DAB reception in a Mazda 3?

[blankfrank]

(Apologies, btw, if this topic has been posted before but I've had a look around and can't find anything to answer my particular question.)

My late '05 Mazda 3 TS2 has the usual bog-standard factory fitted 6CD changer, but I want to pickup DAB broadcasts. I'm thinking of installing a DAB tuner box while still retaining my factory fitted equipment.

So, my question (or questions) is/are: is this possible for a Mazda 3? Are there models that can be fitted? Who actually manufactures the Mazda 3 ICE gear anyway? Sony? And is it DAB ready?

I know available brands are different in North America and the DAB frequencies will be different, so all I really want to know is a broad "can it be done"?

Thanks folks, in advance,
Phil.

 

[tsunami]

what in the hell is DAB?

 

[ZoomVT]

hey man ignore Tsunami, he is from Maine and they dont know anything out there. DAB = Digital Audio Broadcast buddy.
I am just guessing here but i suppose you coul duse the same connector that is used for satellite radio. You would need an external tuner though, although i dont know what the UK specs are.
I assume ICE = In Console Equipment? I dont know who the manufacturer is.

 

[tsunami]

oh hd radio....

 

[blankfrank]

Ah, you call it hd radio. Good description, actually.

Thanks guys, anyway. Satellite stuff, now that's an idea...

 

[chuyler1]

DAB is basically a digital signal over radio waves instead of your typical analog signal. The U.S. kind of skipped the technology and went straight to satelite radio. They both have their pros and cons. The annoyance of DAB is that when the signal begins to fade, it just cuts out where as analog you can still get the signal even though it's weak.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_broadcasting

 

[Kansei]

Yeah pretty similar to our "HD Radio" in concept. I'll be interested in going HD Radio if some radio stations here and back home do it.

I had XM sat radio for a while but it was fake radio stations. I hated it. there were no on air DJs, everything was just little prerecorded "you're listening to Ethel, XM 47" or crap like that between a randomized playlist of songs.

How is DAB, is it that the normal analog radio stations upgraded to digital or a completely different system?

 

[chuyler1]

I agree about sat radio. I think the listeners do the best job of requesting songs with a DJ filtering them for a nice mix. Request hours on public radio always have the coolest mix of songs. WAAF also had the Road Rage Request (during the evening rush-hour) where one person could pick 2 or 3 songs to play back to back. I'm sorry but a computer simply can't do that (yet).

 

[Kansei]

I agree about sat radio. I think the listeners do the best job of requesting songs with a DJ filtering them for a nice mix. Request hours on public radio always have the coolest mix of songs. WAAF also had the Road Rage Request (during the evening rush-hour) where one person could pick 2 or 3 songs to play back to back. I'm sorry but a computer simply can't do that (yet).

Have you listened to Sirius? At least from what I heard when my mom had a 6 month subscription because there was a sirius tuner installed as a 500 dollar option in her Altima, they have real people on the radio. Actual people with personality like a real radio station. I like listening to online radio sometimes when I just want to hear something new or different, but I'm not going to pay 13 dollars a month for hundreds of channels when the only ones I listen to are NPR, classical, techno, and alternative rock. I basically gave up on radio, seeing as most of the music I listen to isn't deemed enough of a moneymaker for clearchannel to allow it on the radio a lot.

I'll still buy into HD Radio if it becomes widespread enough. I still sorta like listening to local stuff over just a generic national broadcast, so HD radio is nice for that.

 

[chuyler1]

I haven't listened to any of them for extended periods.

The one reason I listen to FM radio is for some sort of local connection. I like hearing about the Redsox and Patriots on my ride to work but I wouldn't want to listen to a national sports coverage channel. Sure the commercials get annoying but lumped in with them are advertisements for local events, concerts, and other things to do. It keeps me connected to the local community.

 

[Kansei]

I haven't listened to any of them for extended periods.

The one reason I listen to FM radio is for some sort of local connection. I like hearing about the Redsox and Patriots on my ride to work but I wouldn't want to listen to a national sports coverage channel. Sure the commercials get annoying but lumped in with them are advertisements for local events, concerts, and other things to do. It keeps me connected to the local community.

Yeah that's one of the reasons tha tI dropped XM. I got it because I figured it would be nice when driving back and forth from CT to Rochester because there are some decently long stretches on the NYS thruway where there really aren't many radio stations and with sat. I could listen to the same station the whole drive. My MP3 player does a much better job and doesn't charge me monthly, and at least when I'm in Rochester there's a decent alternative station and my college's station.