Andy!!!
Long time no-speak... How are you?
It's nice to see someone else on the forum with the same HU - and one of the better-informed in the audio realm too /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
How are you finding the DAB54? I've had mine in for about 18 months and it's been quite enjoyable throughout. I've found the recording function to be a bit hit and miss depending on the brand of card and how it's been formatted; but besides that it's all good. The (variable) 20 second cache for recording has proved a really clever addition too (This and the improved 4096 colour back-light are the main improvements in spec. over the original DAB53).
I was quite impressed with the built-in EQ - I wasn't expecting to have control of badwidth for each point on the spectrum. Have you tried the optional calibration microphone yet? ... I was expecting that one to be more of a party trick for pub car-parks; but it seems to work quite well. I went a little bit soft in the head and strapped it between the two headrests in the front, and got out of the car to perform the calibration - It did give pretty good results though, needing only a little bit of tweaking to come-up with a basic EQ setting I thought suited the car's acoustics quite well.
On the MMC vs. SD card thing - The two are independant formats; but rather similar (in much the same way as +R and -R DVD) - as stated; the DAB54 is happy to read and write to both; but of course SD is preferable because they're quicker (and much more widely available now too) - as far as size is concerned; I've run a few different brands of 512MB card without any problems; but the unit seems to be a little more picky when it comes to 1GB. I have a couple of Dane-Elec 1GB SD cards that it doesn't like - it reports formatting and recording OK; but when you go to play back it's a little confused.
Blaupunkt's UK Tech-guy has had me test a couple of cards we've had in stock at work on them; but I've only tested a couple so far so it'd be unfair to say that 1GB cards are incompatible - My assumption that if they were asking me to test some, there can't be a firmware limitation on size was confirmed and I was told it's just down to compatibility of the silicone.
...I must confess though; having decided I'll keep my A3 for a while longer than originally planned, I'm considering installing a 7" motorised TFT to go with a car-pc to replace the DAB54; but there are complications and expense that (atm) are _just_ keeping me from it. Whatever PC I build it'll need to have a DVB/DAB tuner capable of working on the move; once you've had the DAB54 experience there's no going back!
Anyway, if you have any queries regarding your HU and other Blaupunkt bits related to it; give me a shout, if I can't help, I'm in touch with enough bods at Blaupunkt who can...
Take care,
Rob.
