I've been thinking about adding a DAB radio as I would like to listen to BBC radio all over Europe and primarily in Denmark. I imagine it is much like internet radio but I'll admit I don't really know anything about it. Hence a few questions to existing DAB radio users:

A) Can you listen to a broad range of international channels, hereunder BBC, regardless where you are in Europe?
Is the sound quality and reception good?
C) Is it possible to retrofit a DAB reciver and if yes, is it easy/quick and does it require a trip to the dealer for coding? (I have the professional audio setup)

 

DAB stations broadcast via terrestrial transmitters so can generally only be received within their own country. So while you can listen to the BBC via the internet in Denmark you can only listen to Danish DAB stations while in Denmark. Here's a useful, if not the most user friendly, link to what DAB stations broadcast in which countries. http://www.wohnort.org/DAB/index.html

Sound quality is good but could be better. The bit rate varies between stations and countries so you would need to investigate further for your area and preferred station(s).

I use a Pure Highway DAB receiver in my E61 installed in the glovebox powered by the flashlight/torch socket connected to the Aux input. As I only ever listen to the same DAB station this suits me fine. Coverage in the UK is quite good and I have only a few places where the signal drops.

Check bmwfans.info to see if a DAB retrofit option is available for your VIN. It wasn't available for my late 04 E61 so I had to use an external radio.

 

Much obliged, I think I'll give it a miss then. Was hoping to hear BBC 4 in Denmark but seems that's off.

 

Navarro, have you thought about retrofitting a Sirius satellite radio from a US car?

I think there is a subcription fee ($15 monthly or so), but then there are hundreds of channels to choose from. And the Sirius receiver itself is often available second hand in the classifieds in the forum.

I don't know much else about this TBH - but if anyone else has some real info/experience please let us know.

 

US satellite radio won't work outside of the US - the satellites are geosynchronous in that they sit above the same place on earth all the time and only cover the US and southern Canada. Quite different from the GPS satellite system which has some 24 active satellites giving world wide coverage.

 

thank you phelix