Cheap way to upgrade to DAB?

[stephenmercedes]

My old girl has a very quaint radio complete with cassette player, which to be honest was out of date when it was made in 2001! However, all I listen to in the car is BBC Radio 2, so not an issue at all. However, my favorite morning show is moving soon to 'Virgin' and will only available on DAB. So, what's the cheapest/easiest way to convert to DAB? (Further connectivity is irrelevant to me as is anything else to do with the 21st century LOL)

 

[LTD]

If you have an aux in and a mobile phone with internet access and sufficient data then there are loads of free radio apps

 

[stephenmercedes]

If you have an aux in and a mobile phone with internet access and sufficient data then there are loads of free radio apps

mmm... I think you must have skipped my comment, "Further connectivity is irrelevant to me as is anything else to do with the 21st century LOL" My 12 year old Nokia has no such feature

 

[LTD]

Then you must buy a small DAB portable radio

 

[bob6600]

Not sure if anything like this will work on the standard radio cassette

Pure Highway Drive Digital In-Car DAB Digital Radio & Audio Adaptor Kit | eBay

Personally I would put in a DAB stereo, not much more price wise

 

[Deleted member 6183]

DAB radio and refusal for additional connectivity are not compatible.

 

[MangoMan]

I'm afraid if you want DAB you just have to bite the bullet and move into the 21st Century. Just like you did when you bought your 21st Century car and cellphone.......

 

[stephenmercedes]

DAB radio and refusal for additional connectivity are not compatible.

I have 6 x DAB radios in my house, I'm a huge radio fan, and the refusal for 'additional connectivity' is simply I've nothing in my life to connect to. I don't really want to start ripping my car audio system out for the sake of one show, was hoping there was a 'cassette conversion' device you could plug into the slot LOL I fear that the folk on here are just too affluent to consider the cheapo solution I'm after

 

[Legacy260]

DAB radio requires a specific aerial that an FM antenna does not cover. You have two choices. Either get an upgraded mobile phone and link this to your in car unit or buy a Pure Highway. Self fitting and costs around £150 all done. Simple to install.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I have 6 x DAB radios in my house, I'm a huge radio fan, and the refusal for 'additional connectivity' is simply I've nothing in my life to connect to. I don't really want to start ripping my car audio system out for the sake of one show, was hoping there was a 'cassette conversion' device you could plug into the slot LOL I fear that the folk on here are just too affluent to consider the cheapo solution I'm after

I misunderstood your OP.

I thought that you were referring to connectivity for your car rather than for yourself!

 

[Alfie]

To get DAB in the car without altering the current system will mean you deploying an FM/DAB system. These simply interconnect to the existing FM feed into the radio and give you DAB on the current audio unit. Not the greatest solution but it will work and wont ruin the look of the car.

 

[stephenmercedes]

Popped into Halfords this morning to see if they offered any solutions. I think I found what I need, a 'NextBase 350'. However, the advice I was given by the numpty sales advisor was atrocious! She absolutely insisted that the device did not need an additional aerial and would work off my standard car aerial! (she was easy on the eye though, so all forgiven). Anyway, the device, as suggested before, uses a built in FM modulator so you can tune the standard car FM radio into it, and the DAB device gets DAB. Not a bad price either as £60 from them, or £45 with some research online. Thanks all for your suggestions - even those that suggested I join the 21st century LOL

 

[baxlin]

Whereabouts are you, SM? I have one of the original Pure Highway jobbies that I bought to fit in my 2002 Rover 75, so would tie in with your car, maybe! TBH, for what they’re fetching on eBay it’s not worth listing it. It’s complete with aerial and wiring, I’m not using it again as I hate trailing wires and windscreen suction fitting.

I’m in Tring, Herts, so if it’s any good you can have it, either collect or post at your expense.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Pm’d Baxlin

 

[stephenmercedes]

Pm’d Baxlin

So did I within 2 minutes of his very generous offer to me LOL

 

[Flyinspanner]

Car Kit MP3 Music Player & USB Charger Wireless Bluetooth FM Transmitter Radio 647923079937 | eBay

These are a way of connecting your mobile smartphone to your car stereo too.

They can transmit to a spare frequency on fm (108mhz etc) and connect via Bluetooth to your phone. You can then stream your saved music, stream apps, etc (Spotify/mobile radio inc dab) and it just plugs into the cigarette lighter.

 

[stephenmercedes]

These are a way of connecting your mobile smartphone to your car stereo too.

If I owned a 'smartphone', I wouldn't have posted the initial query - I'm quite happy to be a predominantly analogue man in a digital world...

 

[baxlin]

Replied to both PMs.

Malcolm

 

[Gollom]

My old girl has a very quaint radio complete with cassette player, which to be honest was out of date when it was made in 2001! However, all I listen to in the car is BBC Radio 2, so not an issue at all. However, my favorite morning show is moving soon to 'Virgin' and will only available on DAB. So, what's the cheapest/easiest way to convert to DAB? (Further connectivity is irrelevant to me as is anything else to do with the 21st century LOL)

I did not realise that it was DAB only - so that's my mornings spoilt to (PLEASE don't let his replacement be Vanessa Feltz)

Apologies for hijacking thread - my car system is ntg2.5. Do I have an easier DAB route?

Thanks

 

[clk320x]

If I owned a 'smartphone', I wouldn't have posted the initial query - I'm quite happy to be a predominantly analogue man in a digital world...

Does it look like this?