W204 Coupe DAB stop working

[Wheel]

The one thing that I hated on the one I had in my late SL was that the BBC National services were on 1 band, and to get to the other stations I had to store say BBC 2 on the national band and then say LBC on another and tune from there. I have never seen another tune that performs like that.

Ah yes, a radio that tunes by multiplex - a terrible in car experience.

The best in car DAB experience is a radio that has twin tuners and displays stations in an alphabetical list. I think BMW have it spot on with their set-up.

As an aside, DAB is standard on 99% of BMWs, and 100% of Audis, yet when I last checked (November last year), only 58% of Mercs sold came with DAB. Pathetic.

 

[SunnyDee]

Sounds about right, Mercedes using cheap parts for their DAB...

The problem did start as soon as new Sound Digital multiplex started. Never seen SDL before till that day when it happend.

Whenever I tune to Kistory it start playing up.

 

[Alfie]

My understanding is that Mercedes have a potential fix for this which they are rolling out to a couple of dealers to start with. As soon as we can get our hands on it we will offer it.

 

[SunnyDee]

YAY.... just took a phone call from Customer services HQ, they are offering this software update to me for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The lady also said that she seen my Youtube vidoe and saw this tread too... Thnx LADY!!!

 

[television]

I do hope the update works

 

[SunnyDee]

me too, (When ever it comes out)

 

[Botus]

As an aside, DAB is standard on 99% of BMWs, and 100% of Audis, yet when I last checked (November last year), only 58% of Mercs sold came with DAB. Pathetic.

DAB became std fit on all 2013 model year BMWs

A mate was saying the whole DAB setup is getting a retune nationwide.

I see planet rock is now on a new multiplex, the original is broadcasting how to retune. Abs80 New is also "new" I believe. Whilst out on trip up to Birmingham today (from Slough) DAB was faultless (NTG3) and I discovered loads of new multiplexes. Back in Burnham I found two local ones (surrey and another berks or something) and a new national 2 one (where planet rock is now hiding)

On the faulty ones, if I remember correctly Terry at Wayne Gates had issue as described here on his own car (that's as of January)

 

[SunnyDee]

still no update from MB, I think they are hoping this will die along with many other issues they can't be bothered to fix like internet on the command...

 

[television]

Just shocking.

 

[Wheel]

Unfortunately for Mercedes, this problem is not going to go away. With more new multiplexes coming on air and DAB stations using DAB+ finally launching in the UK this year, the numbers of stations is rapidly growing!

Sound Digital are broadcasting 18 stations on their multiplex, but there are also multiplexes in Portsmouth* and Manchester with 15 stations broadcasting too (in addition to the other multiplexes available in those cities).

So Mercedes cannot afford to bury it's head in the sand.


* Disclosure: In addition to my day job, I manage the Portsmouth DAB multiplex, hence my interest

 

[SunnyDee]

But saying that I did miss a call from MB Brentford two weeks ago, tired calling them back but no one recalls calling me. even email the service manager who is looking into this. Didn't get a reply.

But notice I'm getting less of this "Device unavailable" during the week now. It only happens twice a week. Before hand use to happen everyday.

 

[SunnyDee]

Hay, car got its booking its for 25th July... I get a free loaner car too

But am extremely annoyed that MB refuse to do a free summer check at the same time if your car booked in for some work, that includes MOT, Servicing or general work. Also they will refuse if your car had work done to it three months before it goes in... like WTF!

And another rant, MB of Brentford have opted out on this service

 

[television]

Hay, car got its booking its for 25th July... I get a free loaner car too

But am extremely annoyed that MB refuse to do a free summer check at the same time if your car booked in for some work, that includes MOT, Servicing or general work. Also they will refuse if your car had work done to it three months before it goes in... like WTF!

And another rant, MB of Brentford have opted out on this service

Mercedes Brentford must be one of the worst outlets going. I would never walk in their door again.

 

[Alfie]

Unfortunately for Mercedes, this problem is not going to go away. With more new multiplexes coming on air and DAB stations using DAB+ finally launching in the UK this year, the numbers of stations is rapidly growing!

Sound Digital are broadcasting 18 stations on their multiplex, but there are also multiplexes in Portsmouth* and Manchester with 15 stations broadcasting too (in addition to the other multiplexes available in those cities).

So Mercedes cannot afford to bury it's head in the sand.


* Disclosure: In addition to my day job, I manage the Portsmouth DAB multiplex, hence my interest

The problem is going to get worse without doubt. Partly due to the extra multiplexes appearing but also because NTg 2.5, NTg3. 3.5 and 5 DAB do not support DAB+. NTg 4.5 and 5.1/5.2 do though!

The in2digi does though

 

[Wheel]

I knew the in2digi supports DAB+ because you use the green tick mark :mrgreen:

I look forward to your new product release coming soon

It's silly that Mercedes have DAB radios in circulation that don't support DAB+, it has been about since 2007.

 

[SunnyDee]

Whats DAB+?

Malcom you been to Brentford MB? Which town do you live in? I must admint Brentford CS is really bad, however if you log a complant to HQ or on FB they will do you a refund on whatever service you took out

 

[Botus]

google exits for such things....

An upgraded version of the system was released in February 2007, which is called DAB+.
DAB is not forward compatible with DAB+, which means that DAB-only receivers are not able to receive DAB+ broadcasts. However, broadcasters can mix DAB and DAB+ programs inside the same transmission and so make a progressive transition to DAB+.

DAB+ is approximately twice as efficient as DAB due to the adoption of the AAC+ audio codec, and DAB+ can provide high quality audio with bit rates as low as 64 kbit/s.
Reception quality is also more robust on DAB+ than on DAB due to the addition of Reed-Solomon error correction coding.

 

[Wheel]

DAB+ is roughly three times as efficient as standard DAB - it uses the AAC+ codec, whereas DAB uses the MP2 codec.

In the UK there are a growing number of DAB+ services, Sound Digital now broadcast Jazz FM, Magic Chilled and Fun Kids on their multiplex in DAB+.

Here in Portsmouth, we have a further 8 local DAB+ services.

There are also DAB+ services on local multiplexes covering Norwich, Birmingham, Manchester and The Wirral.

In Mainland Europe and Australia, the majority of digital stations actually use DAB+ as opposed to standard DAB. If your car radio doesn't do DAB+ then the DAB+ stations either won't appear, or will be silent when you try to tune them in.

 

[SunnyDee]

Thx Wheel

 

[SunnyDee]

Collected the car today from MB, so far so good!!! they change few bits but the service lady didn't tell me what they change.

Didn't get charged for it either...