Multifunctional car radios are replacing the traditional radio function only car media players, everyone knows more functions equal more fun. Popular functions including Bluetooth, navigation, radio, of course, all become basic functions of a car multimedia player, no need to elaborate how useful and convenient they are as the overwhelming advertisement already done a great job.

New functions are developed for better accessibility to the smartphone, such as mirror link, few companies have successfully developed their own free version. The Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as the third party driving assistance APP, are gaining more followers every day, some car radios already integrated with the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. But there are car head units compatible with the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Here I made a comparison:

Car radios’ Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
	Integrated	External
Price	Higher	Lower
Function Display	Stable	Stable
Installation	Not required	Plug-and-Play
Replacement	Difficult, need to return the whole unit	Plug-and-Play

That’s the information I found for your reference. (Every choice is not easy to make, some part needs to be sacrificed…)

If you are looking for information about an external Android Auto/ Apple CarPlay dongle, Pumpkin NA7006B may be helpful. Other external device like DAB digital radio box NA7021B is also available.

DAB+ is Digital audio broadcasting, which is a digital radio standard for broadcasting digital audio radio services, used in many countries around the world. Digital Audio Broadcasting presents you all variable stations in one single list and detailed information about the program you play with a much better reception quality, which gains a great deal of reputation in European countries mostly, but Canada, Australia, Mexico are all covered.

A radio which can only receive DAB will not be able to receive DAB+ stations. However, DAB+ sets are ‘backward-compatible’ and will receive both DAB and DAB+ stations.

Some car stereos have built-in DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting), provides a large number of radio stations in a single list with program information, news, and traffic updates, local time automatically adjust, less unlicensed station interference, more channel options (mono talk, news, weather, non-music), and larger coverage area (North America excluded).

But some car stereo needs an external DAB+ Digital Radio Tuner to support this function. With an external DAB+, it can transmit CD-sound and noise-free excellently. It makes DAB Radio broadly accessible to most of Europe and makes DAB Radio a special experience in the vehicle.

Pumpkin External DAB+ Digital Radio Tuner for Android Car Radio

• Crystal clear audio
• CD-Sound quality and noise-free in excellent transmission
• Working Voltage: 5V
• Signal to Noise RF=72dBM, Mini 50dB
• Distortion at Ref out RF=72dBM, Mini 1%

 

Good news, some of Pumpkin Android car stereo will support the DAB function soon (extra device required). It’ll make your journey more enjoyable because of its unique features, so stay tune. Here’s a guide to help you know it better:

What is DAB Digital Radio/Digital Audio Broadcasting?

Digital Audio Broadcasting, or DAB, is the technology behind terrestrial digital radio. It brings a larger selection of different stations that broadcast in low, medium and high quality or in mono or stereo. Since there’s limited space on DAB at the moment, some stations must broadcast in mono or at a lower quality “bitrate” in order that there is space for other stations.

• Stations that broadcast mainly speech or talk are usually heard in mono on DAB
• Stations that play music can usually be heard in stereo on DAB digital radio, though there are exceptions

With DAB digital radio there’s no hiss or crackle

There’s no hiss or crackle to spoil the sound you’re listening to, though there may be the presence of digital “artifacts” in the sound you hear, depending on the broadcast quality of the station on your DAB digital radio.

You don’t have to remember frequencies

There’s no need to remember frequencies, either. You just look for the name of the station you want on the display of a DAB digital tuner and select it. Our radio station directory lists local, regional and national DAB services.

The DAB digital tuners that are available at the moment still leave quite a dent in your wallet. Prices have tumbled in the last few years, though. Once you’ve bought a DAB radio, listening is completely free.

DAB digital radio has other features that often aren’t available with ordinary FM radios.

You can often find out what’s playing next

You can display the name of the artist and track currently playing, or the current programme (if the station is set up to broadcast these things – most are now) and you can see what show or song is coming up next.

You don’t have to re-tune to stay with national stations

National radio stations broadcast on the same frequency up and down the country, so unlike FM there’s no need to keep re-tuning as a DAB digital radio in your car will automatically select the nearest transmitter for uninterrupted listening. If there’s no DAB transmitter nearby, a DAB radio in your car may be able to tune back to FM.

However, you will need to re-tune your DAB digital radio if you’re moving around the country listening to local DAB digital radio stations. If you enter an adjoining area whose local multiplex carries the same station, you can keep on listening to that station by re-tuning.

For more Pumpkin Android car stereo, please visit:

• US Site: http://www.autopumpkin.com/
• UK Site: http://www.autopumpkin.co.uk/
• DE Site: http://www.autopumpkin.de/

Source: http://www.radio-now.co.uk/dab_radio_faqs.htm