Re: In-Car DAB Digital Radio with FM Transmitter

On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:13:33 -0800, seani wrote:

On Nov 8, 3:33 pm, Silk <m...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:04:55 +0000, mike o'sullivan wrote:
Looks interesting, even though, as we all know, "DAB sounds worse
than FM"

http://www.pure.com/products/product.asp?product=VL-60905

I notice they have made no attempt to hide the fact it's DAB+
upgradable, so that's one conspiracy theory knocked on the head.

Of course, the most important omission is a decent aerial. I don't rate
its chances in anywhere other than very good DAB reception areas.

I'm much more exercised by the conspiracy among car manufacturers to
take a perfectly good standard where you can replace the ICE to your
hearts content, with something that costs an arm and a leg and is
compatible with nothing else, by the simple expedient of adding a few
curves and slapping a bespoke plastic fascia on everything.

That's not strictly true. Although my experience is mainly with VW group
cars, I find modern ICE quite straightforward to replace as most stuff
comes with DIN standard connectors. My Octavia just required a Skoda
supplied facia adapter and removal and replacement of 4 screws - took
around 15 minutes - I actually fitted it in the carpark of the Post
Office sorting office where I collected the radio. Everything just
plugged in. The only exception being the DAB aerial that required about
an hour's work. But even that wasn't too difficult.

I tried the adapter route at first, but I'm now glad I went to the
trouble of doing things properly, even if I did end up spending about 10
times what I intended to. :-(
.