Why no DAB?

[gavs]

just noticed that reading through the RCD 510 manual that it has a section regarding DAB or digital radio.

I ask, why no DAB available in a country that already has several DAB stations on the air?

Ripped off I say.

[pologti18t]

just noticed that reading through the RCD 510 manual that it has a section regarding DAB or digital radio.

I ask, why no DAB available in a country that already has several DAB stations on the air?

Ripped off I say.

Who else offers DAB radio as an option in Australia?
I am not sure that the DAB (DAB+) we use here is compatible with all other markets.

[velly_16v_cab]

you can get it as an Option for the Ford RS Focus....but like you said it doesnt work lol....epic fail!

[Frostee]

Who else offers DAB radio as an option in Australia?
I am not sure that the DAB (DAB+) we use here is compatible with all other markets.

I think you're correct. Europe has DAB and we have DAB+, DAB isn't backwardly compatible to DAB+. Some DAB radios can be ugraded via firmware to DAB+, but these units are in the minority & I'm only aware of this in bench top radios (e.g. Pure Evoke and Avanti Flow). With my experience with DAB+ I'm skeptical as to how well mobile radios will work as signal can be dodgy in parts of Melbourne (not sure what the plans are to boost signal as DAB+ rolls out). Wish we had satellite radio here like in the US!

[sVWatt]

DAB worked great in the uk ... Had it in a Pioneer head unit 10 years ago...station name, host, music style, secondary frequency - never a signal drop out problem.

[Frostee]

DAB worked great in the uk ... Had it in a Pioneer head unit 10 years ago...station name, host, music style, secondary frequency - never a signal drop out problem.

Not 100% sure but recall reading something about DAB+ here and the signal strength being low. Not sure if this is to be tamped up, but if it says as is I don't have high hopes for in car models as I get dropouts at certain parts of my home and impacts are worse when raining. I know Pure have had their window mounted add on Highway model on the market for a while, but not clear as to what user experience has been.

[themmc]

DAB+ uses a different encoding scheme (AAC+ in DAB+ vs MPEG2 in DAB). It gives better audio quality at the same bit rate. DAB+ also has more error correction which allows it to cope with higher error rates due to reflections/poor signal etc. But AAC+ requires a better DSP etc to decode. However, anything recent should be able to cope as it's a fairly trivial requirement.

Main thing that DAB/DAB+ gives you is that because it's digital you can have multiple transmitters at different frequencies and have it all worked out in the radio (similar to what mobile phone networks give you).

I'm disappointed that VW (and the other manufacturers) aren't offering DAB/DAB+ radios here. It's not like it's something actually new or unexpected. The legislation to allow it was passed more than 4 years ago and it was being talked about before then.

[broxigar1983]

I take it this is not the same stuff that I see on my radio where it display the station's name and song that is playing?

[gavs]

No, DAB is short for Digital Audio Broadcasting, aka digital radio. When the unit is somewhat capable and we have a form of DAB here, it just seemed odd that it's not a usable function, yet you still get Traffic Announcement settings and Traffic Information etc which we don't have here anyway!

[pologti18t]

No, DAB is short for Digital Audio Broadcasting, aka digital radio. When the unit is somewhat capable and we have a form of DAB here, it just seemed odd that it's not a usable function, yet you still get Traffic Announcement settings and Traffic Information etc which we don't have here anyway!

It's not the cheapest option in the UK either. Not sure most people would be willing to cough up $200-300 for DAB in their car.

[Schibs]

I take it this is not the same stuff that I see on my radio where it display the station's name and song that is playing?

are you able to get this in your Polo in Perth?