28 replies to this topic

[mgjalopy]

I have a Mini Piccadilly and need to install a new radio. My original one does not have FM, and my favourite station is no longer broadcasting on Medium Wave. I don't particularly want some flash DAB thing that looks out of place; just a basic radio that has FM and fits! If it took CDs then that would be a bonus, but I'm not that bothered. I don't want to end up buying something and then have to buy all sorts of other bits and pieces to make it fit!

[Bobbins]

A late model o/e radio would probably fulfil your needs, mine is a radio-cassette but there were a number of CD versions shared across Rover Group cars.

One advantage of the o/e radios of the ‘90s is they’re still fairly basic units which suit the Mini well, my current Mini previously had a much more modern Kenwood and using any of the controls when driving was a nightmare due to the mass of very small fiddly buttons which really don’t work with the Mini’s ride. A volume knob and a few basic preset buttons is all that’s needed!

[Steam]

I have a very basic retro push to select station am fm radio with a small bluetooth ada0ter which plugs into a lighter socket which I have also made removable. Works well.

[mgjalopy]

Thanks for your suggestions. Since posting, I have been researching on the internet,and I think I'm wrong to dismiss DAB. My fav radio station is Capital Gold and it looks as if they now only broadcast on DAB+ I wonder how many more have gone, or will go the same way; leaving me with a useless FM radio?

[beardylondon]

FM was scheduled to be shut down sooner, but apparently it’s going to be around until at least 2030

https://radiotoday.c...2030-says-dcms/

[beardylondon]

Have a look in the ICE section of the forum, quite a few suggestions.

I did this:

https://www.theminif...en-audio/page-2

Thanks for your suggestions. Since posting, I have been researching on the internet,and I think I'm wrong to dismiss DAB. My fav radio station is Capital Gold and it looks as if they now only broadcast on DAB+ I wonder how many more have gone, or will go the same way; leaving me with a useless FM radio?

[Steam]

Thanks for your suggestions. Since posting, I have been researching on the internet,and I think I'm wrong to dismiss DAB. My fav radio station is Capital Gold and it looks as if they now only broadcast on DAB+ I wonder how many more have gone, or will go the same way; leaving me with a useless FM radio?

With an fm radio and a bluetooth adapter you can listen to any radio station that your smart phne can access.

[Ethel]

I think FM is still more useable in a car and avoids any new antenna shenanigans. 

 

..but I have the FM version of this which sounds great to my tone deaf ears. It's shallow enough to anywhere you might want in a Mini & has a decent mobile phone app that'll serve as a remote control (steering wheel controls alternative, integrate satnav....)

[Bobbins]

And the quality of sound on FM is massively better than DAB ….

[stuart bowes]

I dunno.. on mine DAB sounds a lot better .. when it works

 

of course it keeps cutting out as you drive around, and on mine it automatically cuts to the FM equivalent if there is one, which means a short delay and then the other station is a second or two ahead or behind, it's really disruptive to the flow of the music

 

so in general if there IS an FM version I'll just listen to that and put up with / get used to the occasional crackles and hisses 

 

more often than not though, I'm set to bluetooth with one of 5 or 6 massive playlists on my phone set to shuffle.  on my last phone upgrade I made sure I chose one with a memory card slot so it has huge storage for mp3 but doesn't impact on the apps and running speed of the phone

[mgjalopy]

I guess I'll just have to give up on my fav radio station then! The earlier suggestion about an FM transmitter and using my mobile, (presumably with a DAB app), seemed like a good idea until I realised I would be using up my mobile data to listen to a DAB station! So I guess it's either a DAB radio to keep listening, or an FM radio and choose an alternative. Unless anyone has a better idea.

Cheers guys.
Thanks for the help.

[beardylondon]

I think you need to get a better mobile data plan then.

After a LOT of back and forth, I just renewed my plan on o2, SIM only, 15GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, for £7 a month. Bargain and I never use more than 8-10Gb a month anyway.

Also audio data is hardly anything compared to video.

[mgjalopy]

Lucky you. I just changed mine on O2 but nothing that good was on offer!

[beardylondon]

I agree their offers aren’t great.

However, I went into Uswitch, found a new customer offer, and then asked them to match it. as I said, it was a lot of back and forth, via online support, and they eventuality agreed to match that deal.

Lucky you. I just changed mine on O2 but nothing that good was on offer!

Edited by beardylondon, 30 September 2023 - 09:56 PM.

[Ethel]

That Pioneer at Halfrauds, I linked, is FM as well as DAB. I'm sure many DAB units will be the same so you could just use the FM tuner, but be future proofed if they ever get round to pulling the plug.

 

It'll be a better integrated & cheaper option than trying to add DAB with an extra unit later.

 

It seems we (the UK) jumped the gun on digital radio. There's also DAB+ (most radios will receive both) which can carry more stations at better quality.

 

DAB should be better quality than FM, but some carriers cram more stations on their frequency by reducing the sound quality, so it depends what you're listening to.