[TheScotsman]

Normally I would connect the iPod or something to listen to my own music, but today I thought I would test the DAB. I found it to be rather irritating, it didn't cut out so to speak, more distort at very frequent intervals. Like a very small 1 second break in the sound with a small pop. I have considered the fact it could be the areas I am driving in, but even sitting still for 5 minutes had the same results.

I tried different radio stations all with the same problem, and even Forth 1 in Edinburgh was the same (Forth 1 being an Edinburgh Radio Station).

Has anyone else had issues with DAB before I complain to the dealer?

 

[MintMark]

Mine has been fine, but I did have what you describe for one day last week and I thought it might be the weather conditions. It's been fine since.

I pick up travel reports from a much wider area with DAB compared to my last car with FM!

 

[TheScotsman]

Strange thing Mark. I went out to the car today and listened to the radio for about 15 minutes without a single problem.

 

[madday]

I have had problems with dab.it stops and starts
it often sounds like Norman Collier which is
not very impressive.in certain parts of town the
reception will be lost. Now that's not supposed to
happen with dab.

 

[olliesgrandad]

One day last week BBC DAB radio had a fault which they actually mentioned on Radio 2 as it kept dropping out.

 

[johnan]

I have had the Collier effect with the radio too but rarely use the radio so I just assumed the problem was due to local reception issues.

 

[Tubby]

Mine keeps cutting out and this shouldn't happen as I also have a Mercedes with DAB and the signal is constant. There seems to be a problem...

 

[jeremybingham]

dab

Nope , sadly I think its DAB and the signal; if it is poor dab drops out whereas with fm you would have a hiss; the signal gets blocked by buildings and is poor in some areas,, just like a mobile phone-the digital signal just drops out whereas with the old fm the signal gets weaker so you get a bit of hiss or mono. That's why we all needed new aerials when digital tv arrived-and if the signal is poor it clicks and pops horrendously-dab is pretty rubbish for cars. Re the merc / mini comparison-lots of things do affect it-aerial size/height position, quality and ability of the tuner to draw in a signal-that said my f56 seems very good so far ,, my wifes mini cabrio was good, but her roadster, wth the aerial lower down ie on the boot nowhere near so good!

Thats' why we need to press the government not to switch off FM-it is in many respects much better suited to cars!

 

[Tubby]

Nope , sadly I think its DAB and the signal; if it is poor dab drops out whereas with fm you would have a hiss; the signal gets blocked by buildings and is poor in some areas,, just like a mobile phone-the digital signal just drops out whereas with the old fm the signal gets weaker so you get a bit of hiss or mono. That's why we all needed new aerials when digital tv arrived-and if the signal is poor it clicks and pops horrendously-dab is pretty rubbish for cars. Re the merc / mini comparison-lots of things do affect it-aerial size/height position, quality and ability of the tuner to draw in a signal-that said my f56 seems very good so far ,, my wifes mini cabrio was good, but her roadster, wth the aerial lower down ie on the boot nowhere near so good!

Thats' why we need to press the government not to switch off FM-it is in many respects much better suited to cars!

Thanks for the clarification.

It would appear then, that the aerial and tuner in the Mini are lacking somewhat as when I am doing the school run in the morning, the Mini cops out when on the same route the Mercedes signal has no issues at all.

 

[jeremybingham]

Probably although it might be worth a mention to the dealer as mine seems quite good so far.

 

[TheScotsman]

I drove the same roads after creating this post in addition to some new roads and could not replicate the same issues. DAB worked perfectly.

I do not believe if was distortion caused by buildings or inferior aerial quality. Something went wrong at the time I posted and it was the same on multiple channels, even when sitting stationary.

I can't explain what exactly went wrong though, but will certainly keep an eye on it for reoccurrence.

 

[jeremybingham]

Sounds as if the transmitter in your area may have been having issues or there might have been some sort of interference as a one off-our mobile phones have been horrendous during the summer-orange are supposed to have good coverage BUT!!!!!

 

[donnaj1dlh]

I find that 'dropping out' a pain in the hoop! Every time it happens I look at the stereo, think "wtf" and then remember it's DAB. My MINI is nowhere near as bad as our C63, it is awful. Steve has been known to 'nip out' with my car on a Saturday afternoon as his car is hopeless trying to get Talk Sport. I think it depends on where you are though. In Aberdeen, the 'Aberdeen Network' stations are obviously better received than the national ones.

 

[QMark]

I was in Suffolk over the weekend and had no DAB signal anywhere. Couldn't find any channels at all. FM was fine.

 

[Madmark]

We have the occasional crackle/pop, but this has happened when stationary in the car. It has also happened with a usb stick and the iPod. The Bluetooth has also not connected. This is very frustrating and dealer couldn't find the problem first time as it is intermittent. Have now managed to record the sound and rebooked for the dealer for next week.
They did try to blame it on Apple iOS 7, but it did it again without the phone connected.

Anyone else had this?

Visual Boost with Harmon Kardon, no Sat Nav.

Mark

 

[olliesgrandad]

The DAB radio in my F56 is streets ahead of the version in my 2013 R55. It very rarely drops signal even in the forest of Dean whereas the R55 very had a signal there at all.
oh and I have fitted the short sport aerial from my Clubman to the new car.

 

[TheScotsman]

This issue has reoccurred and it's not specific to DAB like I originally thought. I didn't have my iPod with me the first time this happened so I only had DAB to test.

I have had this occur three times since then and it seems to be more frequent. I even considered it might be dampness getting into wiring somewhere, but even that theory seems to be dead. I got in the car at work and the iPod started cutting out during songs, every 5-10 seconds, each time with a slight pop or crackle similarly to a an old record player. I drive straight to the dealer to book it in for the earlier possible time, I was in there about 20 minutes, came out, got in the car and... it worked fine. I have even tried switching off the engine and stereo as soon as it starts happening, and it still does it. The only pattern I can see is that I am away from the car for a period of time and when I return it seems to be fine.

Hopefully the dealer can find the fault. I will be insisting they keep the car until fixed. I did try and record it on my phone, not yet had a chance to listen and see how good the recording it.

 

[TheScotsman]

I forgot to mention that when the problem persists it does so regardless of whether it's the radio or iPod. It's not specific to one of the other.

 

[kenl]

Mine drops out regularly. I lose sound for a few seconds , especially in East Lothian but not so bad in Edinburgh. I think it is just a week signal as the one in my house does not work well all the time.

 

[TheScotsman]

Thanks for your response Kenl, but it's not just DAB. It happens with any source whether iPod or radio. It is definitely a problem somewhere in the stereo whether an electrical fault or a head unit fault.