PURE 'Highway' DAB radio questions wrt Mercedes

[philharve]

Hi All

I have just purchased a PURE 'Highway' DAB radio and I am about to install it in my C230K.

http://www.pure.com/products/product.asp?Product=VL-60905&Category=In-Car

Has any member had experience with this particular radio with regard to installing it in a Mercedes? I am not a fan of trailing leads so maybe a member can recommend a neat installation technique?

I am primarily interested in the installation of the internal windscreen-mounted antenna. I can live with the trailing power cable that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket.

I am also considering the purchase of the external mag-mount antenna, an upgrade to the windscreen antenna. DAB reception where I live is quite reasonable. I have a portable Roberts DAB radio which pulls in DAB signals very strongly. I am expecting the PURE Highway to be just as good. I have tried it in my home running on 2 x AA batteries and found the placement of the antenna to be fairly critical to good DAB reception, unlike my Roberts radio.

Any comments about the suction-mount, swan-necked holder? I have heard reports that some owners dispense with it in favour of Velcro fastening.

I am also a Tomtom GO 910 user. Are there likely to be any radio frequency interference problems between Tomtom and Highway? I assume the FM signal transmitted by the Highway has no impact upon the vehicle's electronic systems?

I don't leave my Tomtom in the car for any length of time unattended and I will remove the Highway too when leaving the car, even for an hour or two.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I don't leave my Tomtom in the car for any length of time unattended and I will remove the Highway too when leaving the car, even for an hour or two. Phil

Sounds very exciting Phil - we will be interested to hear how you get on.

Sadly, any portable device is exactly that - I suspect we are at greatest risk of theft on short stops - like going to pay for fuel when you fill up. Your security strategy needs to be effective, but the risk is that it becomes a chore, then does not always get done.

Then ...............

 

[television]

I am going to fit a DAB tuner to my set up as I have a spare input.

I will build it into the rear compartment and wire up a channel up and down button or scan to the front of the car. some tuners / radio's come on with the last station that it was tuned to

 

[philharve]

PURE Highway - internal or external antenna

Hi Alex, Malcolm

The PURE Highway has been around for about a year and is priced between GBP65 - 85; Amazon being just about the cheapest source. I am surprised I have not encountered it before as I am a bit of a gadget freak.

The reviews I've read of the Highway are excellent but you would expect nothing less from a manufacturer like PURE. The only real issue is having a good DAB signal for without it the radio will not work. A good internal antenna installation is critical but I've read that the external mag-mount antenna is even better.

The best advice I've received for installing the windscreen antenna is to use Blu-Tack as a temporary measure to fix the antenna and its cable to the windscreen and facia of the car. If this antenna route gives satisfactory radio performance, replace the Blu-Tack with the adhesive pads supplied.

Dismounting the Highway takes seconds and is easily pocketable as is my Tomtom. Security does not unduly worry me, however, a neighbour had his sat-nav stolen when he left his car unattended, windows open, to fetch something from his home. He was gone just a couple minutes. I am not so thoughtless.

I, too, have been considering fitting a DAB radio to the Mercedes but their high cost rules that option out. The Highway seems to be about the only option available. It works along similar lines to my iPod transmitter which also plugs into the cigarette lighter socket. Now, if I wish, I can plug my iPod into the Highway and use its FM transmitter.

I have heard a rumour that DAB transmissions are so powerful in the Metropolis that they overwhelm the FM band. I could see this being a problem for the Highway because it demands finding a spare FM channel to transmit its signal.

I will report back to members when I have my installation working. I have no doubt that it will work and work well. My main concern is the loose wiring and what to do with it. I like things to be neat and tidy.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

There are many other besides the Pure, I am thinking of mounting one in my ash tray now, I will get a few in and test them

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Dismounting the Highway takes seconds and is easily pocketable as is my Tomtom. Security does not unduly worry me, however, a neighbour had his sat-nav stolen when he left his car unattended, windows open, to fetch something from his home. He was gone just a couple minutes. I am not so thoughtless.

Hi Phil,

I had no intention of being a killjoy and I think the DAB idea certainly "has legs" - but it is a sad refelction on our times that others often feel more entitled to our effects than we are, and they are great opportunists, as you example shows.

 

[philharve]

PURE Highway DAB receiver - a success but ...

Hi All

[AN UPDATE]

I fitted the Highway to my C230K and it was very easy. I have used Blu-Tack to temporarily locate the antenna on the windscreen whilst trying to find an optimal position for best reception. Fortunately the facia area has enough crevices and recesses to make hiding the antenna cable very effective.

The results so far are mighty impressive. The sound quality is excellent and its dead easy to setup and retune. I have set one of my 7 presets on my FM receiver to the frequency recommended by the Highway. Because my receiver has RDS, the station ID 'PURE DAB' is displayed when I'm tuned to the Highway transmit frequency.

But there is a downside to DAB which I encountered during a short drive this afternoon. The DAB transmissions cannot reach into hollows or small valleys. I expected this. But due to the excellent squelch characteristics built into the Highway my ears were not assaulted by the "birdies" when the DAB signal weakened. Instead the audio was muted. It was only when I travelled in open countryside and on high ground did the DAB signal trigger the audio and I could listen to music, or whatever, again.

There was one other slight annoyance I discovered which was easily remedied. The Highway has a curved screen over the display and it picked up reflections very easily. The solution is to angle the Highway so that its display points slightly downwards. It is easily readable from this position. Changing the Highway's attitude is very easy with the screen-mounted, goose-necked holder which attaches to the screen like a limpet.

All things considered I am very pleased with my latest acquisition which cost considerably less than a bespoke DAB receiver. DAB reception could have been better but even a bespoke DAB receiver would have difficulty hanging onto weak or nonexistent DAB transmissions in hollows and valleys.

It is said that the mag-mount antenna gives superior performance to the windscreen-mounted antenna but I will wait for more reviews of this option before committing my hard-earned cash.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

DAB does have an advantages over dig radio in a TV tuner, that is the DAB signals will re tune as you change transmitters, where as digi radio will not. You are in the same position as me Phil, living on the coast where the signals are spasmodic.

I will try one and why up to a spare antenna connection that I have, sadly I have to fix the ABS pump on my V70R

 

[philharve]

Dab

DAB does have an advantages over dig radio in a TV tuner, that is the DAB signals will re tune as you change transmitters, where as digi radio will not. You are in the same position as me Phil, living on the coast where the signals are spasmodic.

I will try one and why up to a spare antenna connection that I have, sadly I have to fix the ABS pump on my V70R

Hi Malcolm

I have used a DAB receiver in London and the DAB signal is everywhere. I suppose DAB reception will one day improve in far away coastal places such as the Southwest?

The next big thing in the Southwest is the digital TV switchover. I have to wait to July / August 09. But that's another story.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[Blobcat]

The only issue with DAB is quality or lack of it, the broadcasting companies are only interested in quantity and not quality which is why we have the lowest bit rate DAB anywhere. FM sounds better and until the quality improves I won't be happy. 2017 is touted as a switch off date for AM & FM however DAB will have to improve before there are more takers.

 

[philharve]

DAB is growing in popularity

The only issue with DAB is quality or lack of it, the broadcasting companies are only interested in quantity and not quality which is why we have the lowest bit rate DAB anywhere. FM sounds better and until the quality improves I won't be happy. 2017 is touted as a switch off date for AM & FM however DAB will have to improve before there are more takers.

Hi Blobcat

I was in Truro in Cornwall Wednesday afternoon and most radio receivers in the hi-fi shops were DAB or Web radios. However, the city of Truro is in a valley and reception of DAB in this city is very poor. Yet, the electronic retailers tell me, DAB receivers sell very easily. I suppose the majority of buyers live outside the city.

Where I live in Falmouth the DAB reception is very good. However, I well remember a time not long ago that DAB reception anywhere in the Falmouth area was a very hit-and-miss affair.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[Blobcat]

Hi Blobcat

I was in Truro in Cornwall Wednesday afternoon and most radio receivers in the hi-fi shops were DAB or Web radios. However, the city of Truro is in a valley and reception of DAB in this city is very poor. Yet, the electronic retailers tell me, DAB receivers sell very easily. I suppose the majority of buyers live outside the city.

Where I live in Falmouth the DAB reception is very good. However, I well remember a time not long ago that DAB reception anywhere in the Falmouth area was a very hit-and-miss affair.

REGARDS

Phil

There is a plan at the moment where DAB reception in the regions is being improved by new sites being installed. I know of quite a few going live in Wales and I wouldn't be surprised if you are getting some in the South West as well. It is similar to the mobile phone roll out where the highest population areas where targeted first and now the more sheep than people areas are being hit. Still no improvement in quality though.

 

[philharve]

Poor DAB reception

There is a plan at the moment where DAB reception in the regions is being improved by new sites being installed. I know of quite a few going live in Wales and I wouldn't be surprised if you are getting some in the South West as well. It is similar to the mobile phone roll out where the highest population areas where targeted first and now the more sheep than people areas are being hit. Still no improvement in quality though.

Hi Blobcat

Quite so. I expect DAB reception will steadily improve for the majority.

The is a small town called Penryn not far from Falmouth that is built partly over a deep valley and there homes in this area than can't even receive FM or TV transmissions. I suppose special provision can be made for these unfortunates to receive DAB along similar lines as the cellular phone network you mention.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

Hi Blobcat

Quite so. I expect DAB reception will steadily improve for the majority.

The is a small town called Penryn not far from Falmouth that is built partly over a deep valley and there homes in this area than can't even receive FM or TV transmissions. I suppose special provision can be made for these unfortunates to receive DAB along similar lines as the cellular phone network you mention.

REGARDS

Phil

Like me and where I live, there are not that many people, the masses live higher up. I can receive DAB up stairs but not down, its that tight in Lyme where I am

 

[philharve]

DAB reception problem

Like me and where I live, there are not that many people, the masses live higher up. I can receive DAB up stairs but not down, its that tight in Lyme where I am

Hi Malcolm

What about a DAB antenna on the roof with a long down lead to your living room?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[television]

Hi Malcolm

What about a DAB antenna on the roof with a long down lead to your living room?

REGARDS

Phil

No problem in doing that at home, never get much chance to listen anyway, its just that I have loads of DAB radios that have never been picked up, and its on the move that I wanted it for