yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Head-Units] NogenLunde:
Yes, this is an old, very basic DAB app that we all know, I believe, Android Head Units came preinstalled with it, now replaced by DAB-Z by some suppliers. I uninstalled it years ago, so can no longer compare. By me the latest DAB-Z starts in 3-4 seconds, that is 4 times as long as some older versions (when cached, newer versions seems to not to be cached, A10). You could try older versions and see if that makes a difference in your unit. I would recommend version 1.7.75 which you can download here: https://apkpure.com/dab-z-player-for-usb-tuners/com.zoulou.dab/versions
[Android Head-Units] vulbas2:
hello.

I use dab-z in france. it works very well but I miss a lot of station logo. can they be installed for each station? are there logo packs for france?
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
@vulbas2 There is a manual logo import possible in DAB-Z Settings->Station Logos ->Logo Import

But there are no ready made French logo packs from myself
[Android Head-Units] B3rt:
Maybe it is me, but on the first topic is see the last version is 9 sept 2017 (not today), also there is no actual download link, just a version overview.
[Android Head-Units] rigattoni:
The version from sept 9th is the latest greatest one. Where did you read something about a new version from today... yesterday?

AFAIK the so called "master piece" is not yet ready.

in the first posting you find a link to the posting 303 : https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=73732796&postcount=303 where you can find the download.
[Android Head-Units] BlueVan:
I use the antenna both for FM and DAB. For DAB it picks up stations in a much wider area than the window antenna (which was useless outside of cities or densely populated areas here in the United Kingdom). It is pretty good on motorways, in towns, and in flat countryside. So I think it was worth the money. But overall my system is not as good as original fitment DAB in other cars I have tried: Audi, Toyota & Ford. For example it picks up no stations I the hilly region where I live whereas original equipment DAB radios work just fine.

In my opinion these DAB+ USB dongles are not top quality products. They do not seem to achieve the RF gain that the manufacturers claim and pick up no signal in many places where original fitment works fine. I believe the original equipment DAB radios have built-in diversity circuitry which takes input from two antennas and constructs a better signal. Built-in diversity circuitry is better than the cheap external diversity combiners you see on eBay (I've tried several, none of them were effective). Internal circuitry knows exactly what frequency the RF amplifier is tuned to. The Kinetic amplified aerial (and others like it) improve things a lot but cannot turn the DAB dongle into a brilliant radio.

I think where you live and drive makes a lot of difference. I think the people who report great success with their DAB dongles probably live in places where the DAB signal is strong, or near cities, or close to transmitters, or in a country with a really good network of DAB transmitters (Netherlands and Germany are way ahead of the UK). I would love to hear from anybody who lives in a hilly, rural part of the United Kingdom and gets a great DAB experience from one of these dongles.

For FM my single Kinetic antenna performs about the same as the vehicle's 2 built-in antennas connected to the HU via a €10 external diversity unit (which does work, unlike the DAB ones). Again, not as good as original equipment. The PX5 internal radio, in my opinion, is not as good (does not have the same RF sensitivity) as most original fitment FM radios.

Apologies for the long reply, but I'm sure there are many frustrated people out there like me who want a good DAB solution.
[Android Head-Units] BeerBringer:
Thank you Zoulou for your great work, this has been a little revolution compared to the original app.

Im now using it with my Eonon 6162F with a dab+ adapter, it all works faster and better.

But there is one function i`m missing, i dont know if its possible either, as the original app dont have it, the TA (Traffic announcement) function.

Is this even possible possible ?
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
Traffic Announcement TA seems to be theoretically defined in the DAB standard.

However, no idea if any DAB station actually broadcasts this info. And this app has for sure no support for it, and I have no clue how to add such feature to it.
[Android Head-Units] heme3:
I am running latest version of the app (090917), on a Erisin ES5026, Android 6.1. The other day I got TA while using the DAB app in Norway. Do not know if the TA was picked up and broadcasted by the FM part of the HU.

Will keep monitoring this and report back.

Again thanks for a great app!
[Android Head-Units] syk02jcb@hotmail.com:
Hi. What radio station did you listen to? Some stations in Norway broadcasts TA in their normal broadcast. (https://radio.no/2017/03/trafikkvarsler-pa-dab-nar-mange/)
[Android Head-Units] B3rt:
Thx, installed it but the problem is not gone.

When i first start the app it keeps displaying: connecting, when i close the app and start it again it works.

The original app or the app with comes with malaysk rom (PX5 mtcd) does not have this problem at all, this app connects directly when it first is opened.
[Android Head-Units] syk02jcb@hotmail.com:
Use the other version, this doesn't stick on connecting screen in my case
[Android Head-Units] B3rt:
Which other version, i tried several but they all have the same issue, can you give me an exact version what should solve this?

----

I do also have an other question/problem with DAB reception.

When i do a scan i find only a few channels, not much, but the problem is that only channels which have 11C listed seem to be working.

Channels which have 12C do not work at all, when i select one of them nothing happens, reception is 0 and the 11C reception is 100%.

When i use an other app (original) i have the same problem, but here i cannot see if it is 11 or 12C.

(in my girlfriends car with also a android dab+ and android HU it works fine, she has more channels and the the channels actually work)

I am using the original roof DAB antenna from BMW/MINI, the lead goes directly from the antenna to the dab+ android unit, NO amplifier etc between it, I swapped by FM only roof antenna for a version with gps/gsm/dab and fm version (of an luxurious MINI version), FM, DAB and GPS are connected now. FM was plug and play and is working fine (perfect reception), for GPS and DAB i had to mount 2 new wires from the roof to the car and dab unit. GPS is also working fine BTW, the GSM connector is not connected at the roof antenna.

I cannot use any internal antenna, by front window has electric heating, so almost no reception :( all my rear windows have dark coating on it, so sticking/glue-ing the antenna on these windows is not a good idea, it could break/damage the windows coating.

I also cannot find any other replacement antenna for on the roof which fits, which works with original MINI FM amplifier, has DAB+ and GPS reception as well

An other issue is that the MINI has a almost straight antenna, most aftermarket antenna's have an angle which results when opening the rear boot the antenna hits the rear windows.....

So how can get my DAB fully to work, any one an idea?
[Android Head-Units] syk02jcb@hotmail.com:
In the newest release (9/9) there is two versions, I had the connection issue with one of them (not sure which one). The other fixed it.

I'm not sure about your problems about the region blocks you are talking about, but in Norway there is 7 regions, using blocks in 12 and 13 interval. 11 and 12 I guess is regions, and the one you don't get signal from has its center more far away from you.

So I will guess the reason you don't get one of them is low signal due to antenna. In my case the external original antenna (dab/fm) is not useable to dab adapter (worked ok on my old original radio with dab, no dab+). I have mounted an aftermarket window antenna in back side window. You may fix it with tape pieces instead of the 3m sticker that is on the antenna, this may save your window foil?

Just some thoughts
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
I did some research about the high pitch sound issue in the DAB+ App.

Recently I was driving in an rural area with not so good DAB signal quality. I listened to "BAYERN 3", which transmits in AAC @ 96 kBits/s.

I had some distortions and so I recorded them with the Audio recording feature in the App.

When opening the recording in Audacity, the distortions get easily visible. Those little "bars" in the screenshot show the distortions.

Interesting to see that not always both left and right channel are affected.

Now that I know how this looks like, I will try to implement an audio filter, which removes the distortions and puts silence in there.

No promise yet that I will be able to do so, but at least I'll try...
[Android Head-Units] pwood999:
I'm in UK based in Langley near Heathrow. Bought the usual cheap eBay DAB+ module, and initially tried the window glass antenna supplied with the dongle. Reception was awful all the time.

So then I did some research, and rather than drill a hole for a decent ext antenna, I made my own using a length of RG59 Coax. This is placed vertically in my rear window, and connected to the DAB+ receiver using a cheap F-conn to SMB adapter.

DIY Antenna

Now I get 4-5 bars signal (ZouLou app) most of the time. Audio glitches only occur once or twice an hour. On a return journey to Bournemouth (M4 & M3), I only had dropouts near Winchester Services and near Ringwood, which are both also bad FM areas for me.
[Android Head-Units] hans.vinkers:
Could you share the picture please? I have read the post in the link but cannot view the full size picture without registering.

Thanks

Verstuurd vanaf mijn Z2 Pro met Tapatalk
[Android Head-Units] BlueVan:
Thanks for the information.

I also made my own antenna from RG59 coax. It was a bit better than the glass mounted antenna in cities and in the southern flatlands but further north it still dropped out too often for me to tolerate, and was useless in the rural area where I live. The amplified Kinetic DRA6001 was an improvement but even that does not work near my home.

I would love to find a straightforward way to get these DAB dongles to perform as well as original fitment DAB I've tried in Audi, Ford and Toyota vehicles. But I suspect that since they lack built in diversity circuitry they are fundamentally flawed .
[Android Head-Units] Helgeo:
What a clever way to document the problem :) Would be great if this issue could be fixed, now I almost jump in my seat when loosing reception driving through a short tunnel or some other area with bad signal while listening to any of the high bandwidth channels.

About antennas, I have great success with the Funke ADSC700 active window antenna.

http://www.funke.nl/64_1106_ADSC700.aspx

A nice thing about this antenna is that it can be powered with as low as 5 volts so it is possible to take the power from a USB connector on the Android unit itself. Perhaps someone could come up with a mod for our USB dongles so they can supply phantom power by themselves?
[Android Head-Units] hans.vinkers:
My USB gives 4.77 volt at the worst moment (when the ac compressor starts I suppose)

Verstuurd vanaf mijn Z2 Pro met Tapatalk
[Android Head-Units] Helgeo:
That should not be a problem, the spec actually says "Input voltage5 - 28 +/- 0,5 VDC" so it should be good from 4.5 volts.

I'm actually using a power inserter for digital TV that came with a USB adapter to power mine. The idea was to use it for a test only before installing a proper 12V power inserter. However the USB solution works so well that I have not made a permanent 12V installation yet.
[Android Head-Units] syk02jcb@hotmail.com:
My adapter gives 4.7 as well, works ok on my acds700. Tried with a phantom adapter as well so the antenna gets 12v, this just makes the signal worse...
[Android Head-Units] ffthe01:
Hey, brother. You are the best. Thanks for fixing the app. I'm going to install it tomorrow on my Eonon box. Just wanted to ask you do I need to install both Apk files in that zip file? also, I see the current temperature on the status bar on some of your screenshots can you tell me how to get that? thanks
[Android Head-Units] Nordlendingen:
After i updated rhe app it does not start, shows a error message hardware failure
[Android Head-Units] rigattoni:
Well... would be good to get the log file and of course the error message as picture.
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
@Nordlendingen I know what error message you mean: It is a "Toast" stating "DAB hardware error" and DAB-Z closes itself.

This error comes when DAB-Z found the USB DAB device, but then was not able to communicate with it.

I assume this was an intermittent error only and a restart of the head unit fixed it meanwhile.

Am I right?
[Android Head-Units] Nordlendingen:
No, this error message can show up after 5-15 minutes after the dab z app has started and worked or just after startup, does not help with restart, other dab radio apps works without error
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
Then try a USB hub in between Head Unit and DAB Adapter. You can use the cheapest 2.0 HUB that you can find.

I cannot guarantee it will work, it is just a try.

If it then works better, I would not be able to explain why. It is a "lesson learned" from 4 years of supporting these USB DAB adapters...
[Android Head-Units] surfer63:
Also: Try to tighthen the uSB connection. I had a "wobly" connection on my previous sc9853i sometimes resulting in the same issue (bump in the road?). I pushed both USB-connections hard towards each other using a tie-wrap diagonally. Issue solved! (my issue solved)
[Android Head-Units] voxmagna:
One thing bugging me using DAB-Z (V 0.04) in my Android head unit is Station Logos. Although my Chinese head unit can connect to internet over mobile data I don't do it. Consequently I want to import station logos and have DAB-Z use them. I travel about a bit can't keep setting up an internet connection to update the local list. So I found the UK zip file with all I need, although the pngs are scaled smaller than if I download online (?)

What bugs me is where DAB-Z looks for the imported Station logos. On my setup screen it tells me they are in /storage/emulated/0/documents/DAB/logos. On my head unit this folder isn't accessible with the default Android file browser. Fortunately my head unit is rooted and I can access the folder with a root file manager. So when DAB-Z is first installed this folder is empty and I've proven that if using a root file manager to copy the pngs to it, apart from a screen scaling issue (small size) they are picked up when each DAB station is tuned.

If it's not a stupid question for realzoulou, why can't the default file location for Station logos (or favorites) used by DAB-Z be user selectable so I can have them on a folder on my external SD card? Even on the local storage /documents/ folder they would be easier to manage rather than down in root. If I have to re-install or update DAB-Z the storage location wouldn't be erased whereas the default location for Station logos always is.

The export and re-import of favorites has worked well after a clean re-install. I would just like Station logos to work the same way if possible?

I hadn't been using DAB-Z for a while and yesterday it went into a loop screen asking me to re-confirm storage permissions (which were already set and showing as enabling external storage.). I couldn't get out of the permissions request screen and had to do a clean re-install. I hope DAB-Z isn't expecting an 'always on' internet connection to continually ask for folder access permission, because my car head unit isn't internet on enabled. Too much data leakage to Chinese servers!
[Android Head-Units] voxmagna:
Hi, Does that work for Android? I went to a lot of trouble to buy a rare 3 X USB head unit. I thought most USB hubs were sold with an embedded firmware driver only recognised by Windoze or MAC? Have you found a USB expansion hub that works with Android and are the APIs built into default Android to recognise them? Thanks
[Android Head-Units] rigattoni:
I have 3 or 4 different USB hubs with 4 or 6 USB connectors. The big one has a separate 5V power supply wich is connected to a 12V step down regulator and provides 2Amp.

All hubs I bought are recognized correctly.... You just need to try some.
[Android Head-Units] TJF2:
Car-Radio (Android 11, horizontal format) - latest DAB-Z version: I have a problem with marking favorites: When the popup comes up, with star and trash, I can tap on the star how and where I want, it doesn't get saved under favorites. It was only possible for me with a station from Munich (BR-Klassik).

Any idea?
[Android Head-Units] TJF2:
It has been resolved. Works fine today. Don't know why...
[Android Head-Units] Il_Simo:
It's possible to have peronalized themes like original head unit?
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
You can select a background image in DAB-Z Settings->Layout
[Android Head-Units] townlema:
Slightly embarrassed to ask this but if I long press on the station logo by mistake and set it to the current playing image, how do I reset it to the default again?
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
Sorry to say, but you will need to use a file manager to delete the file from DAB/Documents/logos/user/ folder.
[Android Head-Units] Clandaries:
Hi @realzoulou

Could it happen, that your app will not work on some devices?

I have used it on my Dasaita with no problems.

On my Xiaomi smartphone it workes nicely.

But on my Hizpo S8 (Roco K706) i have massive reception problems.

Antenna is fine. Tried with my smartphone.

Any suggestions?

Thank you and regards
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
@Clandaries Yes, not every device is the same. Try a USB hub in between DAB USB adapter and Hizpo HU. Has helped for some users.
[Android Head-Units] Kullerkeks77:
Hello everyone

First of all a very good app.

Have had them for a good 3 years. Only on my radio with Android 8.1 did everything run smoothly. But since I got a new radio with Android 10, the app doesn't always connect by itself. It works about 2 times out of 10 attempts.

I've tried older versions and have the same problem.

Automatic start is also activated in the app. In addition, I have already tested both USB connections and set usb 1.1 and 2.0, the problem also exists there.

Do you have any idea what it could be.
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
@Kullerkeks77 I suffer from the same issue myself on my PX6 Android 10 Hal9k 5.2.0 device in my vehicle.

I analyzed several logs of such occurances and all showed the same (misbehavior):

At start (actually resume from suspend) Android enumerates the USB devices, finds the USB DAB adapter and also finds that it should start DAB-Z.

This happens at a time where Android itself is not booted fully. So it "buffers" the Intent to start DAB-Z for later processing.

And then Android somewhat "forgets" this Intent and does not start DAB-Z finally.

All of this is outside of what DAB-Z can influence and thus there can be no fix in the app itself.
[Android Head-Units] Kullerkeks77:
Thanks for the fast respond. So it is due to Android 10 since it worked perfectly on 8. The funny thing is that the music player (Neutron Player) starts automatically when it was last activated.

Kind regards
[Android Head-Units] Kullerkeks77:
realzoulou​

Good morning

I installed APKPure version 1.5.60 today and restarted the radio 5 times. What can I say, it works. The app starts automatically and much faster too.

I'm going to try it up version by version now. It will take a while but I'll get in touch.

Kind regards
[Android Head-Units] TorstenH:
Would be interested in the most reliable version, too. On my head unit DAB-Z sometimes stuck on splash screen whereby it's enough to temporarily switch to another activity to continue loading.
[Android Head-Units] NogenLunde:
That is interesting. I have two versions installed at the same time, the latest and 1.7.75 for debugging purposes. I see the same, auto starting is working only on the older version. There were some unknown changes on later versions that causes a small audio distortion on station switch, maybe there is a connection, like upgraded dev resources. Could you test 1.7.75 and 1.7.77 to verify that the former is workning for you, but not the latter?
[Android Head-Units] Kullerkeks77:
Hello I've now arrived at version 1.8.87 and it's still running quite well. Although it did not start twice, but from this version the reception is better than with those before. I would be interested to know which adapter you use, attached I'll show you mine.
[Android Head-Units] NogenLunde:
I have a similar DAB adapter, like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004936907826.html
[Android Head-Units] surfer63:
I searched this thread but searching though 191 pages is not easy, so maybe I ask a question which already has been asked and answered.

This morning and afternoon I travelled from North to South and back in the Netherlands.

That means I heavily need Service Following, but that did not work at all.

The stations I listen to all support SF. (Edit: After further posts I do not know for sure anymore)

In the settings it says "Press the SF icon to manually start the Service Following".

Which SF icon? I can't find any.

And I rebooted the unit, disconnected/reconnected the USB-connection.
[Android Head-Units] realzoulou:
@surfer63 See post #3,290. SF was introduced with 1.9.108 (BETA)
[Android Head-Units] surfer63:
Hi, yes, I know (well, not the exact version.) I have 1.9.127.

Edit: I am now confused :)

I went back into the car and now in the dark I see a faint light-grey transparent SF icon completely in the top-right. So not green and if I tap it it mentions that "Service Following is currently not possible". And it stays grey (gray if you prefer American English) for any station I choose.

Do I now understand that full coverage always on the same channel (12C public, 11C commercial in Netherlands with > 95% coeverage in NL) has nothing to do with Service Following? Does the station somehow has to transmit Service Following information, next to SPI and slideshows? (both supported in NL for all public stations. SPI for all commecrial stations)

Or is the fact that it is always in the same channel in entire Netherlands "guarantee" service following?

The Netherlands is one of the countries that pushed DAB the hardest and last years statistics show that 60% of DAB listening in the Netherlands is inside the car. Without Service Following? I never expected that. I have driven rental cars with "real" DAB radios that keep the station throughout the Netherlands. That's why I simply and automatically assumed Service Following is working in NL and why I purchased the DAB module.

Is there something I can check whether stations have service following or not?

I have now googled for more than half an hour only on service following related to the Netherlands, but can't find anything.
[Android Head-Units] TorstenH:
Two DABplus multiplexes are broadcast in Germany. Stations on this multiplexes can be received nationwide. I may be similar in the Netherlands. Due to the availability of the station in the whole country on the same frequence SF is not required.

Service Following just means the automatic switch to a frequence with better signal strengt. But this only works if a station is not only available on one frequency (SF grayed out).

Most stations are regional stations and because the DAB signal has only limited coverage, listening on longer trips makes no fun.

Some stations are listed in DAB-Z several times. Maybe the implementation of a "synthetic SF" would be a great idea.
[Android Head-Units] NogenLunde:
Some OEM units are able to switch between DAB+ and FM on the fly when the coverage is bad.

Not all USB DAB modules supports Service Following, by the way, have you verified yours?