I saw this on the Whatcar website today & thought it could be part of the next generations of head units. Seems VW has first dibs on these but something I'd imagine may feature in the Mission L or late Octy's & eventaully most models. As a bonus it can be expanded with a hybrid TV tuner and integrated for Bluetooth preparation for £199.99 - food for thought there?

I like the idea of a DAB radio - what's your thoughts. I realise Ford have them for some time but seems a nice option to have especially if they still plan to switch off FM in 2015 (can't see that happening though).

Looks like a few of you out there like the idea of DAB, from a few recent threads, hopefully this will put a smile on a few faces out there

http://www.whatcar.c...ab-radio/262862

Seems you can get them for £350 already.

http://www.incar-emp...roducts_id=2699

Edited 16 May, 201214 yr by HWMBO - Mark

I've got DAB in my S4 and it's great, it switches over to FM if the signal is low and the sound in definitely better than FM. I also like the fact that I can listen to radio 5 live for the football instead of suffering AM.

I'd recommend it and it should be standard in all cars.

Unreal that its gone this long and not been standard!

Unreal that its gone this long and not been standard!

Typical VAG stinginess, it was an extra on the Audi as well.

RCD510DABs have been on eBay for ages and I have one in my Octavia. I've just bought a used RCD310DAB for my wife's Golf which will be going in once I get to grips with an OE DAB aerial, which is suspect won't be that simple.

The price VW are quoting as an option is presumably only is ordered and supplied with a new car.

Edited 16 May, 201214 yr by j0hn

http://www.incar-emporium.com/product_info.php?cPath=221_187&products_id=5787&TeKnoID=jmkevgmkusgd8nel4868vhbrs0

Nice cheap blue tooth unit as well

Surprised to hear your DAB is better than FM. The low bits rates (128kb) generally give DAB a poorer sound quality than FM. Signal to Noise ratio is certainly better with DAB but usually audio frequency spectrum range isn't.

Surprised to hear your DAB is better than FM. The low bits rates (128kb) generally give DAB a poorer sound quality than FM. Signal to Noise ratio is certainly better with DAB but usually audio frequency spectrum range isn't.

The dealer commented that she uses FM rather than DAB in her car as it sounds better, but there is an area that I drive past most days where the DAB signal is low so switches to FM, when this happens you realise how much better the DAB quality ( when available!) is.

I think you might find that DAB abroad is a different (better) standard to the 'old' standard that we have, so I expect cross boarder manufacturers are holding back.

Bit like our DVB-T television. The current standard everywhere else, I believe is DVB-T2 (the HD standard), but because the government made us have channels to watch programmes we missed (forgetting a device called a recorder) or even 7 days later (watch 47), they haven't got the guts to get everyone to change again - yet!!

My home Cambridge Audi FM/DAB unit calls the European Dab standard DAB+ but as above a standard UK DAB unit will not receive EU DAB stations. If planning a lot of time in the EU best ensure that the unit you buy also receives DAB+, check the written spec carefully as many UK sellers appear not to have heard of DAB+

I had an octavia last week with an Amundsen+ fitted, which is dab I believe.

My home Cambridge Audi FM/DAB unit calls the European Dab standard DAB+ but as above a standard UK DAB unit will not receive EU DAB stations. If planning a lot of time in the EU best ensure that the unit you buy also receives DAB+, check the written spec carefully as many UK sellers appear not to have heard of DAB+

Probably the reason it's not so common on cars here. Much too expensive to develop a radio just for the UK. UK DAB is also poo compared to DAB+ but the Gov+Beeb have shackled themselves to the old standard.

I've got DAB in my S4 and it's great, it switches over to FM if the signal is low and the sound in definitely better than FM. I also like the fact that I can listen to radio 5 live for the football instead of suffering AM.

I'd recommend it and it should be standard in all cars.

Sorry buddy but no way is DAB better than FM. The bit rates are simply too low. I suppose in a car it's not easy to compare quality but trust me, FM wipes the floor with DAB. As already stated, DAB+ is better but the problem with digital transmission in general is that broadcasters choose more choice and stuff more stations into the multiplexes rather than up the bitrate and offer better sound quality.

The government has already had to scrap it's FM switchoff plans due to poor uptake of DAB but I suppose VAG and others not fitting it as standard to vehicles doesn't help!

A missed opportunity

Sorry buddy but no way is DAB better than FM. The bit rates are simply too low. I suppose in a car it's not easy to compare quality but trust me, FM wipes the floor with DAB. As already stated, DAB+ is better but the problem with digital transmission in general is that broadcasters choose more choice and stuff more stations into the multiplexes rather than up the bitrate and offer better sound quality.

The government has already had to scrap it's FM switchoff plans due to poor uptake of DAB but I suppose VAG and others not fitting it as standard to vehicles doesn't help!

A missed opportunity

We'll agree to disagree but what is a fact is that the DAB in my Audi sounds better than the FM did in my Octy!

Sorry buddy but no way is DAB better than FM.

It's got Radio 4 Extra! That was the sole reason for buying the £30 Asda DAB for the aux-port. ;)

The government has already had to scrap it's FM switchoff plans due to poor uptake of DAB but I suppose VAG and others not fitting it as standard to vehicles doesn't help!

A missed opportunity

I don't think it will ever happen to be honest. Far far too many radios out there to just cut FM off. I don't see the general public going out and replacing all of them in sufficient numbers to make any difference.There would be no "freeview box" type solution either.

Will this unit not fit?

http://www.bassjunkies.com/stereo/dab-tuners-aireals/autodab-dab-vw1

Will this unit not fit?

http://www.bassjunki...autodab-dab-vw1

A little caution seems to be in order a they appear to dabbling in the black arts as they have an 'Interface Witch' - or is that just poor English

Will this unit not fit?

http://www.bassjunki...autodab-dab-vw1

Possibly, but you need the MFSW as well, which would push the price up a bit.

Or voice control!, but surely the touch screen would work?

Sorry buddy but no way is DAB better than FM.

But there's no '6 Music' on FM!!!!

Hence no;

'Radcliffe & Maconie' (were on Radio 2, I know)

'Marc Riley' (formerly of 'Scrawn & Lard')

'Tom Ravenscroft'

'Cerys Matthews'

'Huey Morgan'

(I bought a digital for the house, within a week of 'R & M' going to DAB)

Edited 17 May, 201214 yr by Richard A Thackeray

But there's no '6 Music' on FM!!!!

Hence no;

'Radcliffe & Maconie' (were on Radio 2, I know)

'Marc Riley' (formerly of 'Scrawn & Lard')

'Tom Ravenscroft'

'Cerys Matthews'

'Huey Morgan'

(I bought a digital for the house, within a week of 'R & M' going to DAB)

Only had DAB reception here for a year or so, but BBC stations only. All of my middle aged friends migrated from R1 to R2 long ago, but I've gone the other way and found R1XTRA. I have though, found out that Dave Pearce is now on R2 when you're normally out on a Saturday night and the show is riddled with "teasers" for other R2 shows with a totally different target demographic.

I also found a BBC station labelled "Tennis" which I fully expected to run Wimbledon commentary last summer. Seemed to just play standard Radio 4 as far as I can see (hear).

Would be great if they could broadcast the audio from TV channels wouldn't it?

Just took delivery of an Octavia SE Plus with Amundsen+ fitted. Apparently mine is a 2013 vehicle. Although the manual refers to DAB this definitely doesn't have it. I emailed Skoda and they calle dback to say they are waiting to hear from Skoda about when/if they are going to make DAB available on anything but the Yeti. "We know its the future" they said. "Erm, I've been using DAB for about 8 years" said I and pointed out that VW were making it standard on 2013 vehicles. Shame as it's the one drawback of a cracking car with an otherwise outstanding audio system.

PS, what we need is a unit to plug into the MDI which would give it power and could allow data to come to the screen as it does with an ipod etc without converting to FM.

Typical VAG stinginess, it was an extra on the Audi as well.

Typical VAG stinginess, it was an extra on the Audi as well.

See how much a DAB radio costs on a Q7 £890 (£355 for DAB and the rest for the necessary double glazing!)

At home I have a DAB/FM receiver. When DAB launched, most of the channels were 192kb (even Radio 1) and I listened to DAB as the quality was a little better. By 2002, almost all the channels were down to 128kb. The quality is poor compared to FM, so I very rarely use DAB. I've gone back to FM.