GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: Rolfe on 09 July 2009, 00:44
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Anybody got the DAB radio? How does it compare? What's the coverage like?
I didn't even consider it because I can't even get a DAB signal in the house, so I don't have a lot of confidence that I'd get a reliable signal on the road. And I've heard that the digital system isn't as good in the car as FM analogue anyway.
But they might switch off the analogue FM signal in 2015, which will be in the lifetimes of our new cars.
I remember when cars just came with LW and MW. Mono. At midnight, regular as clockwork, Radio 3 would be overwhelmed by another station - I can still hear the call sign. I'm told it was Radio Albania. Those of us who had older cars when they switched off the medium wave signals had to have new FM radios fitted.
Could be heading for a repeat performance with DAB.
Rolfe.
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I think if you choose the DAB radio then you cannot have the MDI. DAB would be good but its not as good as being able to plug an ipod in. I think if you choose the DAB option on the VW configurator page it will tell you. I would check to confirm but I cannot get on the VW site.
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I think if you choose the DAB radio then you cannot have the MDI. DAB would be good but its not as good as being able to plug an ipod in. I think if you choose the DAB option on the VW configurator page it will tell you. I would check to confirm but I cannot get on the VW site.
That's correct.
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I think the way I look at it when I place my order I'll still choose the DAB add-on, as with the RCD510 you get a mem card slot, so its basically the same as an iPod anyway, fill a 2gb or so mem card with songs and play them directly from the card in the same way as the iPod would work.
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So what's the DAB coverage like, out there on the open road? I seriously have no idea. Or does the radio have an FM receiver as well, as backup?
I get the memory stick bit, but how well does that compare to having your iPod's menu accessible?
Rolfe.
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So what's the DAB coverage like, out there on the open road? I seriously have no idea. Or does the radio have an FM receiver as well, as backup?
I get the memory stick bit, but how well does that compare to having your iPod's menu accessible?
Rolfe.
I've no idea either on coverage. :sad:
I think regardless of the ipod menu, your songs are scrollable and selectable through the touchscreen of the RCD510 and also through the steering wheel for when your driving. I'd hate to be driving along at 100+ with one hand on the wheel, the other on the ipod and your eyes looking at your scroll wheel :grin:
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I don't actually know how it works, but somehow you get the iPod's menu on the main console if you use the special connector you can buy from the dealer. At least, that's what the first dealer I spoke to told me.
Rolfe.
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I don't actually know how it works, but somehow you get the iPod's menu on the main console if you use the special connector you can buy from the dealer. At least, that's what the first dealer I spoke to told me.
Rolfe.
Yeah Rolfe, when you plug the iPod up, you then get a list of the ipods songs on the screen of the RCD510, you just scroll through and press the one you like, or of course, use the steering wheel to do it when your driving. I think the MDI comes as standard with the RCD510, you dont get it with the RCD310 I believe.
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Rolfe, this may help.
This is the RCD510 using mem card... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WFdZxX0zbM
This is the RCD510 with iPod... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MuUL2-JY8U
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Is DAB not about to become obsolete? Personally I wouldn't bother and would stick to FM
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So far as I know it's the other way round. DAB does not have widespread coverage yet (as far as I gather) but is going to be standard. FM is going to be switched off. 2015 has been mentioned in that context.
Rolfe.
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Is DAB not about to become obsolete? Personally I wouldn't bother and would stick to FM
I read back along that they were changing the DAB signal and that many DAB recievers wouldn't be able to get the new signal. Yesterday I read on the BBC that FM is going.
Who the hell knows? Depends what backhanders the beaurocrats get from whom I guess..... :lipsrsealed:
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Just take your t.v as a example,soon analogue will be no more,radio will go the same way.
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I had my new car delivered yesterday which has the RCD 510 and DAB option.
I've had DAB in my cars for last 3 years and wouldn't be without it (as there are more stations to choose from and reception is better quality than FM and a lot better than MW / LW. Obviously though you need to check what coverage you will have in your area.
VW told me that by having DAB then the multimedia interface (ipod connector) wouldn't work, all I can say is it does :huh: :huh:
Also got the Dynaudio upgrade so not sure if thats got something to do with it.
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I ordered dyneo audio too,is it any good,do you get fancy badges on the speakers ?
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I ordered dyneo audio too,is it any good,do you get fancy badges on the speakers ?
They are very good Simon, yep you get the branding on the speaker grills.
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Do you get FM as well as DAB? This is confusing me. I can't get DAB at all in my house. So what's it like right out on the moors or in the mountains? And if you find yourself somewhere without a DAB signal, are you screwed?
Rolfe.
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The DAB is additional to the FM and AM stations. DON'T PANIC!!! :grin:
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Oh, I'm not panicking, because I haven't ordered it! I can see that I might want it in a few years though. Shades of having to fit a new radio in my 1965 Fiesta when they killed the Radio 3 MW signal.
Rolfe.
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For what it costs and considering you haven't gone for a radio upgrade I would want it personally. Not too late to change your mind........ :smiley:
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Mmm, you have a point, but I want the capability to hook up the iPod even more. Not sure about that angle.
Rolfe.
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on by 510 there is a button for 'DAB' and a separate one for 'Radio', so I assume the same is for the standard. Like someone else has said for the £50 extra it costs its worth it (definately for me anyway)
Dynaudio upgrade is excellent.
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FM isn't being turned off in 2015, its only an idea at the moment
DAB is pretty poor in most areas, and don't expect to use it in Europe, most countries have different non compatible versions
France is forcing all car manufactures to install the French version of DAB in cars sold in France in the near future
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I ordered dyneo audio too,is it any good,do you get fancy badges on the speakers ?
They are very good Simon, yep you get the branding on the speaker grills.
Oh good cheers,you heard it in action ?
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I ordered dyneo audio too,is it any good,do you get fancy badges on the speakers ?
They are very good Simon, yep you get the branding on the speaker grills.
Oh good cheers,you heard it in action ?
Admitedly, only one song and that was for only 1 or 2 mins.
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should be pretty good as its designed for the car,there is a video on youtube of a dynoaudio in a rocco,but you can`t really tell much from it.soon see :smiley:
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Hi everyone,
I noticed a lot of confusement about the DAB and MDI options!
DAB and MDI are both available with the RCD510 and RCD310! They don't mutually exclude each other. The DAB tuner is built in into the headunit, the MDI uses an external interface.
The confusement is just because the MDI is standard in the golf.
You can save 100pound when using the option DAB INSTEAD of the MDI. That's usefull for people who don't have an iPod.
Or you can ADD DAB to the MDI, then DAB costs 165pounds (not 55). That's all!
The online configuration of the Golf is a little bit confusing but you will have proof of this in the pricelist that's available for download. there you have the correct prices and options.
So DAB and MDI go together, no exception!
Hope I could help!
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That's a very useful post for me, as I was indeed confused.
I have an iPod, and the facility to play it though the car stereo was actually one of the things on my must-have list when I started looking at cars. I'm only marginally interested in the DAB option, really for future-proofing, as I don't think coverage is good around here at the moment. I'm reasonably happy with the FM reception available.
So if it's actually £165 to get DAB while retaining the iPod facility, thanks, I'll definitely pass.
Rolfe.
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That's a very useful post for me, as I was indeed confused.
I have an iPod, and the facility to play it though the car stereo was actually one of the things on my must-have list when I started looking at cars. I'm only marginally interested in the DAB option, really for future-proofing, as I don't think coverage is good around here at the moment. I'm reasonably happy with the FM reception available.
So if it's actually £165 to get DAB while retaining the iPod facility, thanks, I'll definitely pass.
Rolfe.
Thing is, why would you care about the iPod when you have a memory stick option in the RCD510 ? It's the same thing.
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Menu display? Not having to bother about configuring a memory stick as well as an iPod?
Rolfe.
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DAB is great, if you listen to radio - more stations, better reception. A guy I worked with installed an aftermarket DAB set in his car, because he hated listening to Radio 5 on AM. He couldn't sing the praises of the unit highly enough.
The choice of stations is what swings it for me - stuff like 6Music and Radio7 offer a much better selection of things to listen to and some of the archive stuff (from Radio 4 and 1) that gets recycled on those stations is fantastic.
As for SD-Card or USB stick (which is it) vs iPod - meh, what's to argue? iPod is complex, easy to steal and they go wrong, whereas USB stick or SD Card is dead simple and they tend to get lost before they die.
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:huh: You've all got me a bit worried and confused now. I've got a Golf GT on order with DAB but what I really want is the ipod connector which I thought was standard?
I only chose the DAB radio because it's a HSBC lease car and there was a couple of quid monthly allowance left over. I'll be gutted if it comes without the ipod connector... :sad:
UPDATE: Yep, if you choose the DAB radio they remove the MDI. Luckily I've managed to get rid of the DAB option :smiley:
However they also told me my car won't be delivered until early October :sad:
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:huh: You've all got me a bit worried and confused now. I've got a Golf GT on order with DAB but what I really want is the ipod connector which I thought was standard?
I only chose the DAB radio because it's a HSBC lease car and there was a couple of quid monthly allowance left over. I'll be gutted if it comes without the ipod connector... :sad:
UPDATE: Yep, if you choose the DAB radio they remove the MDI. Luckily I've managed to get rid of the DAB option :smiley:
However they also told me my car won't be delivered until early October :sad:
I'm not sure if thats true, I know one guy here on these forums has dab and also the mdi.
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cant remember who said this, but basically you can have mdi and dab. you just have to pay a little more since the removal of mdi subsidises the cost of dab down to 55 quid. if you still want mdi its something like 165 quid for dab. apparantly its in the price list.
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Ipod interface beats the sd slot every time - you can browse by songs, albums, artists or playlists on the headunit
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So what do you get...a USB connection or a SD Card connection?
I don't own an iPod...so wouldn't use an iPod connection...and I won't be buying one just to plug it into the car!
I assume the SD card will slot into the headunit somewhere?
The USB in the centre console somewhere?
If playing music stored on either, how do you access it?
Are there menus from the headunit?
Access it by album name etc...or how does that all work?
Just wondering, thanks...
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Ipod interface beats the sd slot every time - you can browse by songs, albums, artists or playlists on the headunit
Do you have that much time to browse by song, album, artist or playlist while driving ?
Personally the memory card beats the ipod ten fold. You see what song is playing, you dont like it you move to the next. When I'm driving around at high speed I dont want to be fannying about looking through albums and playlists, thats worse than using your mobile.
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So what do you get...a USB connection or a SD Card connection? (Both, USB for an mp3 player/memory stick or for an ipod shuffle etc)I don't own an iPod...so wouldn't use an iPod connection...and I won't be buying one just to plug it into the car!
I assume the SD card will slot into the headunit somewhere? (Yes at the bottom of the head unit there is a little slot, this is the case for the RCD510 for definate)The USB in the centre console somewhere? (Under the armrest I believe)
If playing music stored on either, how do you access it? (through the headunit or the steering wheel, or of course if your mental through the ipod, shuffle or mem stick while your driving lol)
Are there menus from the headunit? (yep)
Access it by album name etc...or how does that all work? (depends on what you have plugged up, ipod is albums etc, mem stick is individual songs, shuffle is individual songs)
Just wondering, thanks...
Left my answers in bold
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I have a GTD on order with the RCD510 radio option. Will I get the Mk5 beesting aerial/stubby aerial/no visible aerial? Thanks.
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I wouldnt mind having dab with my rns510... is this possible?? :huh:
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I wouldnt mind having dab with my rns510... is this possible?? :huh:
I don't believe anyone has a RNS510 with DAB. Some of the very early ones had the option but it appears that it was dropped
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I wouldnt mind having dab with my rns510... is this possible?? :huh:
I don't believe anyone has a RNS510 with DAB. Some of the very early ones had the option but it appears that it was dropped
That really is a shame, as I do spend quite a bt of time listening to the radio. did try a quick search for an additional unit to give it the functionality but couldnt fnd anything :undecided:
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The RCD 510 that you get in the UK can definately have it on as i have got it on my car. Well i say that .. the car is at the dealers waiting for me to collect it. :laugh:
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I got the dab with my 510, How do I check if its come with my car?
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Have a search for stations that only come via DAB i.e. BBC1 extra
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/waystolisten/digitalradio/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/waystolisten/digitalradio/)