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llessur



Member Since: 15 Nov 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 151
United Kingdom 
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 Confused )

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 Whistle
Post #922363 22nd Sep 2021 2:55pm
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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
Post #922367 22nd Sep 2021 3:11pm
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5084
Wales 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
Post #922369 22nd Sep 2021 3:33pm
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llessur



Member Since: 15 Nov 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 151
United Kingdom 
For the sake of a few quid I will try the signal booster first - thanks8
Post #922372 22nd Sep 2021 3:51pm
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3184
Malta 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
Post #922381 22nd Sep 2021 5:17pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 7682
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 XS Utility
130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making)
90 Puma Hardtop
Post #922415 22nd Sep 2021 9:34pm
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Ihod



Member Since: 07 Nov 2015
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 165
United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Rioja Red
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 8:17am. Edited 1 time in total
Post #922434 23rd Sep 2021 7:40am
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Bluest



Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 3995
United Kingdom 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
Post #922435 23rd Sep 2021 7:48am
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Ihod



Member Since: 07 Nov 2015
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 165
United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Rioja Red
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
Post #922436 23rd Sep 2021 8:05am
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AMBxx



Member Since: 24 Jul 2016
Location: York
Posts: 985
United Kingdom 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.
Post #922438 23rd Sep 2021 8:43am
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llessur



Member Since: 15 Nov 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 151
United Kingdom 
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 Very Happy 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
Post #922861 26th Sep 2021 3:34pm
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Waldo



Member Since: 18 Jul 2010
Location: Bit South of Manchester
Posts: 240
United Kingdom 
Lessur,

Does the display auto dim when you turn the sidelights/headlights on? Defender 90 XS TD5 (03 Reg)
Post #943923 26th Feb 2022 4:54pm
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llessur



Member Since: 15 Nov 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 151
United Kingdom 
Not automatic,
You can manually adjust the brightness.
Post #943935 26th Feb 2022 6:04pm
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Waldo



Member Since: 18 Jul 2010
Location: Bit South of Manchester
Posts: 240
United Kingdom 
Thanks Defender 90 XS TD5 (03 Reg)
Post #944059 27th Feb 2022 10:57pm
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The Zee



Member Since: 26 May 2019
Location: Salisbury
Posts: 288
United Kingdom 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
Post #944120 28th Feb 2022 4:11pm
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