DAB radio – also known as digital radio – is a form audio broadcasting. The vast majority of new cars sold in the UK since 2015 have been fitted with DAB radio receivers as standard, allowing you to pick up many more stations with a clearer, richer sound.
In this guide we’re going to explain exactly what DAB radio is, how it works and whether or not you can modify an older car to receive it.
How does DAB digital radio work?
Old-school FM and longwave broadcasts are carried on radio waves. It’s a relatively simple system that can be highly effective, but the waves don’t travel very far and are easily disrupted. Back in the day it was a common experience to lose your favourite local radio station 10 miles down the road and lose signal entirely when driving through a hilly area.
DAB radio is broadcast as a stream of zeros and ones, like a mobile phone signal. The DAB signal can travel much further (even if it has to be relayed between transmitters) and bounces off obstacles rather than being absorbed by them, as radio waves are. As a result, you can listen to the John O’Groats local station from Land’s End, and your car’s receiver will still pick up the signal if you’re driving through a deep river gorge.
A DAB signal also contains more information than radio waves so you get richer, clearer sound quality. Your car’s display screen may also show information about the show track you’re listening to.
Does every car have DAB digital radio?
DAB radio broadcasts have been available in the UK since the early 2000s but it took about 10 years for manufacturers to start fitting receivers to their cars. Even then, it was usually only standard on high-end models and quite an expensive option on others. Ford was among the first manufacturers to start fitting all its cars with DAB receivers, even on cheaper models like the Fiesta.
The UK government planned to turn off analogue FM and LW transmitters in the early 2010s. The plan proved to be extremely unpopular and didn’t come to pass but, by then, every car manufacturer active in the UK had responded by standardising DAB receivers in all their models.
As a rule of thumb, you can expect any car sold in the UK from about 2015 to be able to receive DAB radio.
Can I have DAB digital radio fitted to my car?
If your car doesn’t have a built-in DAB radio receiver, you don’t have to miss out on the massive selection of stations available and better sound quality. There are lots of aftermarket DAB receivers to choose from that attach to your car’s dashboard and plumb into the stereo with a single connector.
Alternatively, you could upgrade your car’s stereo headunit for one that has a built-in DAB receiver. Note that the taking the latter option isn’t possible if your car has a full infotainment system that doesn’t include separate headunit.
Looking for more jargon-busting motoring meanings? Head over to our Parkers Car Glossary page and take a look at our other definitions.
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