DAB - Is it any good in NI

[Wild Thing]

As per title, is it worth buying a dab radio if changing a standard head unit. Must have iphone connection and hands free/bluetooth for the phone. Any experiences with single din units would be appreciated.

 

[ace275]

When are they switching traditional radio off? That's the bit i'd buy around

 

[Daz500]

I've had dab for years in my cars and have never been too impressed by it plus there's the nuisance of a different aerial. Overall, quality of dab is quite poor in terms of low bitrate. I'm more interested in Bluetooth streaming capabilities from my phone tbh.

 

[JayT]

Wee bro has it in his focus and says it only works from Belfast to portadown then out in the armagh stix it's back to fm.

 

[Lappintyre]

Mine doesn't work around banbridge, newry, gilford or tandragee, other than that it's just great!

 

[Paddy_R]

I have a couple of DAB radios in my house and they rubbish. Thank god for the FM option!

 

[saxo_man]

I had a dab radio in the jag, never failed to pick up the usual stuff anywhere from Strabane to Bangor.

I guess the aftermarket ones mustn't be much use if this is the general verdict above

 

[colin84]

So are they going to be changing to DAB only like they did with the TV signal?

I like the idea of DAB if it was as good as they make it out to be, which I doubt it wil.

 

[Lyons]

I have it and its a great job. There have only been a couple of brief times where it drops the signal, but automatically switches to analogue.

FAR better than an old pioneer I had years ago!

 

[scub]

i have it on my house stereo - or so the manual says since i've never been able to get even the slightest signal !!

 

[Marc.W]

DAB is awesome purely for Team Rock Radio

Friend of mine got it put into his Vectra, lost signal with the windscreen mounted ariel then changed to an outside mounted one and says it's much, much better

 

[Lyons]

DAB is awesome purely for Birdsong

Agreed.

 

[AlpineF30]

My F30 is the first car i've had which has it. I think its brilliant as its either on or off no interferance and signal is perfect on my drive from Strangford to Belfast everyday

 

[Steve]

Digital radio switchover hasnt been confirmed yet, but is targeted for end 2015 according to Which

 

[HWW]

Audio Advice said they won't be turning off analogue till at least 2020 due to being behind schedule on the coverage of DAB. Areas of North Down has no DAB signal.

 

[Darren91]

Pretty good coverage in the car everywhere along the North Coast right down the main roads to Belfast, Ballymena seems to have a dead spot though.

 

[MYCFB]

I've got one in the north west and being in the car a lot I don't know how I'd live without DAB in the car, the audio is far better in sound quality compared to FM and it's well known there isn't a great selection of radio stations in the NW so it's a great addition to my car

 

[tim119]

have a dab radio i got from halfords in my old car. just changed to a new motor and it does not have one in it. i feel lost without it.

now i have no bbc radio 6 or talksport. i had 30 channels on it. thought it was a great job. can pick up lots of stations along the antrim coast.

radio 5 live was great quality too. cant recommend enough. tho im not sure about different areas reception.

 

[saj]

If anyone is looking a cheap dab radio... I just bought this...

Philips CE139DR iPhone/USB/DAB Car Stereo - £36.00 Delivered With Code - Halfords - http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/phi...eo-36-00-delivered-with-code-halfords-2004590

Just needs an aerial for it... Can anyone recommend one for me..?

 

[scub]

So no signal then . Sounds like a Fkn bargain !

 

[Peadar]

I have it in the Audi. I couldn't live without it. Kiss FM is so good on a sat night. Great station. I never have any probs with signal and I'm all over the north all the time.

 

[EP82JM]

First thing I look for when I go out in a different car

Capital xtra and kiss fm are far better than any stations over here which just play the same pish songs over and over all day.

 

[Ant]

I just use TuneIn radio on my phone through the bluetooth on the stereo to get 5Live and TodayFM, makes life easier with the pish reception in glengormley

 

[Lyons]

First thing I look for when I go out in a different car

Capital xtra and kiss fm are far better than any stations over here which just play the same pish songs over and over all day.

The first thing I do each week in the hire car Scotland is save presets on the radio. I discovered Capital Xtra ages ago but never noticed it over here. It was only last weekend I had another look for it and found it in my car .

I pretty much just flick between 1xtra, Capital Xtra and Kiss.

 

[Coog]

Radio in the UK is absolutely abysmal. I think the only station I can tolerate is Kerrang! FM - everything else is just terrible! The US seems to have it sorted; think of a genre and there'll be a station playing that type of music, in range and available to play there and then.

Are there any stations that play just music on DAB?

I still don't understand who actually wants to listen to competitions, call-in's, shout-outs, prank phone calls, interviews with celebrity plonkers, etc on some stations. Ruins my happiness.