World Radio Online

Digital radio for car

Digital radio for car has overcome traditional limitations of analog FM radios such as background noise and poor reception. This is thanks to new technology called Digital Audio Broadcasting or DAB. The digital nature of the signals sent to radio receivers (a.k.a. radio tuners) is less affected by obstacles that confront analog radio signals. This new technology is especially significant for FM radios that use “line of site” transmission for signals. FM signal reception by radios, are more affected by obstacles such as buildings and other geographic factors.

Radios did not always give the range and clarity that we have got so used in today’s stereophonic, digital, day and age.

With the advent of FM radio, the range of frequencies that could be transmitted grew dramatically. On-the-move car radios however, complicated the reception of FM radio signals. With digital radio for car becoming commonplace, these obstacles to reception have also been largely overcome.

Radios digital

Car radios digital receivers, are far less susceptible to the various forms of interference. Hence clarity of sound produced by FM radios digital car receivers has increased sharply. DAB of signals to car digital radios have turned the traditional obstacles into advantages because digital broadcasters and receivers have more control over the signals. Thus interference and signal cancellation problems can be adjusted for by receivers and sound enhanced before it is sent onto amplifiers of digital radios. Also available space on the airwaves, or “bandwidth”, is no longer an issue. Hence broadcasters and governments alike are encouraging consumers towards digital radios.

Car digital radio

Today, there a couple of factors to take into consideration before you purchase a car digital radio: First is coverage. This relates directly to the number of transmitters, or towers, broadcasters’ have installed in a given area. Secondly, due to the directional nature of digital signals, there may be pockets where the reception is not as good as other areas.  With digital car radios both these issues are particularly accentuated.

In practical terms this means that car digital radios have to be attached to special kinds of antennae to receive digital radio signals. There are a variety of options consumers can choose from to meet their particular needs and budgets.

Roof-mounted aerials are usually the best way to go. There are aerials that combine DAB/FM/AM reception, so a vehicle’s factory-fitted roof aerial can be replaced, avoiding the need to drill a new mounting hole. This is expensive, as the installation requires removal and replacement of the roof lining, among other things.

External glass-mount and internal screen-mounted aerials are the most economical options. The glass-mount is better as it does not require the drilling of any holes and it is shorter than regular antenna. Internal antennae, although cheaper and easier to install, do not give the same quality of sound.