Aftermarket DAB Aerial

[Chrismawa]

I've installed a new Kenwood Double DIN with DAB and also fitted a Kenwood DAB aerial to the passenger side of the front windscreen. The DAB works but the signal strength is poor and the signal keeps coming and going. Anyone got experience with DAB aerials? Do I need a better aerial? Better location? Although it is fitted in the recommended position.

Headunit: https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/kenwood-dmx7017dab...

Aerial: https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/genuine-kenwood-in...

[Doofus]

I have just installed a single din Kenwood head unit and the DAB-A1 aerial in your link.

I'm sorry to say, my reception is excellent. We are in a good reception area though; not sure if you are.

Did you install it 15cm from the top and 7cm from the side of the screen? Is it properly earthed? Are you getting any interference from other wiring behind the dash?

[Chrismawa]

Thanks for the reply. I used to have a 2012 Focus with factory fit DAB and the signal on that was always perfect, so im presuming my area is good for DAB.

It is in the top corner of the screen, ill have to check the measurements. Yeah I have the earth strap going underneath the A pillar trim to the metal of the car.

Interferance could be an issue, as when on an audio source or on a bluetooth phonecall I can sometimes hear like a "wave" of static through the speakers. Although Im not sure how I could check for interferance. There is the factory bluetooth signal still operating which I am going to tuen off with VCDS. There is a GPS antenna in the lower part of the same A pillar. Can't think of anything else that maybe a cause.

[smn159]

Do it properly, buy a step drill and then fit one of these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LFHUWLY/ref...

I put one on the roof of my E46 recently and DAB reception is rock solid.

The stick on ones are never going to be as good as a proper roof mount one.

[Doofus]

smn159 said:

The stick on ones are never going to be as good as a proper roof mount one.

Well that's a given, but I have to say I've had no issues with my stick on one. I'm a lot more impressed than I expected to be.

[Doofus]

Chrismawa said:

Interferance could be an issue, as when on an audio source or on a bluetooth phonecall I can sometimes hear like a "wave" of static through the speakers. Although Im not sure how I could check for interferance. There is the factory bluetooth signal still operating which I am going to tuen off with VCDS. There is a GPS antenna in the lower part of the same A pillar. Can't think of anything else that maybe a cause.

I don't know how you'd check for intereference either Noise in the signal is what I'd expect. What have you done with the antenna cable behind the dash? Mine is zip tied here and there, to hold it in place, but I've not run it next to any other wiring.

[Tyre Smoke]

smn159 said:

Do it properly, buy a step drill and then fit one of these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LFHUWLY/ref...

I put one on the roof of my E46 recently and DAB reception is rock solid.

The stick on ones are never going to be as good as a proper roof mount one.

I fitted a glass mount aerial to the rear side window of my Range Rover. The type that has the aerial stuck to the outside and a 'pick up' box on the inside. Works far better than the stick on glass 'bit of wire'. Perhaps not as good as a drilled one, but I didn't want to drill holes.

Like this, but a lot cheaper...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JVC-HAL4-Car-Stereo-Rad...

[Chrismawa]

Id rather not stick an external aerial tbh as my car has no factory aerial and i prefer the look without one.

Cable is ran along the back of the passenger footwell and up the side pillar. It runs with the GPS antenna cable as well. Maybe I should try and move this and see if theres any change.

[Tyre Smoke]

Probably not. the stick on aerials are notoriously rubbish.

Unless you go with a mast, you're unlikely to improve things much.

With my Cerbera, I stuck the glass mounted mast at the top centre of the rear screen. Looked okay.

The position of the aerial can make a huge difference to both the look of the car, but also the reception.

[Chrismawa]

Just been reading up and apparently dash cams can cause interferance with DAB. I think my first steps are to diconnect the cam and move the GPS to eliminate them from the problem. If it still doesnt work then I'm guessing its the poor aerial. Do boosted internal aerials for DAB not exist?

[Chrismawa]

Anyone any experience with using one of these which will actually use the cars original FM aerial for DAB:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amplifier-Splitter-Antenn...
.
Or even better, an AutoLeads version:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Car-Stereos/Autoleads-P...

EDIT: Just noticed these are no good for amplified OEM FM aerials. Back to the drawing board!

Edited by Chrismawa on Thursday 27th June 13:15

[Graham-P]

Not wanting to hijack your post but I’m thinking of replacing my radio with a dab unit but I have a couple of extra problems one being a glassfibre car and also a convertible. I was wondering about the efficiency of the screen antenna or if I could use the magnetic antenna inside the car on the side of the roll bar which would mean the antenna on its side. Any thoughts.

[Doofus]

Graham-P said:

Not wanting to hijack your post but I’m thinking of replacing my radio with a dab unit but I have a couple of extra problems one being a glassfibre car and also a convertible. I was wondering about the efficiency of the screen antenna or if I could use the magnetic antenna inside the car on the side of the roll bar which would mean the antenna on its side. Any thoughts.

As long as you can earth the aerial (usually to the windscreen frame), you' should be fine. The caveat is that all the experts above say the stick on aerials are st. Mine is excellent, but presumably I'm mistaken.

[Graham-P]

Thanks for that, I would have to find an earth on the chassis as screen frame is glassfibre. I’m looking at an Alpine unit so I guess best to go with one of theirs.

[K4TRV]

Over a number of years/cars I've used these guys, if it doesn't do what it says they will refund and prices are competitive along with specs and installation information - I'm not connected with them either: https://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/product-category/dab...

[whatmoretyres]

I have an eBay cheapo dab radio and I really couldn’t be bothered to stick the ugly aerial on the window so it resides by inside the knee panel just below where the radio is located - no issues, good reception.

Sounds like your thoughts about interference might be worth looking at

[sgtBerbatov]

Doofus said:

Graham-P said:

Not wanting to hijack your post but I’m thinking of replacing my radio with a dab unit but I have a couple of extra problems one being a glassfibre car and also a convertible. I was wondering about the efficiency of the screen antenna or if I could use the magnetic antenna inside the car on the side of the roll bar which would mean the antenna on its side. Any thoughts.

As long as you can earth the aerial (usually to the windscreen frame), you' should be fine. The caveat is that all the experts above say the stick on aerials are st. Mine is excellent, but presumably I'm mistaken.

I'll be honest, I came on here because I installed a Pioneer Single DIN DAB in to my car with the stick on aerial on the front window and it's shocking. I live in Stourbridge, I commute in to Birmingham, but if I go through Selly Oak the unit will not pick anything up. I get none of the BBC channels anywhere. I didn't know, though, that you can get an aerial splitter. The car has a good long aerial, and the old radio had great FM/MW/LW reception so I'm going to give a gamble on that.

So yeah, if I had known you could buy a splitter to use the old aerial I wouldn't have bothered with the stick on one.

[sgtBerbatov]

If anyone else is struggling, I bought this friday night and installed it on Saturday:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B077GMM5G9/ref...

This is far and away a great improvement over the stick on window aerial that I was using before. I get more channels now and the signal doesn't drop like it used to. I didn't get the amplified version, just the bog standard £7.99 one.

[Chrismawa]

I ended up buying a car with DAB fitted from factory

[p4cks]

Ha, well that's certainly one solution!