DAB Upgrade?

[Barkley]

I picked up my iQ today and I must say there’s no buyer’s remorse!  One teeny annoyance was that the SatNav (TNS350) showed an icon for DAB, sadly on pressing it I’m told I need a ‘DAB module’ - why this isn’t greyed out beats me, but a search on the Toyota website states;

“Toyota owners can upgrade to a DAB digital radio on most models. Adding this simple plug-in module to your car means you’ll enjoy crystal-clear reception. When listening to football or cricket coverage it sounds like the commentator is in the car with you. Voices are distinct and easy on the ear, and there’s none of the crackle or hiss you sometimes get when listening to analogue radio.”

Has anyone seen this elusive device? Is there a part number?  Or am I seeking the unobtainable?

 

[glimp]

You only got it today?

C O N G R A T U LA T I O N S ! ! !

I've had mine 6 weeks now and it's become an obssession!

You should start a thread dedicated to the car and the stuff you do to it.

[Roy124]

2 hours ago, Barkley said:

you’ll enjoy crystal-clear reception. When listening to football or cricket coverage it sounds like the commentator is in the car with you. Voices are distinct and easy on the ear,

You hope.

DAB has more blind spots than FM though you do have access to the online chat channels like LBC, GB News and TalkTV.

Would that people phoning on had crystal clear voices and that panelists didn't talk over or shout down other panellists. 

[Bper]

2 hours ago, Barkley said:

I picked up my iQ today and I must say there’s no buyer’s remorse!  One teeny annoyance was that the SatNav (TNS350) showed an icon for DAB, sadly on pressing it I’m told I need a ‘DAB module’ - why this isn’t greyed out beats me, but a search on the Toyota website states;

“Toyota owners can upgrade to a DAB digital radio on most models. Adding this simple plug-in module to your car means you’ll enjoy crystal-clear reception. When listening to football or cricket coverage it sounds like the commentator is in the car with you. Voices are distinct and easy on the ear, and there’s none of the crackle or hiss you sometimes get when listening to analogue radio.”

Has anyone seen this elusive device? Is there a part number?  Or am I seeking the unobtainable?

 

Hi Raymond,

have a look at this video it may help.The Alpine adapter is listed on eBay. Hope this helps

https://youtu.be/o2IuP6apQNw?si=p9oZ1CE4h1Fwscfa

 

[glimp]

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that the iQ sound system is quite good enough, including the radio.

I have DAB in my other car and it's clearer/crisper and has more stations, but I don't need it in the iQ, because it's just my local runabout.

An FM radio, CD player and an mp3 player are all I need. I don't even feel the need to upgrade the Speakers, which is a new feeling for me.

I'm spending my kids' inheritance on other, more mechanical stuff ☺️

[glimp]

8 minutes ago, Bper said:

Hi Raymond,

have a look at this video it may help.The Alpine adapter is listed on eBay. Hope this helps

https://youtu.be/o2IuP6apQNw?si=p9oZ1CE4h1Fwscfa

 

That Alpine adapter looks identical to my Pure Highway 400, in my other car, which is excellent, if you want DAB.

[Roy124]

27 minutes ago, glimp said:

I don't even feel the need to upgrade

My attitude at my age.  My perception of audio is limited by my hearing aids.  My appreciation of TV video is limited by the rubbish broadcast most of the time.

[flash22]

PZ473-T0210-A0

https://www.toyota-tech.eu/aimuploads/{53C9063E-E758-AEF9-9658-9FB7DAA7E758}/IQ_DAB_RHD_PZ473_T0210_A0_AIM_001_298_2.pdf

 

they were an expensive upgrade when new, TBH with the way tech has progressed save your money and upgrade to something like a Pioneer DA160 DAB, personally avoid the no name Chinese tat

[glimp]

56 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

My attitude at my age.  My perception of audio is limited by my hearing aids.  My appreciation of TV video is limited by the rubbish broadcast most of the time.

I wish there was an 'agree' button.

[Barkley]

Thanks all - what complicates things for me is that I had planned to rip out the existing TNS and replace it with a Pioneer 2 DIN unit, but now having listened to it for several hours that would be vandalism.  I dislike the kludge of DAB over FM, and of course I believe you lose all TA info updates to switch to traffic flashes as it needs RDS to do this.  
 

A device that offers full integration with the existing unit does it for me, especially as I’m not adding to the dash clutter with yet another display!

DAB reception, like that of mobile phones depends on where you are and what kit you have so what works for one owner may not for another, but with so many stations that I listen to being on DAB or DAB+ I’d happily forget about MW and use digital instead.  Now to search for the module! The details that Bob provided showed that the module hadn’t been updated (no DAB+ stations) which the bulk of my favourite stations are! Aaaargh!

[glimp]

1 hour ago, Barkley said:

Thanks all - what complicates things for me is that I had planned to rip out the existing TNS and replace it with a Pioneer 2 DIN unit, but now having listened to it for several hours that would be vandalism.  I dislike the kludge of DAB over FM, and of course I believe you lose all TA info updates to switch to traffic flashes as it needs RDS to do this.  
 

A device that offers full integration with the existing unit does it for me, especially as I’m not adding to the dash clutter with yet another display!

DAB reception, like that of mobile phones depends on where you are and what kit you have so what works for one owner may not for another, but with so many stations that I listen to being on DAB or DAB+ I’d happily forget about MW and use digital instead.  Now to search for the module! The details that Bob provided showed that the module hadn’t been updated (no DAB+ stations) which the bulk of my favourite stations are! Aaaargh!

It's a shame you've specified 'no more dash clutter', as I'd thoroughly recommend the Pure Highway 400 DAB/+ adapter. It's very good indeed.

This is what it actually looks like in my car. Not too obvious imho.

If I wanted DAB in the iQ this is absolutely what I'd choose. About £57.

[Barkley]

I listened the the Pure when it came out originally (as the integrated DAB radios had yet to appear).  Is yours directly wired into the Aux or is it FM tuning?  Having now pressed my old MP3 player into service (complete with banging tracks I’d completely forgotten about!) I could drive to Wick/Thurso and not run out of music so I’m a bit more sanguine about the prospect of using BT from my iPhone for the stations I listen to regularly!

[glimp]

47 minutes ago, Barkley said:

I listened the the Pure when it came out originally (as the integrated DAB radios had yet to appear).  Is yours directly wired into the Aux or is it FM tuning?  Having now pressed my old MP3 player into service (complete with banging tracks I’d completely forgotten about!) I could drive to Wick/Thurso and not run out of music so I’m a bit more sanguine about the prospect of using BT from my iPhone for the stations I listen to regularly!

It plugs into one of the Aux sockets.

The single cable just runs from the aerial to the Aux. The display unit connects wirelessly to the aerial unit on the windscreen (no cables/wires attach to the display unit). It's all a bit magical to me.

This is the only cabling...

[Barkley]

3 hours ago, glimp said:

The single cable just runs from the aerial to the Aux.

Ah - that’s a bit better!  No FM’s a bonus!  I’ll look at it again. 

[glimp]

8 minutes ago, Barkley said:

Ah - that’s a bit better!  No FM’s a bonus!  I’ll look at it again. 

If you have a look at the video posted by @Bper earlier in the thread, you'll see that the Alpine head/display unit (which is identical to the Pure) is wireless, so it can be positioned wherever you like.