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llessur

Member Since: 15 Nov 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 151

Advice for just a good radio

This may seem a little weird for some, but I would really like a car radio that has good reception. All I really listen to is BBC Radio 4 on FM, but unlike the Land Rover unit it will replace ( Puma 2010 2,4 with ISO brown and grey plugs on the bulkhead harness and standard wing mounted aerial ) It needs to get good reception without constantly dropping the signal. Forget DAB and I would not ever use bluetooth, apple carplay, android, USB or any other technology. I just want a FM radio that has brilliant reception. I am not after a retro vintage push button look like the old Radiomobiles of the 60's and 70's, and I am happy with the extra functionality of the modern head units, but it must have good reception. You can see by the way I am repeating myself that I am really fed up with the OEM Land Rover Radio.

You may laugh, but I am just the same with mobile phones, no wifi, bt, Apps or touch screen devices with a battery life measured in hours, I went for just a phone, that seems to get a signal anywhere and the battery lasts over a week.

You probably all think I am mad, but your recommendations would be appreciated. ( and that's not for a psychiatrist

)

Oh and I am the sort that pull into my driveway at the end of the journey and sit in the Defender for 10 minutes just to hear the end of a Radio Play. - old age has a lot to answer for

22nd Sep 2021 1:55pm

kenzle8a

Member Since: 12 Feb 2020
Location: None
Posts: 1074

Probably something like one of the blaupunkt professional lorry head units and a decent ariel

22nd Sep 2021 2:11pm

gilarion

Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5110

2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green

Keep the radio you have and fit an FM Radio Antenna Signal Amplifier they are as cheap as chips well about £5.00 and will certainly do the job of boosting the radio signal. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1

22nd Sep 2021 2:33pm

llessur

Member Since: 15 Nov 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 151

For the sake of a few quid I will try the signal booster first - thanks8

22nd Sep 2021 2:51pm

Dinnu

Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black

I was sick of the "Seek PI" - see thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72713.html

Please keep us posted if the amplifier made a difference or not. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black

22nd Sep 2021 4:17pm

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8029

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey

this fills my needs too as all i want is radio and better signal. which amplifier did you get? Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

22nd Sep 2021 8:34pm

Ihod

Member Since: 07 Nov 2015
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 165

I'm delighted with this:

Click image to enlarge

Louder than the engine, plays radio 4, holds stations well, even in terrible signal areas, and sounds just fine on original LR aerial and original 300 tdi speakers.

No tape, no CD but does have a front and rear USB; the latter is fed back thro the dash to a BlueSea extension from MUD to the lower switch panel to charge things.

The Bluetooth for the phone (for streaming if you do that) is flawless.

Knocks the Alpine I had in the more recent Defender out of the park. Ian

MY1998 300Tdi 90 Hard Top (Now Soft Top)
MY2015 110 XS SW - Sold
MY2008 110 County USW - Sold
MY1962 Series IIa Truck Cab - Sold
MY1994 300Tdi 90 Hard Top - Sold
MY2001 TD5 90 Truck Cab - Sold

Last edited by Ihod on 23rd Sep 2021 7:17am. Edited 1 time in total

23rd Sep 2021 6:40am

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4209

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

I like how simple that looks, my pioneer looks like an 80s arcade machine with tiny buttons and an illogical menu system.

Are Blaupunkt still trading? There online presence is a bit patchy. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

23rd Sep 2021 6:48am

Ihod

Member Since: 07 Nov 2015
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 165

They go in and out of stock on Amazon for about £100 and it was a tenner for the external mic that I have routed thro' to the top of the steering column.

Its been faultless - and suits the dash nicely. Ian

MY1998 300Tdi 90 Hard Top (Now Soft Top)
MY2015 110 XS SW - Sold
MY2008 110 County USW - Sold
MY1962 Series IIa Truck Cab - Sold
MY1994 300Tdi 90 Hard Top - Sold
MY2001 TD5 90 Truck Cab - Sold

23rd Sep 2021 7:05am

AMBxx

Member Since: 24 Jul 2016
Location: York
Posts: 1031

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey

I wish I'd seen that before I replaced my original radio. New one has tiny buttons with labels that are impossible to read while driving. Lots of flashing lights to keep morons entertained, but apart from that unusable.
Worse still, the brightness doesn't adjust automatically. You're either blinded at night or the screen's unreadable by day.

23rd Sep 2021 7:43am

llessur

Member Since: 15 Nov 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 151

So here is and update.
A £5-95 signal booster arrived and was duly fitted. There was no real difference so I decided to fit a new wing aerial. With the new aerial and the signal booster, there was an improvement, but not enough to avoid my loss of signal frustrations.
I now decided to bite the bullet and go for a new radio. My choice was based on your advice here, to go for a heavy duty Blaupunkt, and after seeing the Blaupunkt Dublin 112BT (above) I started searching.
I could not find one in stock, so went for a Blaupunkt DOHA 112BT

Click image to enlarge
fitted it this morning, really is a plug and play two minute job to fit and very easy to set up.

Well, I am so impressed

Just what I had hoped for, brilliant reception, and I have been able to switch off through the menu system everything I don't want, so it is now a simple reliable radio that performs far far better than the OEM Land Rover Unit.

Thank you all for your advice. It was refreshing to discover that not everyone wants a Double din, sub woofer HiFi system. We all have different needs at the end of the day. My wife says my needs are "special"
Thanks again

26th Sep 2021 2:34pm

Waldo

Member Since: 18 Jul 2010
Location: Bit South of Manchester
Posts: 240

Lessur,

Does the display auto dim when you turn the sidelights/headlights on? Defender 90 XS TD5 (03 Reg)

26th Feb 2022 3:54pm

llessur

Member Since: 15 Nov 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 151

Not automatic,
You can manually adjust the brightness.

26th Feb 2022 5:04pm

Waldo

Member Since: 18 Jul 2010
Location: Bit South of Manchester
Posts: 240

Thanks Defender 90 XS TD5 (03 Reg)

27th Feb 2022 9:57pm

The Zee

Member Since: 26 May 2019
Location: Salisbury
Posts: 289

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Indus Silver

Blaupunkt (Blue Point) have had a reputation for clean, uncomplicated, easy to use head units. No bells and whistles, just a solid unit.

It was part of the Bosch group, but was sold off, asset striped, liquidated and reborn, I believe some of the products are made under licence using just the name. They still keep the plain, professional look for their headunits which is a good thing.

VDO/Continental have a similar "Pro" range of headunits : https://www.continental-automotive.com/en-...fotainment Zaid-M
www.DefencePhotos.com
2014 Defender 110 Utility, 2.2 Puma, Indus Silver
Not just transport more like a religion

28th Feb 2022 3:11pm

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