DAB Radio

[Dave321]

8 hours ago, Mark A6 said:

My cars got a CD, SD and DAB combined so that fits.  🙄

Yes mine has too. This change over from DAB to DAB+ fits with everyone’s experience of losing the channels at the end of March. 

[Richard E]

Just joined. Exactly the same issue here, DAB SDL stopped working about three weeks ago. Reception had been sporadic since 2023. It seems the radio fitted (Bose system) isn't DAB+ compatible. Mentioned it at my last service and was told no faults recorded. Like others here I'm on software version RMC_EU_P16342.

DAB+ stand alone adapter under consideration ...

 

[Smithers01]

I wonder if a firmware update can be applied to allow for the current adapter to support DAB+ with the mpeg4 codec, or is the only option is going to be replacing some kit?

Either way some clarity from Audi themselves would be appreciated. As currently it’s ‘radio silence’ no pun intended.
 

 

[IanNI]

Same for my 2016 A6. I live in Northern Ireland so had assumed it was a geographical issue as I can still get local stations and all the BBC National stations but no Talksport/Radio X etc.

[hoss a1]

Just a bit puzzled. Are there different versions of DAB+. I used to have Gold UK and I think that's been on+ for quite some time. Nick 

[DavidNew]

30 minutes ago, hoss a1 said:

Just a bit puzzled. Are there different versions of DAB+. I used to have Gold UK and I think that's been on+ for quite some time. Nick 

Gold is played on a local DAB frequency - its the national stations which can’t be accessed

[TonyF25]

Just joined this group as I have exactly the same problem with the DAB radio on my wife’s 2018 A1. All the national DAB stations, with the exception of the BBC versions, aren’t available. I have been pulling my hair out trying to sort the issue out and it appears it isn’t just me! 
Let’s hope Audi UK can help. 🤞

[luapressam]

My SDL National frequencies DAB were lost for a while (I listen to Virgin), then came back, then gone again for about two weeks now. I'm following up with Arqiva to see what's going on... all my other DAB frequencies are OK.

[Mark A6]

I've now got a case reference from Audi UK.  Spoke to a very helpful guy there and he's since emailed to say their tech team will need to take a look, so I'll share screen shots and updates with them when on laptop later.  I'll update here as I hear something to report back. 

[hoss a1]

Was tuned into gold on D1 Nat, now no signal. It's+ on that station so was receiving + stations. Just mentioned as doesn't seem like just a dab+ issue. Hope Mark can enlighten us all.

[DavidLincs]

Just joined having seen a  link earlier and reading the messages . 
Exact same issue 2018 Q3 , drove to work 25 March parked up a week and when on return drive ( 1st April) not getting any of my favourites on D1 National or SDL National DAB . Still getting the BBC and some local ( ish ) stations on DAB . Very frustrating 🤬

[sandra02_]

Oh wow, I'm so glad I found this forum! I've been dealing with the same issue—my DAB stopped working about a week ago on my 2018 Audi A1, and it's been driving me mad trying to figure out what's wrong. I'm planning to call my local Audi dealership tomorrow to see if anyone else has reported it.

[Dave321]

19 minutes ago, sandra02_ said:

Oh wow, I'm so glad I found this forum! I've been dealing with the same issue—my DAB stopped working about a week ago on my 2018 Audi A1, and it's been driving me mad trying to figure out what's wrong. I'm planning to call my local Audi dealership tomorrow to see if anyone else has reported it.

Hi Sandra welcome to the chat please don’t pay for any diagnostic as it appears to be a transmission issue with national DAB stations moving over to DAB+ which 2014 - 2018 Audis don’t appear to be able to connect to 

The change happened at the end of March 

[Rish]

My Audi Q3 2018 has the same issue - tried everthing- can't get LBC and few other stations. Volume control faded out whe trying to up volume. Other stations are ok ! Has anyone else had any luck with a solution? any help greatly appreciated. Thanks - Audi Q3 2018.

[Danny1981]

My Q3 2016 stopped picking up SDL DAB stations on Saturday 30th March, glad I found this thread, very frustrating!

[dmck12]

im also experiencing same issue mines is an audi A1 sline year 2017, all fm channels seem to be working just fine but my dab channels randomly stopped working  about week and a half ago,  i booked in with my audi dealership for a diagnostics check which cost £150 plus vat and they have came back saying the dab antenna is on the back windscreen left pannel disguised as 2 small copper wires and as i have my window tinted this and general wear and tear over the years has caused this problem i would need to replace my back windsceen and was told  roughly it would cost between  700-800 pounds if i wanted them to deal with it, i explained to them my car came with the back windscreen tinted and iv had the car for well over a year now and never had this problem until lastweek not to mention loads of other audi owners are experiencing the same problem all round about the same time so dont think this is what caused  the issue but audi was certain in what they were saying, Then after  reading posts on different forums etc its clearly nothing to do with having the back windscreen tinted or even general wear and tear as it is a widespread problem with audi owners at the moment so doing some further research on my own i found out the problem lies with dab changing to dab+ so audi was clearly wrong and just  looking to gain £700-800 out of me ontop of the £150 +vat for a diagnostics check. Thankfully i refused for them to carry out replacing the back windscreen and saved myself being out of pocket as this would not have solves the problem regardless 

[Smithers01]

4 hours ago, dmck12 said:

im also experiencing same issue mines is an audi A1 sline year 2017, all fm channels seem to be working just fine but my dab channels randomly stopped working  about week and a half ago,  i booked in with my audi dealership for a diagnostics check which cost £150 plus vat and they have came back saying the dab antenna is on the back windscreen left pannel disguised as 2 small copper wires and as i have my window tinted this and general wear and tear over the years has caused this problem i would need to replace my back windsceen and was told  roughly it would cost between  700-800 pounds if i wanted them to deal with it, i explained to them my car came with the back windscreen tinted and iv had the car for well over a year now and never had this problem until lastweek not to mention loads of other audi owners are experiencing the same problem all round about the same time so dont think this is what caused  the issue but audi was certain in what they were saying, Then after  reading posts on different forums etc its clearly nothing to do with having the back windscreen tinted or even general wear and tear as it is a widespread problem with audi owners at the moment so doing some further research on my own i found out the problem lies with dab changing to dab+ so audi was clearly wrong and just  looking to gain £700-800 out of me ontop of the £150 +vat for a diagnostics check. Thankfully i refused for them to carry out replacing the back windscreen and saved myself being out of pocket as this would not have solves the problem regardless 

I’d be emailing up the chain to senior management asking for me £150 back. That checkup they have completely misdiagnosed. They’re meant to be professionals and at the moment the customers know more. It’s comical.

[Paul_UK74]

Hi All,

My 2015 A6 avant and my partner 2016 A1 avant have the same issue.

I have done a bit more research into this and have even updated the firmware on both cars to RMC_EU_P16342 from RMC_EU_14321 on the A6 and RMC_EU_P1432B on the A1.

Both units are also Hard Ware H61

My brother has a 2013 A6 avant and he has no issues at all, this does appear to be Audi vehicles that have the RMC MMI and I suspect it is going to be HW H61 specifically affected.

I haven't checked my brothers yet, but his RMC MMI is definitely an older HW version than H61.

I have been emailing a German company KUFATEC and they have responded back to me that their information held is that all RMC units have DAB+.

I suspect that this is going to be a codec software issue needed to enable our units to encode the MPEG-4 High Efficiency AAC v2 profile (HE-AAC v2) 

The A1 and A6 MMI manual both state that DAB+ is supported.

 

[Rish]

Thanks - this at explains what has happened. How do we get the update or codec ? Can we download? 

[Paul_UK74]

8 minutes ago, Rish said:

Thanks - this at explains what has happened. How do we get the update or codec ? Can we download? 

Unfortunately, there is no fix at present and there is no confirmation that there will be. 

It is also likely that we will also lose the remaining DAB station once they switch to DAB+. BBC are eventually going to switch to DAB+.

All we can do for now is manage with FM or BT to your phone and open a dab radio station app or Spotify etc

[DavidNew]

Audi must be aware - lots of replies on X

[DavidNew]

VW Audi will have to come up with a fix - these cars are not old, are expensive and it appears 1,000’s are affected. It looks like they’ve stopped replying to posts on X so must be inundated. 

[Paul_UK74]

I feel for those that have paid out for diagnostics. 

It would be interesting to learn how many have!

[Geoff64]

Hello peeps, We have all lost our favourite DAB channels since the end of March as they have all switched to the new DAB+. Audi currently have no solutions to this problem. The only solution at the moment is to play the required radio station app on your phone through your media player via Bluetooth. Maybe if enough of us complain directly to Audi UK they may search for a solution?

[Rish]

I think we should all sign a petition to get thier attention and sort out this problem!