Hi all,

My yeti is due to be replaced soon, one key feature i wanted was dab and i didn't want an aftermarket radio, because I'd lose the optical parking system. Anyway i thought what the hell I'll phone customer services and state my case....anyway first response i got was no news, but i pushed a bit more and stated i may switch to kia.

I got a phone call later and a statement was received that end of this year beginning of next dab will be available....wooohoo...

So third skoda here i come and second yeti :-)

Br

Jez

DAB standard kit (Amundsen Sat Nav) on the new limited edition Yeti Urban.

DAB standard kit (Amundsen Sat Nav) on the new limited edition Yeti Urban.

Excuse my ignorance,but what does DAB stand for?

Excuse my ignorance,but what does DAB stand for?

Digital Audio Broadcasting -digital radio, unfortunately, here in the UK we use a different (more antiquated system than just about every other country).

There is a much wider choice of radio stations on DAB in the UK than on FM radio -the government is also trying to get FM radio 'switched off' in order to free up bandwidth for communications use. They have already done this with analogue television broadcasts.

the government is also trying to get FM radio 'switched off' in order to free up bandwidth for communications use

Not much chance of that happening unless it's a world wide initiative. RF bands are divied up by agreement of the ITU, the International Telecommunication Union

Not much chance of that happening unless it's a world wide initiative. RF bands are divied up by agreement of the ITU, the International Telecommunication Union

Ahh but we have ofcom and they do as they please. They already have plans for the spectrum freed up by digital TV.

There is a much wider choice of radio stations on DAB in SOME PARTS OF the UK than on FM radio -the government is also trying to get FM radio 'switched off' in order to free up bandwidth for communications use. They have already done this with analogue television broadcasts.

Editted for accuracy.

In Mid Wales we have been told it is unlikely we will ever get a full service, and even part is unlikely!!

And the "roll-back" has now been cancelled.

I was trying to make a simplified explanation for someone who lives in Israel without getting in to complexities. I'm well aware of the government's willingness to make U-turns and ill informed decisions regarding setting standards for things like digital broadcasts -it's because of the system that we have that makes it unlikely that nationwide coverage will ever be obtained. If we used the European system it would probably be far more likely and we'd have higher bitrates as a result.

I don't have terrestrial TV but have seen the total ****-up that has been made of the 'digital switchover' and expect something similar with radio -is everyone able to get the full compliment of Freeview all across the UK? I doubt it.

Well we certainly can't!! :wall:

DAB standard kit (Amundsen Sat Nav) on the new limited edition Yeti Urban.

The radio is great, the sat Nav is pants.

Ahh but we have ofcom and they do as they please.

Ofcom have to conform with the ITU same as everyone else.

They already have plans for the spectrum freed up by digital TV.

And those plans are completely in conformance with what's happening in the rest of the world, particularly with our near neighbours in Europe who are most likely to be affected by transmissions emanating from within the UK.

Digital Audio Broadcasting -digital radio, unfortunately, here in the UK we use a different (more antiquated system than just about every other country).

The perils of being an early adopter, unfortunately. The BBC were broadcasting DAB in the mid-nineties. The DAB+ standard was only ratified in 2006. DAB is unlikely to be phased out in this country until there can be a good degree of confidence that the population of remaining DAB-only sets is small enough to deal with in some way (note that "ignoring it" might be one way of dealing with it...)

The government is also trying to get FM radio 'switched off' in order to free up bandwidth for communications use.

The plan as last published saw FM being retained for local and community radio services. It's the AM radio frequencies that are planned to be completely re-purposed.

They have already done this with analogue television broadcasts.

Not quite everywhere yet. The Meridian TV region is switching over at the moment. Tyne Tees goes in September and Northern Ireland will be the last to go in October.

Has the DTV switchover been such a ****-up? We are on Freesat as we don't have a usable Freeview signal - but then we never had a usable analogue signal either. Having been involved with similar transitions in the air traffic control world, that sort of thing is never easy and you are always going to annoy some people. My main criticism is the emphasis on quantity over quality.

I am very happy with the DAB tuner in my XF, though there are still coverage issues (as indeed there are on FM) and in our area, the BBC multiplex has got much better coverage than Digital 1 (which is what I listen to). I agree that adopting early hasn't done us any favours and again, there is an emphasis on "never mind the quality, feel the width".

Pity we won't get it in our new Yeti (the answer the OP got was pretty consistent with what SUK told us in April following a Facebook enquiry) but there is always the Pure Highway route.

Mark

....there is always the Pure Highway route....

Please explain. Not a term I've met (or we weren't introduced, anyway!).

http://tinyurl.com/cvrghad - top of the list. Not a fan to be honest, I'm not keen on cluttering up my nice neat driving space with stick-on gizmos and trailing wires.

Other DAB to FM solutions are available eg this from Halfrauds looks neater - but it flippin' well should do at nearly twice the price!

Ah! Thanks.

VW's have a DAB radio that looks the same as the standard Yeti radio but with black high gloss buttons, buy it from VW and fit it yourself maybe.

Our Urban has a DAB stereo. Seems to work pretty well - although it's SWMBO's toy, I tend to either have the radio off, or stream a playlist from my iPhone as I'm becoming increasingly intolerant of DJs and modern music as I slowly complete the metamorphosis into my father...