Crappy radio reception

[W022A]

Radio reception on my S2 is dire and I know i'm not alone. What can you do? I've had the "offical Lotus Solution" fitted i.e. some tin foil and parcel tape stuck under the boot lid and i've shelled out 22 notes on the AutoStyle Solutions grounding plate, which similarly does nudda.

[bogie]

I have the grounding plate and an Alpine head unit - it is much better than the old Clarion ...but still nowhere near as good as the one in our Volvo (Dynaudio stereo) I think its just a case of a having a plastic car

Dunno if anyone has tried DAB yet in an Elise - that could be another option if you use the radio a lot

[alunr]

I've been considering the DAB option for a while but I need to find a friendly fitter who will a) let me inspect the kit first without buying and b) let me be there for install before some muppet puts a hole in the petrol tank...

[DanH]

Turn of autotrack of station drift. helps loads.

Main problem as I see it is that the aerial is positioned over the bloody spark plugs which produces all sorts of EMF. I looked on the net for alternative types of aerials but had no joy

[abz 7001]

If I remember rightly whilst my S2 was in having a pond removed from the boot (complete with goldfish)I complained about the radio reception. They had a look and under warranty fitted a compressor (and there was me thinking my baby was coming back turbofied)that boosted reception.

Honest opinion is its now gone from dire to poor. Radio one was strong anyway, heart coems through fine, Capital and Kiss were always the problem and I now get reception depending where in London I am (improvement on before as the head unit didnt even ec ognise stations broadcasting from these frequencies previously. This might work with all the other "bacofoil" solutions you listed??????

[MilesForrest]

I've got the Clarion and the tin foil kit which made no difference. I'm on the edge of the M25 (Brentwood) I can't get much more than Radio1,2,3. I've been looking into DAB but I can't find many units (I want a single unit with no extra wiring). It also seems that the aerial will need to be changed as well.

I had an early S1 which had the aluminum boot and the reception was great.

Miles

[bogie]

Miles - you can get a nice Blaubunkt unit with DAB/MP3 etc from www.caraudiodirect.com

you do need an additional DAB sharkfin style antenna fitting - could go in front of the other aerial..would recommend payin someone like Sinclaires to fit though as cable routing can be a nightmare from behind the head, through the centre console, through hole in ulkhead etc

cheers

bogie

[MilesForrest]

Hi Bogie,

Can't the existing wiring from the original aerial be used?

Cheers

[bogie]

Miles

dunno - possibly, then just change the aerial, would have to have a look at the type of cable...I will try and find out

[DanH]

I wouldn't drill the boot for a dab aerial until you test the location with the engine running. Like I said the plugs generate a lot of electical radiation that may well totally compromise a DAB aerial.

This is the problem with plastic cars.

[bogie]

Maybe you could stick the sharkfin on top of the roll hoop cover in the middle ?