DAB tuner module

I don't suppose PCA or anyone else is planning a DAB tuner module for the empeg are they?

Now this is something I would be very interested in. Once you've had the experience of DAB in a car it makes it very difficult to go backto regular FM

However, I suspect this would be a very niche area at the moment, although increasing in popularity all the time.

Have you ever tried a DAB tuner on the move? Whatever its proponents would like to tell you, as far as I can ascertain, it's a waste of time: With cellphones, they come up with great statements like "Covering 98% of the population", without pointing out that 98% of the population live in 48% of the landmass - DAB is much the same.

I note that increasingly portable DAB receivers also have FM back-up, which would indicate that this will not be resolved in the short term.

A certain electronics manufacturer who, for curious reasons value my opinion on their new products over the last 25 years, lent me one, just before I got my Empeg and I returned it with a note saying: "About as much use as a chocolate teapot!" - But I accept that that was some time ago.

Point 2: I have it in writing from the BBC, last year, that for the forseeable future FM, rather than DAB, reception will remain the quality medium for radio reception.

N.B. Those following the off topic threads on this site, particularly the Grammar Police and Cadet, will notice the correct use of "its" and "it's" on this thread

Yes, I have owned a Pioneer DAB hide-away unit for over 3 years now. While there are areas of the country that do not have good DAB coverage (read as none at all) the BBC are gradually upgrading their transmitters to support the standard. East Anglia is one of the worst areas and, until recently the South West was poorly supported. However, I drive weekly from Bath area to Manchester and don't get any drop-outs.

My experience of DAB has been nothing short of a revalation and I would be the first to evangelise the standard. OK, it has its problems, but there are now loads of stations (commercial as well as the BBC) that support it and coverage is improving all the time with the BBC committed to the standard long term.

It does have some distict programming advantages too, especially if you're a Radio 5/5 Live/5 Live Sports Xtra listener. These stations simply are not available in FM and, well, AM is just a joke if you ask me. There are plenty of other specialist stations available on DAB and not elsewhere too.

You don't want to bother trying DAB if you come up to Scotland. And in the deep highlands, AM still gives you the best reception.

I remember being very annoyed when analogue phone connections became obsolete - my old Sony analogue mobile worked EVERYWHERE...up mountains, in valleys etc. but digital broke all that, and it still isn't fixed.

I guess that is a hazard of deliberately living in areas other than 98% of the population (same goes for blimming broadband as well!!! Akkk)

It does have some distinct programming advantages

A point that I readily accept, and I used DAB for much of listening at home, particularly BBC7 and the other spoken word station (Can't think of the name as I sit here), until I put in set top digital the other week. It gives me most of the DAB stations, but at a higher quality.
I have consequently reduced my DAB reception to two hours local BBC radio on a Sunday night to take advantage of 192mbps on set top digital, for the BBC national stations that I favour.
Sky+ tell me that it is in their development programme to make the boxes accessible to your network, which may well be a better home solution, long term.

Now DAB would be cool, but I don't think we'll ever see a DAB tuner for the empeg. It'd be nice. But there are several problems to overcome. One being that the tuner sends MPX which the empeg decodes the audio and RDS out of. You wouldn't get that with a DAB receiver, so you'd probably lose your AUX in.

But I'd definately get one if it became available. I think patricks motivation for projects seems to come from people saying things are too difficult/expensive/time consuming to consider building. He then sets about building one in a weekend using parts from Tandy.

and the other spoken word station

OneWord?

OneWord?

You got it!
Incidentally, Gillian Reynolds, the Daily Telegraph's radio correspondent told me that more people, statistically, listen to these two stations on satellite and terrestial digital, than on DAB: Well I suppose that if you've got it for improved television, variety and quality, it doesn't make much sense to get a DAB set as well.
Anyone want a redundant Wavefinder, cheap to users of this BBS?

N.B. I didn't say I wouldn't love to have a DAB module with my Empeg, just that I had reservations - one of which would be that you would have to devise a way to run it in tandem with an FM module.

I get OneWord on FreeView which I've been listening to quite regularly (I've been suffering from insomnia recently). It really is quite good. I sometimes feel that I've already become middle-aged at 24.

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But I'd definately get one if it became available. I think patricks motivation for projects seems to come from people saying things are too difficult/expensive/time consuming to consider building. He then sets about building one in a weekend using parts from Tandy.

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Didn't Tandy go the way of the dinosaur. I think its part of Maplin now.

However, I think you're right. Patrick likes a challenge :-)

There's actually an I2S input on the tuner connector. It's never been tested or used though. There's a post by Hugo about it here.

In that case...

I don't believe that Patrick could possibly make a modular DAB radio for use with the Empeg. It can't be done, simple as that. Its impossible I tell ya!

In reply to:

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I think patrick's motivation for projects seems to come from people saying things are too difficult/expensive/time consuming to consider building.

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I am firmly of the opinion that a DAB tuner for the empeg would be much too difficult, expensive and time consuming to consider building...

...waits...

I don't believe that Patrick could possibly make a modular DAB radio for use with the Empeg. It can't be done, simple as that. Its impossible I tell ya!

That'll fix it, we'll have one for monday morning!

same goes for blimming broadband as well!!!

Didn't I see a feature on TV where Scottish-Hydro had developed a system of providing broadband through the electricity supply, enabling remote businesses to be competitive?
Regrettably, broadband is not available to me in North Yorkshire, despite the very best efforts of my very good friend, another user of this BBS.

I've been suffering from insomnia recently

I'm not surprised, paying that car insurance premium!

Yeah. Somebody I know lives in Winchester and they've signed up for the broadband-over-powerline trial there.

I thought that it was a purely Scottish initiative, if it's national, do you know who to contact?

From what I remember, it was being tested in two places. Winchester and some place in Scotland. I'll ask him who it's with.

I would definitely be interested in one. Even at the crapy bit rates the BBC have pushed their stations down to it still makes sense in the car.

Too bad broadband over power lines causes problems for radio, since basically the power system is one giant antenna...

I have been meaning to grab one of those cheap Evoke DAB units and pulling it apart; I'd guess that there's probably some way of getting I2S out of the thing. No idea how it'd relate to automotive antennas, though.

Mmmm....

Hugo

I believe you'd need a new aeriel for you car. Be cool to have DAB on an empeg however.