Ignoring how long DAB has been a thing, it's still terrible reception. To the point where I didn't bother fitting a DAB aerial in my van with the Halo. I stream all my music from iTunes so there was no need really.
Just look at this and see for yourself. No wonder it's spotty at best.
Just look at this and see for yourself. No wonder it's spotty at best.
I must be the exception here. We have a Skoda Yeti & a T6, both with the Discover Media (or the Skoda equivalent) and we use DAB all the time. The only time we know it will drop out is going over Woodhead or up in the Lakes. The sound quality is noticeably better than FM.
Single is atrocious even on the drive
I can get in my wife’s discovery sport and it works great no dead spots get in the van and nothing till I drive 100m down the road then it will cut out again
When I fit my new amp I am going to try a different aerial !!!
I can get in my wife’s discovery sport and it works great no dead spots get in the van and nothing till I drive 100m down the road then it will cut out again
When I fit my new amp I am going to try a different aerial !!!
Roadrunner15
New Member
I have a T6 2016 model my radio is awful crackles most of the time.
jimbops
New Member
I never had a problem with the dab signal and I am on my second T6.1. Until recently, when I swapped out my amp for a bigger version of the Audison 5600. Since doing this my dab signal cuts off all the time. Im thinking it could be interference somewhere, but everything is the same as it was. I have just upgraded to a slightly bigger amp and in doing so lost may dab signal lol.
When I get chance I will reverse what I have done to see if it fixes the issue. It could all just be coincidence but I think not.
Apparently the aerial is in the wing mirrors.
When I get chance I will reverse what I have done to see if it fixes the issue. It could all just be coincidence but I think not.
Apparently the aerial is in the wing mirrors.
I’m not sure this is 100% but some of the t6.1 aerials are not shielded correctly , manufactured from another company.
We supply many 5.600s and only seen this once so far
I'm finding the same with my T6, Discover Media Pro (2018). I use DAB for BBC R5L, unfortunately not available on FM and AM is no fun to use either.
I also have LR Disco 4 (2014) this has no problems at all in the same areas. So it must be the unit or the DAB aerial, which I'm led to believe in the back of the drivers side mirror. Could it be improved with a better aerial on roof? My guess is probably not. Just poor signal gain from the unit.
I also have LR Disco 4 (2014) this has no problems at all in the same areas. So it must be the unit or the DAB aerial, which I'm led to believe in the back of the drivers side mirror. Could it be improved with a better aerial on roof? My guess is probably not. Just poor signal gain from the unit.
DAB contrary to popular belief and encouragement by the BBC offers poor quality sound in comparison to FM from the same station or organisation. the bit rate of DAB is very low generally though the BBC has greater bit rates than the vast majority of commercial stains that is especially so with BBC R3 which has the highest bit rate of any station in the UK. The BBC FM broadcasts are or have been the best in the World. NO other country even comes close. The UK Government has been putting huge pressure on the BBC and radio stations to switch to DAB and there has been a huge propaganda program to encourage switching over from FM to DAB. Many commercial stations transmit on so low bit rates that they are not even stereo. Most HiFi fanatics use FM and rarely use DAB. It is a great shame that BBC R6 is only available on DAB. DAB broadcasters have to decide how to distribute the sound frequency with DAB appointing more bits to certain frequencies to get the effect that they want. Unfortunately many FM stations are being run down and polluted with Digital infrastructure were as before they where totally analogue. The best digital HiFi equipment has very high bit rates and bandwidths SACD and many of the Internet Streamers also and make DAB seem pitiful. DAB tends also to be short range and far more susceptible to blockage from tall buildings or hills and need far more transmitters and relays. Fm will often find its target in even remote or hilly regions/ The government wants the FM network to be handed over to mobile use and development.
Ate present time the best thing to do if transmissions are poor is to look up on the net and see if any transmitter information is available because often stations or regional transmitter may be down or switching frequencies to allow more space for mobile transmission. Nationally and World wide we are all suffering interference from Solar activity which can be very disruptive and even damaging. Solar activity runs at a 11 year peak to trough or a 22 year period max to max activity and some years are worse or better than others. It is controlled by Sun Spot activity. Solar flairs activity is increased and only the Earths strong Magnetic Field and atmosphere protect us. So strong are some of the episodes that TV broadcasts will not transmit properly and TV might be unresponsive to some or all channels. Same with Radio some stations will be affected more than others and at times all might be unavailable for a short time. We are at a Solar Activity Max at the moment so problems may occur over a few years and then become less and less and die down completely.
Ate present time the best thing to do if transmissions are poor is to look up on the net and see if any transmitter information is available because often stations or regional transmitter may be down or switching frequencies to allow more space for mobile transmission. Nationally and World wide we are all suffering interference from Solar activity which can be very disruptive and even damaging. Solar activity runs at a 11 year peak to trough or a 22 year period max to max activity and some years are worse or better than others. It is controlled by Sun Spot activity. Solar flairs activity is increased and only the Earths strong Magnetic Field and atmosphere protect us. So strong are some of the episodes that TV broadcasts will not transmit properly and TV might be unresponsive to some or all channels. Same with Radio some stations will be affected more than others and at times all might be unavailable for a short time. We are at a Solar Activity Max at the moment so problems may occur over a few years and then become less and less and die down completely.
The plus side of sunspot Cycle 25 being quite strong is being able to talk regularly to Australian radio amateurs on 10 metres using modest power... obviously I still keep using up to our kilowatt limit as I'm a lid... might even be me causing those DAB problems as you drive near Northampton. 
I've never had DAB issues in any vehicle, although I'm probably tempting fate saying that. Probably best to avoid Frosty's street when he's in the shack.
As KoB alludes, the bit rate is poor and matters aren't helped by broadcasters ramming more stations onto the same group and dividing the bitrate even further.
The flipside is that when the transmitters are working properly, and in a vehicle where the receiver is doing a proper job, it's far less prone to interference tha FM. Also OFCUM (sic) like it because the EM spectrum is valuable, and the less is taken up by one thing the more is left over to sell to someone else.
Also, the bitrate and subsequent loss of fidelity is not really an issue inside a vehicle where the listening environment is so heavily polluted with road, wind and engine noise. Vehicles are a records producers nightmare.
As KoB alludes, the bit rate is poor and matters aren't helped by broadcasters ramming more stations onto the same group and dividing the bitrate even further.
The flipside is that when the transmitters are working properly, and in a vehicle where the receiver is doing a proper job, it's far less prone to interference tha FM. Also OFCUM (sic) like it because the EM spectrum is valuable, and the less is taken up by one thing the more is left over to sell to someone else.
Also, the bitrate and subsequent loss of fidelity is not really an issue inside a vehicle where the listening environment is so heavily polluted with road, wind and engine noise. Vehicles are a records producers nightmare.
Many years ago on 4W CB I often spoke with North Europian inhabitants for short periods and when camped up high was asked to take the chair of a regular speaking group that operated in Mid Wales because I appeared to have all the ears for many miles. I only had a cheap radio and a 9 foot miliary whip cut to SWAR in, mounted centrally on the roof of a LR101FC but I was pulling in people from Anglesey to Cardiff and quite wide also. It was rather strange I was in conversation with some people as I was camped up and someone came in and very politely informed me that this frequency was regularly used for Mid and West Wales cant remember the name news group and culd hang around if I would like and join in after the News which was usually quite light. The first bit news was all about sister ???? who had just had her leg amputated! I gulped and wondered what the serious news might be about. Later I was asked to ho;d office and bring in other users which I did never before or after/ The right conditions and location make such a difference! I mainly used the kit when off roading to hear if others might be using the same track or for help closing gates and so on. that or a mate used to call me up after my work occasionally he had been a Merchant Navy radio operator with a massive, bizarre sense of humour! He used that frequently over the air waves.The plus side of sunspot Cycle 25 being quite strong is being able to talk regularly to Australian radio amateurs on 10 metres using modest power... obviously I still keep using up to our kilowatt limit as I'm a lid... might even be me causing those DAB problems as you drive near Northampton.
The biggest loss to me was over 20 or more years ago when my HiFi equipment was taken out by a Lightning storm that struck very near to the house even nocking my wife over. I was out with the dogs. Any way I had a Valve Tuner and because of the suggestions that FM was soon to be phased out I reluctantly never replaced tuner even though it was a big part of my listening experience free and of good quality sound. For many years I lusted after expensive FM Tuners especially some of the American Continent Radio Tuners but what was the point of spending a grand or tow on something that was very soon going to die and already people were flogging this or that to get some cash before it was too late. Many years later FM is still going though as said who knows what the original source transmission or rerecording was from digital at what rate or analogue with what or even what hotchpot as BBC further runs things down. Even the other day I was lusting after FM Tube Tuners from over their almost pressing the buy button.. It is very like the end of diesel and petrol it will go on for years and years and as long as what replaces it is better then maybe OK but so often it is just not. DAB could have been so much better no reason why it cannot be and DAB + is even worse. It just fits a government algorithms £££ rule . Mostly I have got by with Free-view radio should I do one Last Hurrah for a decent FM Radio Tuner for my HiFi buy a Tuner and Dam to what comes after, what do you guys say?
I always wanted a Krell pre amp with two Krell power amps but the nearest I got was a secondhand late 80s dual mono integrated amp with dual power supplies, just under a kilowatt mains in for for two times 110 watts out, weighed the same as a bag of cement.
These days I play flac audio files using Foobar on the TV PC straight into a Pioneer surround amp then into the Stereo front pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 6 floorstanders, got a BK active sub as sadly I still love trousers flapping bass too.
Currently listening to albums by Dub Syndicate and "warm Up" Etienne de Crecy, my attached neighbour loves them too...
These days I play flac audio files using Foobar on the TV PC straight into a Pioneer surround amp then into the Stereo front pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 6 floorstanders, got a BK active sub as sadly I still love trousers flapping bass too.
Currently listening to albums by Dub Syndicate and "warm Up" Etienne de Crecy, my attached neighbour loves them too...
Krell, used to dream about Krell!I always wanted a Krell pre amp with two Krell power amps but the nearest I got was a secondhand late 80s dual mono integrated amp with dual power supplies, just under a kilowatt mains in for for two times 110 watts out, weighed the same as a bag of cement.
These days I play flac audio files using Foobar on the TV PC straight into a Pioneer surround amp then into the Stereo front pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 6 floorstanders, got a BK active sub as sadly I still love trousers flapping bass too.
Currently listening to albums by Dub Syndicate and "warm Up" Etienne de Crecy, my attached neighbour loves them too...
Have ATC Pre, ATC Power Amp, PMC MB Mid Box Speakers 50kg each 20hz-20khz do not need sub with those tried for ever to find PMC BB5 16hz-20khz gave up. Did have quad FM 2or 3 ? valve tuner with hand made stereo decoder but blown up by lightning as was all previous amplification now use Humax Freeview permanently plugged in to amps so listen to TV & Radio through Hi-fi . Pioneer UDP-LX800 4K Blu-ray Player plays CD and SACD will play downloaded files also but could be a faff was a compromise as it would play films for SWMBO. Sondek LP12 had for absolute ages 80's sometime Itock. Would very much like a Streamer so may wait to hear the Michi when and if it comes out. Might change Amplification to the same 500+W might be very nice, NO Neighbours except sheep, cattle and wildlife. Would very much like Magnum Dynalab Valve FM Radio. The latter I have wanted for many many years but because of FM being fased out suposedly over last 20 years, never bought one as a replacement but listening to valve radio can be very suporific and give wonderful sound! Would like to download right file format but unsure how to go about it and the proceedure for playing through the Pioneer Player looks a bit aukward.
In my case I've got 66 year old ears and with the best will in the world they don't work as well as they did when I was a teenager, which was probably when a lot of the damage was done, ears ringing the day after all nighters or live music. 
However on another level it's quite liberating not to lust after silly expensive top of the range audio equipment, including the surround sound aspect of my TV/PC combo too and be able to get decent mid and upward kit and know that it's genuinely good enough, my tinnitus wiping out much of those spatial cues given by the proper high end gear anyway.
However on another level it's quite liberating not to lust after silly expensive top of the range audio equipment, including the surround sound aspect of my TV/PC combo too and be able to get decent mid and upward kit and know that it's genuinely good enough, my tinnitus wiping out much of those spatial cues given by the proper high end gear anyway.
