DAB Radio

[Greybags]

Hi All ..
Looking for information and any idea's or suggestions ..

Looking to replace my Honda Accord, and been to see a new Accord and a couple of other brands as well..

It has been announced the digital radio switch over will take place in 2015, and current analogue radio will be switched off, not a problem at home as I have all DAB radio's anyway, but when I asked Honda about haviong a DAB fitted in a new Accord if I bought one, I was told that Honda wont be supplying DAB radios for a couple more years ..

So my question was ... As my new car will still be under warrentee in 2015, will Honda replace the existing system that no longer functions with a replacement system that works.. Honda's answer is no, as the stereo and sat nav aren't broken, they still work, it will be just that there is no signal for them to recieve, so therefore it will be my responsibility to pay for a local dealer to replace the old analogue radio, and the associate Traffic Management System in the Sat Nav that will also be affected ..

Does this seem right, and if anyone else out there is buying a new car at the moment that is still fitted with a normal analogue sytem, what are your manufactureres doing about it..

Really interested to find out from others, as at the moment if you buy a new Honda, and no doubt other cars as well, in 3 years time, the lovely fitted radio system in your dashboard, will just be a big black hole only suitable for use as a cupholder.

Any info on this much appreciated please.

Grahame

[Reddi-Eng]

I thought the switch over to Digital radio had been delayed (see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/7878506/Digital-radio-switchover-Government-backs-away-from-deadline.html

The move away from the old rectangular slot in radios to moulded in dash one make it harder to change so your faced with the expensive dealer option or a bolt on divice such as http://www.imgtec.com/corporate/newsdetail.asp?NewsID=468

On my 1-year old Fiesta I've still only got analogue radio but it has both a mini-jack line in and usb port. Means no more need for CD's, just slot the MP3 player or load up a memory stick with your favourite music (Val Doonican is'nt it Graham?). The dash board "radio" controls let you search the memory stick for tracks. Even the Voice operated controls search the memory stick if you set it up right. I'll worry about the radio when it happens.

[Greybags]

Hi Derek, Hows things ..

It's not actually been cancelled, but being done on some formula, analoguie switch off will happen within 2 years of 70% usage, with a predicted date of 2015.

I have since spoken to Hyundai as I quite like the look of the I40 saloon which is due for release at the end of the year http://www.hyundai-car.co.uk/newCars/i40saloon/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_term=hyundai%20i40%20Saloon%20&utm_campaign=i40_Models and they are making their descision/announcement about DAB fitment in November this year, but they also tell me that they will have a conversion box that will be a dealer fitment available to all owners, but at no cost to cars in warrentee..

There is a car manufacturers agreement that all new cars will be equiped with digital radio by 2013, and Ford are fitting them as standard as from 2012.

Many makers (VW, SEAT, Ford, Mercedes, Vauxhall, Volvo etc) all ready have it as an option, but my problem is that Honda are not offereing it as an option, but more importantly will be leaving new owners with a very large bill in a few years, by their lack of caring for their customers.

Used to watch Val's show on a Saturday night, but not really into his music.. My favourite era was the 70's, me and my Rover 2000, some glam rock on the cassette, preferably Slade, Still have a large collection of their stuff all converted to CD ready for the Gilbern, platforms, Ben Sherman shirts, and mainly a lot more hair, but a lot less waistline ......those were the days...



Grahame

[Gavin McArdle]

Hi Grahame
Can't help you with the radio but curious why you have 2 glasses lined up!!!

We may have crossed paths in the early 80's if you attended any Slade gigs as I provided transport for a few of their comeback tours, 1 every year for about 3 years. May be late 70's but more like 1980.
Gavin

[Reddi-Eng]

.. My favourite era was the 70's, me and my Rover 2000, ......those were the days...

Don't you just wish you could have kept some of the cars you had as everyday transport in your younger days. I had some pretty ropey ones like an Allegro and an Avenger but also a Magnette ZA, a Renault 4CV and a VW Variant, not to mention a Vincent motorcycle!

[Greybags]

The smaller glass belonged to the extremely buxom young lady of that time (Not the present Mrs Greybags) who was taking the photograph.

Other 70's car's I owned included an Avenger, a Triumph Herald, and a Mk2 Cortina 1600E, and I wouldn't mind the latter two again, as both of them sre on my list of next possible projects when the Estate is finished.

Grahame

[GGenie69]

Hi Grahame,

Getting back to the OP, there may be a converter available that plugs into the aerial line to convert the digital signal to analogue. Just like the one for TV. At least I hope there will, otherwise I'm stuffed

Richard

[Greybags]

Hi Richard

There is already an adaptor available to recieve DAB in the car, then you tune in the radio to it, but that just allows you to recieve digital radio .. http://www.amazon.co.uk/PURE-Highway--Car-Radio-Transmitter/dp/B0012GLXMU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1318062820&sr=8-8

My query is that as the car will still be under warrantee, then an adaptor is not the answer as all the other clever bits your car audio does, like traffic news, etc and the traffic function of the sat nav will no longer work.

I have spoken to Honda and they will not fit Digital radios untill they are forced too in 2013, and as far as they are concerned it will be the owners responsibility to pay the thousands required to upgrade the audio properly as they dont consider this is a warrentee issue.
But talking to a friendly solicitor, he reckons that it will be the dealer that has to meet all the cost, as they will be knowingly selling something which will stop working withing the warrantee period.
To do that is wrong in so many ways under the Sale of Goods Act apparently.

A couple of queries to the motoring press about this and obviously I'm not the only one raising this, as many car manufacturers now give 5, 7 and 10 year warrantee's that many people will be affected by this if they are not given an option of a digital radio when they buy the car.
If it is an option and you dont take it, then the onus lies with you, but if the manufacturer does not offer a DAB radio option, then it is their, or their dealers problem.

Any solicitiors or legal people on here able to offer an light on this ????? as all I want to do is buy a new car which I wont have to pay thousands extra to still listen to the radio if the change over goes ahead in the near future...


Grahame