DAB Radio dropping out on W222

[S500 Pete]

Hi,
The radio on my S class keeps dropping out and to get it restarted I have to press the radio button on the centre console and then switch back to the navigation screen.
This started happening last year occasionally but is now getting more regular. This car doesn't have a normal head unit as it is all integrated so not easy to pull it and check connections.
Any other S class or E class owners having the same problem? Or any idea of the cause

 

[C16RKC]

Used to happen the same as you describe on my 2016 BMW 730d, but I always thought it was just weak signal that my car struggled to reconnect to.

Though on mine it only happened in certain areas on certain roads.

 

[Blobcat]

Antenna amp could be on its way out or antenna failing - could try a plug in DAB antenna and see if that improves it.

 

[mercmancdi]

And assume this happens in random places not same area each time. Mine drops off it same areas

 

[A.J.]

Not that ever have Radio on in the car I have yet to find a DAB that doesn’t drop out. They are not what they claim to be

 

[Blobcat]

And assume this happens in random places not same area each time. Mine drops off it same areas

Not that ever have Radio on in the car I have yet to find a DAB that doesn’t drop out. They are not what they claim to be

DAB is ~twice the frequency of FM and much lower power, this means it’s more line of sight (doesn’t bounce around as much as FM) so much more likely to have drop outs.
A decent antenna on your car makes a difference, I have one down the passenger side of my windscreen and unless Arqiva are doing maintenance and have sites down I rarely get drop out when driving around.
Coverage is based on population so the further out into the sticks you get the more likely that coverage will be poor.

 

[C16RKC]

I always found it a pleasure when the radio dropped out... I no longer had to listen to the drivel.

It prompted me to put some decent music on

 

[00slk]

Dab doesn’t work on our drive since the garage was built, but around the town it is the pits for reception

 

[C16RKC]

Yes Wisbech does not seem to be that great for DAB... I found that too.

 

[AndySlade]

DAB in the UK is pants. Better on continent as broadcast at higher signal strength. I still prefer FM, don’t have DAB in the car, but have an expensive DAB receiver at home, still prefer FM on HiFi as well. Both have good aerials.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Tried DAB once or twice, but found that it can't be relied upon in a moving vehicle, especially as some of my motorway journeys seem to be along the boundaries between different transmitter coverage.

 

[Blobcat]

Tried DAB once or twice, but found that it can't be relied upon in a moving vehicle, especially as some of my motorway journeys seem to be along the boundaries between different transmitter coverage.

I drive most of the length of the country and don’t suffer dropout
£17 Nextbase DAB+ receiver connected to my aux input in my SLK.

 

[C16RKC]

Not sure if anyone else has found this, but I think cars with later DAB are much better than the early ones.

Early DAB seems to be split into regions, so a station (for example Radio 2) is listed multiple times for different areas of the country. I found on my old Audi A6 that I had to reselect a given station for a new region as I drove around the country. Lindsey's Audi A7 seems to be like it to.

But on newer cars, such as my 2016 BMW 7 series, or my wife's old 2018 Lexus, I found the DAB was common throughout the UK for a given station, so I was able to select a station and it would stay connected throughout the UK; as long as there was a signal of some sort.

I have to say though... I preffered the way FM worked. Much simpler to use; though not always as clear.

 

[00slk]

I drive most of the length of the country and don’t suffer dropout
£17 Nextbase DAB+ receiver connected to my aux input in my SLK.

Come to Wisbech Rus, for the big test
Billy will be on

 

[S500 Pete]

The dropout is pretty random and not area specific. I can be sitting in stationary traffic and it drops out but can usually be restarted by pressing "Radio" twice and then going back to Navigation. It used to be very occasional but can now be multiple times in a short trip.
I don't really want to go to plug ins or extra aerials
I would go to FM but the menu option is for either AM or FM/DAB

 

[Blobcat]

Not sure if anyone else has found this, but I think cars with later DAB are much better than the early ones.

Early DAB seems to be split into regions, so a station (for example Radio 2) is listed multiple times for different areas of the country. I found on my old Audi A6 that I had to reselect a given station for a new region as I drove around the country. Lindsey's Audi A7 seems to be like it to.

But on newer cars, such as my 2016 BMW 7 series, or my wife's old 2018 Lexus, I found the DAB was common throughout the UK for a given station, so I was able to select a station and it would stay connected throughout the UK; as long as there was a signal of some sort.

I have to say though... I preffered the way FM worked. Much simpler to use; though not always as clear.

DAB vs DAB+ a huge difference @Botus can advise further...

 

[Botus]

the whole compression system and error handling swapped between DAB and DAB+ its like Digital SD vs HD TV

DAB was actually killed off in Germany during the big change over starting from end Jan 2016. The UK instead went to simultaneous broadcasting of both broadcasts types and its caused a lot of issues.

Out of date firmware in the tuner's in Merc, Fords, VAG and PSA will crash and go in a reboot loop after being swamped by too many channels. Merc released two dealer only applied updates in mid year and 3/4 through 2016 to try and combat the issues. PSA got their's out late 2018 and ford only managed it late last year - further complexity came with BBC channel logos crashing other brands tuners in 2020

A w221 tuner is ONLY DAB so never got affected by the change, all 2011 and later cars had a dual band tuner with DAB+ I believe disabled in software until late builds in 2014, with it only coming to life for DAB+ when broadcasts started in 2016, anyone in high signal areas (aka major cities) immediately found it crashed the tuners in a reboot loop - fortunately you could switch from the standalone DAB tuner and the rest of the incar entertainment coped - but thats not the case for some other brands where the whole headunit crashes

If you can find talksport 2 you are on DAB+ if you can only find talksport its likely DAB only tuner / broadcast

BMW introduced DAB on their European bikes in late 2021 whereupon no UK biker nor 2 x dealer updates can get it to function reliably

 

[S500 Pete]

the whole compression system and error handling swapped between DAB and DAB+ its like Digital SD vs HD TV

DAB was actually killed off in Germany during the big change over starting from end Jan 2016. The UK instead went to simultaneous broadcasting of both broadcasts types and its caused a lot of issues.

Out of date firmware in the tuner's in Merc, Fords, VAG and PSA will crash and go in a reboot loop after being swamped by too many channels. Merc released two dealer only applied updates in mid year and 3/4 through 2016 to try and combat the issues. PSA got their's out late 2018 and ford only managed it late last year - further complexity came with BBC channel logos crashing other brands tuners in 2020

A w221 tuner is ONLY DAB so never got affected by the change, all 2011 and later cars had a dual band tuner with DAB+ I believe disabled in software until late builds in 2014, with it only coming to life for DAB+ when broadcasts started in 2016, anyone in high signal areas (aka major cities) immediately found it crashed the tuners in a reboot loop - fortunately you could switch from the standalone DAB tuner and the rest of the incar entertainment coped - but thats not the case for some other brands where the whole headunit crashes

If you can find talksport 2 you are on DAB+ if you can only find talksport its likely DAB only tuner / broadcast

BMW introduced DAB on their European bikes in late 2021 whereupon no UK biker nor 2 x dealer updates can get it to function reliably

Thanks, I will have a look at the Talksport test.
Not sure if this explains why it was occasional and has gradually got worse unless it is more channels coming on and swamping it.

 

[Botus]

Thanks, I will have a look at the Talksport test.
Not sure if this explains why it was occasional and has gradually got worse unless it is more channels coming on and swamping it.

likely more channels making it struggle - check / get software updates

you can go via postcode of the areas you get the reception fun, to see what you should be able to receive - note on this website in the corner it shows if that channel is a DAB or DAB+ broadcast

DAB Digital Radio - Pure, Roberts, Stations, DAB, Evoke, In Car, Online, Portable, Digital Radios, Highway, One, Station, Sony

A one-stop guide to DAB digital radio: digital radio stations, portable digital radios from Pure, Roberts, Evoke, Highway, One, Sony, where to buy digital radios, a unique online postcode based station finder, station news, updates and in car digital radios.

getdigitalradio.com

 

[S500 Pete]

I tried the Talksport check and I can see both Talksport and Talksport 2. Is there any way I can find out whether I have the latest software without giving a main dealer a wad of money. I have gone through all of the on screen menus and can't find a software reference.

I am currently down to AM radio (complete with crackles) or CD because the FM/DAB only runs for a few minutes. Almost like a component heating up.