Digital Radio Car PC - UK

M11VNY · 04-29-2005, 08:17 AM

Hi All,

I've been looking into this XM Direct Radio! I was hoping to purchase a unit for my car! But noticed it relies on satelites.......so I'm guessing this will prob not work in the UK?? Am I right??

We'll I'm guessing you're probably gonna say "NO!"

So whats the best way to get digital radio using a car pc system in the UK!!!
Want to idealy use a external device

Thanks for your help!

stevieg · 04-29-2005, 08:28 AM

There are no reasonably priced DAB units that are suitable for Car PCs at the moment. People have played with the Psion Wavefinders but not had good results, as it loses lock when the car moves.

Basically I don't think anyone in the UK who can program the front-ends to work with DAB has the money to blow trying out different more-expensive units to try and find one that works and has an SDK.

Scouse Monkey · 04-29-2005, 08:34 AM

Easiest way: move to the USA and get XM!

dansoton · 05-10-2005, 04:30 PM

Have a look at Blaupunkts Woodstock 54:

http://www.blaupunkt.co.uk/7644708310_main.asp

It's a DAB head unit which has had good reviews, and the interesting thing about it is that you can access all the radio information via an optional bluetooth adapter at the back.

The software available is for a PDA, but they have released the specification for accessing the DAB information so you could write some software for the carputer which can access this information.

Problem is i'm not sure you can actually change stations via the carputer, just view the details etc, which you may think is pretty pointless, and i'd be tempted to agree, but even still it will be nice to see the station playing and additional info that doesn't fit on the headunit, on the touchscreen.

Anyway just an idea, i'm tempted myself, though writing some carputer software to interface with it looks a fair amoutn of work.

One word of warning though - you need a separate DAB aerial, but check out bluespot, they offer several options (http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/woodstock_dab54.asp)

ALonDonThinG · 05-11-2005, 05:14 AM

I just installed one of these [http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/prod...A-1+DAB/793017 , so far its working very well, reception seems very good around here, especially any bbc stations "always zero signal loss" , but some commercial stations ie Kiss\Capital vary from 0-30 loss" which is still listenable , im only using stock radio antennae atm and may or may not upgrade it, im gonna give it some more time before i decide. It is also easy to separate the front panel and fit somewhere nice and convenient.

Scouse Monkey · 05-11-2005, 05:18 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ALonDonThinG

I just installed one of these [http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/prod...A-1+DAB/793017 , so far its working very well, reception seems very good around here, especially any bbc stations "always zero signal loss" , but some commercial stations ie Kiss\Capital vary from 0-30 loss" which is still listenable , im only using stock radio antennae atm and may or may not upgrade it, im gonna give it some more time before i decide. It is also easy to separate the front panel and fit somewhere nice and convenient.

hey thats cool. might be replacing my molded HU facia if its any good. What is the screen like? What colour and info does it display? What about presets? Do you need to use the remote?

ALonDonThinG · 05-11-2005, 05:20 AM

Check this out scouse , its how i found it.http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/cgi-b...num=1104014770
Hope it helps

Scouse Monkey · 05-11-2005, 05:35 AM

ahhh good review. looks promising but the dependancy on the remote is a ******. I sense a hack the remote to bits, mold the buttons in the dash and move the IR Tx and Rx so they are pointing at each other coming on!

ALonDonThinG · 05-11-2005, 05:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Scouse Monkey

ahhh good review. looks promising but the dependancy on the remote is a ******. I sense a hack the remote to bits, mold the buttons in the dash and move the IR Tx and Rx so they are pointing at each other coming on!

haha have fun, my wife nearly died watching me rip mine apart within 10 mins of getting it.
It isnt the "perfect" solution, but its filling a hole in my sound for me atm.
Until something better comes along,
if you do get 1 let me know what you end up doing with it , im sure you will make the most of it

Gobby · 05-11-2005, 05:52 AM

Looks good, shame we can't hook this up to PC, we could then get realtime TPEG :-)

Scouse Monkey · 05-11-2005, 06:49 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by UK_MP3Car

Looks good, shame we can't hook this up to PC, we could then get realtime TMC :-)

maybe if we can get the specs for the DAB module. it might have a TTL data feed output that can be tapped into.

Prem · 05-11-2005, 03:39 PM

Had a look at this and found the datasheet:

http://www.frontier-silicon.com/fact...e%20FS2020.pdf

It says it will accept USB, I2S, SPDIF, RDI and RS232 in a single 44 way board-board connector.

Interesting!!!!

Prem

Scouse Monkey · 05-11-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Prem

Had a look at this and found the datasheet:

http://www.frontier-silicon.com/fact...e%20FS2020.pdf

It says it will accept USB, I2S, SPDIF, RDI and RS232 in a single 44 way board-board connector.

Interesting!!!!

Prem

Uber interesting. anyone fancy the challenge? I am too busy doing a million other things and I am ****e with things like that.

Gobby · 05-11-2005, 04:01 PM

I'm looking into it Scouse - gonna contact them and find out .... I want to get TMC working through it :-)

Scouse Monkey · 05-11-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by UK_MP3Car

I'm looking into it Scouse - gonna contact them and find out .... I want to get TMC working through it :-)

I was gonna nominate you