Hi all,

Sorry, I'm sure this question has been asked a million times, but I can't find a definitive answer.

I have a 2001 Ford Focus hatchback. Much to my surprise, it passed the MOT today with only a few advisories, so I'm looking to spend a few quid fixing those.

I'm hoping to get another few years out of it (still <100k miles!), so I thought this would be a good time to also upgrade the stock 6000CD unit to a DAB unit, but I have no idea where to start.

Can anyone offer any advice and/or kits/products to choose from?

It's a Ghia model with a nice grey/black fascia, so i don't really want to replace the entire fascia. I've seen this - https://ebay.us/m/75sDDq - which looks like it may work, but I have absolutely no idea what unit (if any!) would suit this kit.

I'm open to all suggestions. I want DAB. I'm not too bothered about touch screen, hands free and all that jazz (that's a bonus) - i just want a broader range of radio channels above all else. I have no clue if I need a "DAB adapter" or anything like that - I'm clueless.

Thanks in advance!

That is just a double din sized head unit.

Try one of these (there will be others available)

https://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/apple-carplay/?prefn1=singledoubledin&prefv1=Double&prefn2=type&prefv2=DAB Car Stereos

You will need a DAB receiver add on probably

9 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

That is just a double din sized head unit.

Try one of these (there will be others available)

https://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/apple-carplay/?prefn1=singledoubledin&prefv1=Double&prefn2=type&prefv2=DAB Car Stereos

You will need a DAB receiver add on probably

Thanks Dave.

I was under the impression that is not a standard double din size and would require a new fascia or "padding" of some description?

Would i also need a DAB arial or conveter?

Thanks.

1 hour ago, ChrisFocus1982 said:

I was under the impression that is not a standard double din size

That is a regular double din radio  👍. Straight swap with any double din radio.

4 hours ago, ChrisFocus1982 said:

Thanks Dave.

I was under the impression that is not a standard double din size and would require a new fascia or "padding" of some description?

Would i also need a DAB arial or conveter?

Thanks.

For aftermarket DAB this can be done with a stick-on DAB windscreen antenna similar to this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/316115522173?

1 hour ago, troy45 said:

can be done with a stick-on DAB windscreen antenna

They only work in the USA, for the UK you need to use an Aerial 😉

13 hours ago, unofix said:

They only work in the USA, for the UK you need to use an Aerial 😉

A new aerial, is can I connect to the existing one?

You need two aerials, one for the AM/FM radio stations and one for DAB stations

Pretty sure with my aftermarket head unit it needed a USB adaptor plugging in for DAB which you then connected the aerial to.

Depends if the unit you get has built-in DAB or you add it as an app plus USB dongle etc

3 hours ago, troy45 said:

Pretty sure with my aftermarket head unit it needed a USB adaptor plugging in for DAB which you then connected the aerial to.

Depends if the unit you get has built-in DAB or you add it as an app plus USB dongle etc

Im potentially looking at something like this https://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/dab-car-stereos/pioneer-dmh-a340dab-car-stereo-479806.html

But suggestions are welcome.

Pay a little more and get one wit carplay/android auto

On 10/6/2025 at 7:45 PM, ChrisFocus1982 said:

Hi all,

 

I'm open to all suggestions. I want DAB. I'm not too bothered about touch screen, hands free and all that jazz (that's a bonus) - i just want a broader range of radio channels above all else. I have no clue if I need a "DAB adapter" or anything like that - I'm clueless.

Thanks in advance!

 

the world of DAB changed forever in 2016....  with the introduction of a new far better, non backwards compatible DAB+ tuner 

Jan/Feb 2016 saw Germany turn off ALL signals of the old junk DAB format - whereas the UK started the tuner logic confusing Dual Broadcasting of BOTH DAB and DAB+

Many headunits that were believed ready for the change fell over and died in the UK where there was very high channel reception - most could see and cope with 99 channels but in London all of a sudden over night 120 to 140 channels came online and crashed all Merc DAB/DAB+ tuners in 2012 to 2016 model year cars Peugeot, VAG, and Ford to various extents all had issues (with some Focus still struggling when BBC started broadcasting DAB+ channel logos in 2018 and no patch from Ford till 2024) 

The bad news is early DAB only tuners now only pick up a few of the junk broadcasts still bothering with the old tech - and signal strength that was never enough, has been halved again - so DAB of any Ford pre 2011 headunit is almost unserviceable.

Don't bother - you'll only use the FM you already have...   check your region and see all the DAB+ logos in the corner you wont get 

https://getdigitalradio.com/post-code-checker/