The Gadget Show: Pure Highway DAB Radio

[Macaroconi]

The rectangle is their original attempt at masking out the car's registration, they've clearly replaced it with a "blur", check the movement of the box against the movement of the car as it pulls in :)

[joessoap]

DAB is evil. It's another step towards total control of our media. Soon you'll have to use dab because they'll stop selling the old FM radios.

[kabuya98]

Works quite well

[bigbillyz]

Spend some time letting us hear the quality of it buddy

[toveksasyout33]

i have no manual to my tivoli dab radio mod-dab.i want it!

[rajaboy]

Another thing he's forgot to point out, if your car has an aux socket like mine you can plug the line out socket into the car's aux socket & get better sound quality if u doint want to listen thru the fm frequency. Also I've hidden my cables behind the dashboard

[Lachlant1984]

@rajaboy Do you mean it's an actual line out socket and not a headphone output? If that's the case then I think the Pure Highway would ,ake a good DAB+ tuner for the Sangean clock radio beside my bed as long as I can get an AC Adaptor for the unit. I also understand that the Highway can run on batteries and be used with headphones, is this true?

[rajaboy]

@Lachlant1984. if u look on the unit it says line out on 1 of them basically it can yes it also can run on battery as a personal radio so u can use the line out as a headphone socket. back to the earlier point from the line out socket u can connect it to the car aux in socket if fitted

[hooarr]

i thought this had scrolling text ...

or whats songs on next ?

mine upgaded by its self over the air now its locked up seing im second owner they wont fix it..its only 3 months old NOW ITS NO GOOD WASTE OF MONEY AUD $160 im out of pocket.......

[rubbishycrap]

Discrete? Fucking lol, wires all over the windscreen and a nickable unit that just happens to look to a thief like a satnav. 0/10 Pure

[upernoe]

This is a waste of money to many wires in your car everywhere.. Why not just get a Pocket DAB Radio they sell in Argos with hardly any wires and fits in your pocket and comes with earphones And you can switch between FM And DAB So this is a better option Pure highway is a terrible option!

[Lachlant1984]

@upernoe But then you'd still be dealing with running wires from the pocket radio to your car's stereo system, you wouldn't want to wear headphones while driving because that's dangerous, also you'd be dealing with batteries going flat during the trip, that would just be annoying. I believe some of the pocket DAB radios do have loudspeakers, but they wouldn't be very loud, they might end up being inaudible because of your car's engine sounds.

[RadioTrunews]

I'm uploading a review and info on the Roberts DAB radio and information about it all in the more info on the coverage and bit rate quality.

I decided a portable would be better than the more expensive still highway, seeing as Comet and Halfords told me that stopped doing them, due to so many being returned.

So I was worried as you can imagine.

But found it no problem, played through FM transmitter, sitting on the cars back seat and darn good reception, see video on it for more.

[JokerZED]

all the BBC channels are in 1 ensemble - so if you can get Radio 1 (though god alone knows why you would want to) you have 2, 3, 4, 5live, 6 and 7 - its the same signal.

DAB stations in the main are NOT Mono, just some low budget talk stations.

I have owned 3 DAB car radios in 3 different cars- all much better reception that any FM radio I have owned, provided I have not been in Cornwall or Wales - not enough transmitters for the geography there.

[andymate2006]

DAB Radio Sucks. I bought a DAB+ Radio when it was released in Australia, I would rather listen to my FM and AM radios.

[Lachlant1984]

@andymate2006 What do you hate so much about DAB+? I've got 2 portable DAB+ radios, I like then, but to be honest I find no real difference between the sound quality of FM radio and DAB+, there certainly is a difference between DAB+ and AM however. Generally I'd much rather listen to my MP3's.

[Lachlant1984]

Hey, this guy's driving a VolksWagon, I recognise the stereo and the dashboard. Here in Australia we use DAB+, and indeed the Pure Highway is available here, I've not used one because I don't drive. I understand the Pure Highway can run on AA batteries, but the battery life is shit according to the technical specifications.

[jacob97]

what was that white thing coming out of the pure highway

[dawnhill1967]

do not take ur car aerial down because it transmits the sound out of the Digital Audio Broadcasting radio transmits the signal of the DAB to ur car stereo and will not be heard

[dawnhill1967]

buy a cable tidy Jon

[rajaboy]

I got one in my car & it awesome

[MicMogul]

Did you try the accessory of the external magnet base antenna?

I live in Australia and distance will be a big problem, especially with compromised radiation patterns.

[ShadowsDML]

Can I sell the organs from that body in the black market?

[pr4t1kg]

time to go wireless

[NewAgeOrder]

DAB radio 57 varieties of the same old shite

[John4526]

Thanks for the review. Almost running over the cameraman (1.08) was a nice touch!

[PeaveyPV20]

How can anyone compare rubbish FM radio (radio shitty 1 and 2 say it all) to ace DAB wiv stations like planet rock.I had a JVC in my old car wiv DAB and it was great.The jurys still out on the pure like. I've seen these little gadjets before like them casettes that used to link to a personal CD player, they looked gud on paper but sounded shit.

[gomemdesoto]

In the UK most DAB stations use 128kbps MP2 encoding, this sounds far worse than FM. and worse than 128kbps MP3. Plus many music stations transmit in mono on DAB.

IMO the UK will have to move to DAB+ or Digital Radio Mondial. Current DAB is obsolete technology which has reached its limits.

[AnthonyUK]

Digital Radio Mondiale on MW/LW/SW cuts out many of the problems of analogue by replacing it with an all digital signal;same wavebands and frequencies just a digital AM signal that's all, and it's more robust at combatting the effects of interference and fading particularly at night giving a near FM quality that transcends analogue AM for quality and reception.

[Lachlant1984]

Did you say that DAB stations in the UK transmit in MONO?????? My God that's shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here in Australia we use DAB+ and all the stations transmit in true stereo. A lot of music sounds compressed, so I'm not convinced of the sound quality of DAB+, but at least the stations transmit in STEREO.

[dawnhill1967]

troo

[tomnorthi]

No thats wrong 160kbps stereo, apart from the talk stations such as talksport.

[AnthonyUK]

I've never been a fan of DAB(for home use anyway),the soundquality of many stations is disappointing certainly worse than CD and not even close to FM and not all stereo either.

[a1as8a1r]

the whole of the UK is going digital, so soon they will probably set a switchover date for radio too. this is just like a freeview box for your car radio. but the only problem i see with it is the FM transmitter. if everyone has one (just as many people have a freeview box), whenever you drive past someone your signals will interfere! and if they make the signal range smaller (to stop interference) you'll get crap quality even in your own car! i'll get one anyway though... lol

[OnWithTheFutbalShow]

Going on Digital here too in italy.Terrestrial . There how?

[toppackage]

i got 1 of these after watching this >it was hard 2 find 1 2buy i did get 1 from currys digital... pluged it in and in under 30seconds i was away its fantastic i have DAB at home and it bubbles but the pure highway has NO bubbleing super claer sound and i can rewind the radio 2 and its better than the 1 i have in the house the screen isnt that small its just rite.. i dont use the holde as it vibrates 2much i just leave it in the ashtray brilliant 10 out of 10 PURE

[lifeisoverrated1991]

tell me again

what does that do except take your money,battery power,take up space,reflect light into your eyes and you crash,lots of wires

???

anyone

???

[spencerh11]

how ignorant of you.

[lifeisoverrated1991]

seriously though these big companys just bring out crap for too much money like this a dab radio you already have a radio in the car so why do you want one of these for its just a waste

[spencerh11]

If you have a analogue radio in the car then you may want a DAB radio as well. Much more stations, more choice, etc.

[nottinkilla]

Higher bitrate, better sound, more information from stations. Ive had the Highway for ages, so this big company brings a cheaper alternative to having a multi hundred pound installation and you slate them for it?

How ignorant indeed.

[spencerh11]

Thankyou :-)

[mattysen]

i love the way he says dab....DAB!

[b33jal]

mwahahaha it would be amazing if he crashed because he was talking into the camera

[felixcock]

thats pure shite by the way,and hees a big puddin puller on his dabs

[amrules22]

What was that rectangle 1:23

[Finglonga]

It's a DAB Fairy. ;-)

[MVCastleQueen]

You've answered your own question there.

[Wellgot]

there's an alien at 1:23ish :)

[Wellgot]

there's an alien at 1:23ish :)

[CSProductions]

I think DAB is a waste of time and money. VHF Band III should of been used for digital TV instead of DAB

[nottinkilla]

I concur, DAB is the future.

[NormanSweetcream]

did he say "easily nicked"... This cat's nicking chap's radios replacement sets or something, what?

[tedward69]

01:10

He nearly took the camera man out!

[2manyburgers]

This man is so so much like Q from James Bond!!

[raverbaby2001]

waste of money

[g0fvt]

Sadly DAB radio is not what it is cracked up to be, low bit rate and poor quality. Have used the FM transmitter devices in my cars before, not always successful plus London (where I work) has so many pirates that you can't find a free space.

[jaminbate]

on ebay uk £67.95 pp £5.95

[DjGizzo]

flippin heck one of them a sat nav mobile phone etc etc its mental and can only lead to more accidents

[ChristopherWFox]

This looks a really naff product. A radio stuck to your windscreen and a cable plugged into your cigarette lighter. And all because your FM aerial moves about. Why not just have a fixed aerial and listen to FM?

[Cregsy]

altho i agree it is a shit product, ur a goose because it means that the aerial is moving about, because ur car is, dumb dumb, not that its actually fixed on the car!!!

[ChristopherWFox]

Actually, that's why I say use a normal FM radio (with a fixed aerial rather than the antenna stuck to your windscreen) and not DAB. Thanks for the reply though.

[redwhiteblue91]

why would you buy 1 of these?

you can buy a DAB car radio for £50 from halfords.

They are so easy to fit as well!

[DarkShroom]

er you can? what model?

[n0076464]

poor idea

[Dickieboi]

Far too much time is spent looking at the camera and the stupid D.A.B. radio as it should be pronounced. Videos like this shouldnt be made while driving, I dont care how quiet the road is.

[mcronrev]

Utter Poo. Would work ok in strong areas, fringe areas would suck. D.A.B isn't as clear as a strong FM signal due to the limited bit rates. I have had 2 D.A.B in car systems and they were proper pioneer systems. They work as well as you'll get with a real external aerial. D.A.B is sooo annoying in a fringe area, absolutely agony. At least with FM there is a gradual loss. We should go Satellite like the Americans, much much better system.

[AdminGamer]

terrible radio, i;l stick to my am-fm radio.

[rossgustafson]

Haha, apart from the way he says Dab not DAB, it's great.

[ChocolateLabelTv]

Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, Dab, <-- Thats how many time he say DAB!... LMAO

[Hairy7Rocker]

the ads on radios are gr8! way better than on tv.

[Gjkeane]

I love the gadget show

[psycorob]

d.a.b not dab lol

[hardshaun]

gadget so is mint

[F1Archives]

Jon's got a thing for DAB, hasn't he?

He's been banging on about it for a few years now. The thing is, no-one else really gives two hoots about DAB, lol.

[blackgadget]

Don't dis the bentley, he knows his stuff

[superocket2000]

All that effort for a radio... Whats with the white rectangle at 1:20. And why is it a central nob, its a button fool!

[dogbog99]

i love the gadget show!

[jackass1711]

whats the random white rectangle?

[geckoiw]

Great review, I like ther level of detail that Jon gives, but the radio itself would be a no no for me personally, like he said, all those extra wires, what a mess.

[electrodrive1961]

i think people should try dab before they knock it i now use dab all the time i get a lot more stations and with less hiss i even use it at home

[geetarwanabe]

or.. just get a portable dab radio for £40, get a standard car radio with a 3.5mm audio jack on it. connect a 3.5-3.5 jack from the headphone socket to the input on the car radio and he presto.. only one cable thats small and descrete enough and the sound quality would be better.

or just get an itrip which is a small fm-transmitter with no cables that you jsut plug into the headphone socket on a portable dab player. wireless and does the exact same as that thing does.

[mcronrev]

That just wouldn't work well at all. Car receivers are much more sensitive than portable units. The reception on the move would be terrible.

[redwhiteblue91]

i agree, i bought one of them Belkin FM radio transmitter's to plug my ipod in to my FM radio.

This uses the same technology and its got terrible signal!

even worse if your car aerial is at the rear.

[omgomg]

i have one of these to and my aerial is at the rear of my car and i have no problem with it...

[bobbystar101]

or just use the FM car radio and forget dab... why downgrade from FM??

[mcronrev]

DAB is better if you are listening to national/local stations, much better infact. FM is far better in fringe areas, signals travel much further and interference is much more subtle with FM radio.

DAB doesn't have the issue of cross channel interference which is great, especially if you live in London and have a problem with pirate radio stations cutting into normal frequencies.

[ShashonaX]

Why dont you just buy a dab cd player for the car, had this like 2 years ago when it fisrt come out. Nothing new!

[mcronrev]

They've been around for ages, I had one installed in a Subaru back in 2000.

[bobbystar101]

Why?

Are there really areas where DAB is better for general use than FM?

I wouldnt risk dab in a car because instead of a slight his it would keep cutting out.

I wouldnt bother in a house because a decent FM radio has better sound quality (of course unless you actually live in an area with PERFECT dab reception but dreadful fm reception)

[DraxNet79]

Hmmm...or alternatively just put an mp3 CD in. What a load of wires and cocking about. Oh dear, Jon Bentley used to be a producer on Top Gear in the old days; how the mighty have fallen.

[f150L]

WHAT ...listen to the shite radio ...NO CHANCE,ONLY CRAP COMES OUT OF IT.PROPAGANDA AND COMERCIAL SHIT.

[bill2893]

actually the main radio stations are bbc and they don't have adverts on

and radio2 is the most listened to radio station in the uk

even though myself i listen to radio1

[bobbystar101]

radio contains to much talking with so called "cool" northern accents

it annoys me, you never hear any somerset accent on there do you

[tcepseruk]

I bet as soon as you press one of the preset buttons at the top the thing falls from the windows! Useless gadget!

[rrrryannnn]

who cares about a radio ? so much hassle

[robjc93]

YAWN!!!!!!

[Krownig]

what a load of crap. all that faffing around for crap radio. and radio is crap in this country. i hate listening to dj's yammer on about how i should call in now to tell him what kind of crap i took the night before. i listen to my own music. RADIO IS DEAD!

[bobbystar101]

If your lucky to live in the right area there are some good local stations.

bbc should turn their stations off though they replace adverts with shite jordie or manchester or liverpool presenters jabbering on for hours with annoying accents

[dawnhill1967]

bbc radio 1 is good but 2,3,4 are rubbish! i agree with you but RADIO 1 Can stay

[bobbystar101]

radio 1 is the worst of the bunch what crap presenters they have.

They had one decent one but he died (John Peel)

[dreamcastII]

@dawnhill1967 radio 4 is brainy

[AndyMosh]

whats the white thing from 1:20 - 1:23?

[iamarse]

hat's rubbish that is.

What a load of buggering about to listen to the shite radio we have in this country.

[jammiedodger546]

I swear its pronounced dee aye bee not dab?

[deanw666]

It is. Its just techno jargon.

For example "V.A.T." people say "vat" most of the time.

[jammiedodger546]

Ah ok thanks

[Vertman3000]

I say V.A.T but I write VAT

[b33jal]

me too

[0saltandpepper0]

good clip, thanks for putting bits of the show on instead of what you used to do.

[06bert06]

suck my balls, im the first to use profanity!!

[lamboy13]

I do

[ancientfish]

you're*

[lamboy13]

Iam the first to make comment wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooo

[ancientfish]

who cares if your first to comment?

[goldendisc]

He seems to. It's all he has, don't take it away from him.

[Mysterious0Bob]

Congrats. You get retard of the year award.

[lamboy13]

Do u think i care wot u say