitting in the car with a soldering iron fitting an FM/Tape player which pushed out a massive 20w, how times change the Sony unit took about 40m to fit 20 of which were spent figuring out how the fascia panel clipped on!
Peter

[talkingcars]

.........Are there enough openings to get a fish wire through if the passenger seat is removed and the carpet lifted? Normally I would use the old cable to try and pull a new wire through, but I don't want to do that.

Just follow the main loom,
lift out the engine cover and you see the loom runs along the near side,
it then runs down the back of the passenger door opening and along the seal
(lift the rubber seal and you can access the loom under the carpet without removing the seat)

This is the routing for the standard aerial anyway.

Alternatively retain the standard aerial base with a long whip and use a DAB/FM splitter mounted by the head unit. This worked well in my ZS.

[mgtfnut]

.........Are there enough openings to get a fish wire through if the passenger seat is removed and the carpet lifted? Normally I would use the old cable to try and pull a new wire through, but I don't want to do that.

Just follow the main loom,
lift out the engine cover and you see the loom runs along the near side,
it then runs down the back of the passenger door opening and along the seal
(lift the rubber seal and you can access the loom under the carpet without removing the seat)

Thanks, just need a gap in the weather to have a go - been too hot in searing sunlight, followed by wind and rain recently - British weather The TF has sat outside all it's life and is tougher than me

[AntonyM]

I fitted a Sony unit that requires no screen aerial and runs off the OE aerial, I just had to plug a couple of aerial wires together before fitment, easy. The radio works very well on both FM & DAB but if you read up on DAB the quality is not as good as FM, I agree but as I'm not listening to low volume classical music I don't care, old comedy/plays on 4 extra is my bag.
I remember when young sitting in the car with a soldering iron fitting an FM/Tape player which pushed out a massive 20w, how times change the Sony unit took about 40m to fit 20 of which were spent figuring out how the fascia panel clipped on!
Peter

Be interested to know which model of head unit you are using ?

[mgtfnut]

I got mine last year from dabonwheels.co.uk. It was a Calearo DAB/DAB+/FM/AM Aerial 60 degree mount with 5 meter cable.

Straight swap for standard aerial, same angle, same hole. Wished I had just gone straight to it rather than wasting money / time on cheaper options that when in bin.

Cheers Mark

I got one and installed it today - all stations suddenly appeared/ updates etc. Will have to have a run around to see how it goes, mid Wales is normally poor, so I think a run over the Brecon Beacons is called for

[mgtfnut]

Reception is good now, can pick up almost anything on DAB.

On the move, I can't tell any difference from FM because of the general background noise of the car when whizzing along. It's not a problem for me, as I only changed the unit as the original Kenwood 12 stack cd system was getting tired, the cassette had expired and the cd system was a bit clanky.

Stuff I like is on a very stubby memory stick thingie, it's all in black to suit the interior and the new Kenwood can deal with a phone etc.

[ArntyR]

I was a 'waverer' wanting to modernise my dinosaur am/fm set and enjoy the benefits of usb music but not wanting the bling that DAB/DAB+ seems determined to offer but I bit the bullet and enjoyed the challenge of setting it up - except the fact that my 'splitter' seller seems equally determined not to process my £8-99 refund despite his promise (eBay offers no help in the form of We couldn't process your request because of a technical issue. Please try again.) (Yep, eventually got a refund )

A w/screen aerial horizontally mounted in the rear view mirror area works well for me and pulls in more than enough...

Attached is an article I put together for my local MG club giving more details