DAB Radio

[PaulG1975]

I have a 2008 Swift Charisma 230 fitted with a CD/radio. I would like to change it for a DAB one. My question is, will it work with the existing aerial on the side of the van, or would I have to replace that too.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I have a 2008 Swift Charisma 230 fitted with a CD/radio. I would like to change it for a DAB one. My question is, will it work with the existing aerial on the side of the van, or would I have to replace that too.

Hello Paul,
Dab radio needs a different aerial, they're smaller than FM aerials because it uses higher frequency bands. Dab signals are more affected by their surroundings, so coverage can be more patchy Whilst your existing aerial may provide some signal gain, a proper DAB aerial will be more effective.

 

[Woodentop]

I have a 2008 Swift Charisma 230 fitted with a CD/radio. I would like to change it for a DAB one. My question is, will it work with the existing aerial on the side of the van, or would I have to replace that too.

Well for once I am going to have a major disagreement with the Prof.

Single whip aerials for receive only don't need to be matched - they will just work. Think of the telescopic aerial on a portable radio - it can be any length from about 6in to over 2ft but it will work albeit the longer aerial will be better at getting weaker signals. The problem here is that if the radio aerial on the caravan is one of the small telescopic types (often branded Ring) then it probably has an amplifier in the base which will likely not pass the DAB frequencies.

Having said that most car radios with DAB have a separate antenna connector for DAB which will provide voltage to drive the amplifier found in most car DAB aerials. If your caravan has a TV aerial it will pass and amplify DAB frequencies so you could use the radio aerial to feed the AM/FM aerial connector and the TV aerial to feed the DAB. Pictures I have seen suggest that the SC230 is fitted with a Vision Plus 300 series aerial - i.e. the flying saucer - and if so that should work perfectly as it is omnidirectional and dual polarity.

If however you have a 500 series directional aerial you may have problems as (1) TV and DAB may not be transmitted from the same local transmitter site and (2) DAB is vertically polarised which may mean a poor signal if your TV signal needs the aerial to be horizontal.

One other possibility is to get an on-glass tape DAB antenna and stick it to a window near the radio that you don't usually open. These two items on eBay may do the job: 361357013046 or 361200278754. I had one of the latter type on my last car and it worked very well. They can be mounted either way up but must be vertical

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Woodentop,

I don't see any disagreement, in fact you actually reinforce and amplify what I have suggested.

 

[PaulG1975]

Thanks for all your replies. A great help.

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Beware With Dab .Look very carefully in to what you buy. DAB+ is here now and so many dab stations have gone off and joined Plus But please look into it before you buy
Sir Roger

 

[Hutch]

Found out the problem with DAB radio last few time over to Europe, they are on a different sytem, so back to good old FM.

 

[SirRogerFFS]

On The subject of radio you now of course have internet radio where there are some really good stations to listen to.Just to name a few for you oldies out there Radio Caroline is on the internet Radio London BigL Britain radio.Yes they are tribute stations but good examples of internet radio . Happy listening

Sir Roger

 

[Hutch]

Sir Roger, I meant for the DAB radio in the car, we carry a portable DAB for the Caravan, never thought about Radio Caroline on the Internet, sounds good, Have to search for R. Luxemborg. Although at home in the UK we tune into Nostalgie, through the internet, to keep up our French language skills. Grand this new fangled stuff.

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Hutch I tried to find Radio Luxembourg but very little on .Google doesnt help. Radio Caroline is available on line ad still uses the The Ship Ross Revenge to broadcast from . Good luck with Luxembourg. www.radiocaroline.co.uk.
Sir Roger PS. I think DAB will die a natural death .Watch this space .

 

[Woodentop]

Hutch I tried to find Radio Luxembourg but very little on .Google doesnt help. Radio Caroline is available on line ad still uses the The Ship Ross Revenge to broadcast from . Good luck with Luxembourg. www.radiocaroline.co.uk.
Sir Roger PS. I think DAB will die a natural death .Watch this space .

Unlikely given the pressure government is under to move radio over to DAB. The issue is that most other places that are switching to DAB are using DAB+ which can given significantly better quality for data rates at or lower than are being used at the moment on DAB. If you have a DAB+ radio and listen to Jazz FM you will know what I mean. The problem is that when DAB started in the UK, DAB+ didn't exist so most people have plain vanilla DAB sets which will cease to work when the switchover takes place. The answer would be for HMG to make it mandatory that all sets sold, say, after the middle of next year MUST be compatible with DAB+, and then give Joe Public 5 or 10 years notice that existing DAB will be ceasing. They have already done the same for Freeview that all sets of over 32" screen size must be fitted with a Freeview HD tuner even if the screen is not capable of it - why they just didn't say all TV sets full stop baffles me - so it can be done

I would not be surprised if FM radio is gone in a decade or so.