Decent ariel. Surely there must be one.

[ChimpOnGas]

phazed said:

I don't want to use my phone, I close my eyes to that technology,I want to switch on the radio when I feel like it and listen to a choice of 3 or 4 stations, that makes me happy.

I envisaged an all singing and dancing "wonder ariel", even if it cost £200.00, surely that would be a good buy?

ChimpOnGas said:

I now use the expensive but effective JVC HAL-2 aerial, this has a DAB connection, a regular radio connection and a switched +12v feed to power it.

The JVC HAL-2 is actually designed as an eternal panel mounted aerial but with the addition of an earth strap it works just as well inside the Chimaera, however it needs to be fitted up the side of the screen pillar as its designed to be mounted in the vertical plane.

I get perfect DAB & FM analogue reception now but it all became irreverent when I started streaming 3G internet radio & the music on my phone to the Pure Highway H260DBi via Bluetooth.

My point is you don't need a fancy Bluetooth DAB head unit to enjoy the benefits of the JVC HAL-2 aerial.

Works just as well on an analogue FM radio...

It does need a switched live and make sure you earth it & mount it vertically up/against the A pillar.

http://www.jvccaraudioonline.co.uk/products/28/68/...

Buy here for £65....

http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/JVC_HAL-2__DAB_car_ae...

[brett84]

mount it in the middle of the boot, it will be something different

[phazed]

Pulled up the web site for Dave's suggestion and then got involved in changing the chain and sprockets on my sons SuperDuke R.

He is useless and what are dads for eh?

Maybe Monday.

[ChimpOnGas]

phazed said:

Pulled up the web site for Dave's suggestion and then got involved in changing the chain and sprockets on my sons SuperDuke R.

He is useless and what are dads for eh?

Maybe Monday.

I should have said...

With the JVC HAL-2 for the FM/AM side you'll also need a screw fitting to push in type adapter and a 1 meter aerial extender.

[rickprice]

ChimponGas,

Can I ask how you mounted this exactly?

I have bought one and will try and fit it this weekend.

How / Where did you fix it, and where did you get the power from, please? Presumably simply wired into the nearest negative wire - or did you earth it to the chassis (quite a long way away from the A pillar)?

Many thanks,

Rich

[phazed]

I'm listening.....

[rickprice]

So unless there's something I don't know, you cannot access the A pillars without removing the dashboard (including lower section). I am rather presuming you can, because I have not removed the lower section.

Anyone know how to access the A pillars?

Rich

[zed4]

Just as a related matter., I just changed my standard plugs to resistive plugs and it has completely sorted my radio reception issue. I now have perfectly clear radio reception on all local stations.

[ChimpOnGas]

rickprice said:

ChimponGas,

Can I ask how you mounted this exactly?

I have bought one and will try and fit it this weekend.

How / Where did you fix it, and where did you get the power from, please? Presumably simply wired into the nearest negative wire - or did you earth it to the chassis (quite a long way away from the A pillar)?

Many thanks,

Rich

• Crouch down

• Stick your head in the driver's footwell

• Insert aerial in the vicinity of the bonnet release pull

• Gently push up in the same inclination as the A (screen) pillar

• May require a few test insertions to get full penetration

• Take the ignition switched live feed from the boot release switch using a piggy back connector adding a 3 amp inline fuse for safety

Now for the earth, don't use the earth side of the boot release switch or you'll immediately blow the 10 amp fuse on the fuse board the first time you pop your boot (sixth fuse counting from the right to left - 1996 car).

I can't quite remember what I did with the earth without looking at it, but I think I ran a lead trapped under the aerial base nut to a communal earth point I'd installed previously under the dash (battery neg terminal just as good if not even better).

Remember the JVC HAL-2 is an external aerial designed to be screwed to the roof of a monocoque steel car, the entire steel shell of such cars are the earth path, on a fiberglass car like a Chimaera you'll need to wire in that earth yourself.

Using an ignition switched live means you'll only have aerial amplification with the ignition on, I chose to do it this way to avoid any possibility of a parasitic drain but it does mean your DAB head unit will struggle to find a signal until you turn the ignition key to the on position or you're driving the car.

If you want to listen to DAB for periods sat stationary in the car you may prefer a permanent live, in which case you may as well wire the aerial directly to the battery.

Just dont forget that 3 amp inline fuse on the live side

I have to say after all this I still prefer Bluetoothed internet radio & MP3 tunes, like home TV the internet is the way forward.

Once you start streaming all your audio visual media you'll never go back, TBH streaming meant DAB was already dead the day it was born.

The proliferation of internet connected smart phones and cheap all inclusive unlimited data deals almost guarantee DAB will not be around for longer than another five years, it'll go the way of DVDs for sure

The world is a changing place, get on board or miss the train

Edited by ChimpOnGas on Friday 5th June 21:49

[phazed]

I like my DVDs.................................."

[ChimpOnGas]

phazed said:

I like my DVDs.................................."

[S7Paul]

rickprice said:

So unless there's something I don't know, you cannot access the A pillars without removing the dashboard (including lower section). I am rather presuming you can, because I have not removed the lower section.

Anyone know how to access the A pillars?

Rich

When I fitted a windscreen-mounted DAB antenna (Autoleads DAB-AA1) I mounted it halfway up the screen on the passenger side. I would have liked to have hidden the wire but when I peeled the door seal back with a view to removing the A-pillar cover, I quickly decided against disturbing it - I felt sure it would end up getting damaged.

So, I chickened out and ran the wire horizontally across the A-pillar and tucked it behind the door seal. It then pops out from behind the door seal just to the side of the dash then goes behind the dash to the head unit.

The end result looks quite acceptable, and the only piece of wire you can see is the short section that runs across the pillar. The antenna works fine too, and is powered from my new Pioneer head unit (no separate power supply lead required).

[ChilliWhizz]

How can we possibly have two pages about how to listen to music in a TVR. Unbelievable. There'll be another hat thread next.















(I've packed up smoking again)

[phazed]

ChilliWhizz said:

How can we possibly have two pages about how to listen to music in a TVR. Unbelievable. There'll be another hat thread next.














(I've packed up smoking again)

Ha ha. Just returned from a nice healthy walk and thought I'd have a browse through the information on here and order something up.

As your an "oldun" like me, spend the money you save on cigarettes and buy a decent ariel and some CDs

Total enjoyment in the car.

BTW, I tried having the radio on during a TD, doesn't work, far more chance of crashing..............

Edited by phazed on Saturday 6th June 09:55

[WokingWedger]

Peter, have you progressed with the ariel dilemma.

I also like to listen to something sometimes on long runs and my wife doesn't appreciate the exhaust note much ( at all really).

[phazed]

I've done bugger all really.

The summer is really busy for me and what with TDs and the usual prep work, this has taken a back seat for now.

I'll progress it when the weather changes.

[rickprice]

So I tried the aerial as above, mounted it in the boot to the left of the tank, vertically. My battery is there so wired straight to it.

Pants.

Pulled it out, still looking at the A pillar and trying to work out the mounting but the built in aerial is, on the face of it, better.

Rich

[2gins]

Any further news on these installs, I'm watching this with interest. The original headunit is a nightmare, I have no idea how to operate it. How did they manage to make a radio so complicated in 1999?!

Like Peter I just want to be able to listen to a few radio stations, mainly 6music, on long runs or in traffic. I'm reasonably happy installing a headunit, its the DAB antenna that I'm struggling with. I don't want anything stuck to the windscreen or any wires poking out, simple and effective is the order of the day. Quite happy splicing into the live on the boot switch, the earth might prove troublesome though. Would one of the bolts on the pedal box suffice, or maybe an eye connector on a chassis bolt in the drivers footwell?

[wseed]

The head unit in my car had seen better days and the CD changer was missing. So I upgraded to a Pioneer MVHX5800-DAB It has FM(probably AM too I didn't look) DAB+ and also Bluetooth audio/ hands free for < £110 The colours on the display can be de-blinged to keep in with the car. I did have 2nd thoughts that an antenna at 20% of the cost of the head unit was good value but I opted for Connects2 CT27UV70 £19 which is powered from the head unit and requires nothing more. I ran it under the passenger side carpet and just hid the business end that looks like an over sized lollipop stick behind the trim near the seat belt. I think positioning could be a little better as I didn't stick it down and it has slid down behind the seat but I still get both DAB and FM reception. The only complaint I have about the head unit is that the display is too dull in the day with roof down and any brighter would be OTT at night. Maybe there's a light sensor mode I've not read about.

edit to add price of antenna.

[trev4]

wseed said:

The head unit in my car had seen better days and the CD changer was missing. So I upgraded to a Pioneer MVHX5800-DAB It has FM(probably AM too I didn't look) DAB+ and also Bluetooth audio/ hands free for < £110 The colours on the display can be de-blinged to keep in with the car. I did have 2nd thoughts that an antenna at 20% of the cost of the head unit was good value but I opted for Connects2 CT27UV70 £19 which is powered from the head unit and requires nothing more. I ran it under the passenger side carpet and just hid the business end that looks like an over sized lollipop stick behind the trim near the seat belt. I think positioning could be a little better as I didn't stick it down and it has slid down behind the seat but I still get both DAB and FM reception. The only complaint I have about the head unit is that the display is too dull in the day with roof down and any brighter would be OTT at night. Maybe there's a light sensor mode I've not read about.
G
edit to add price of antenna.

I'm in the process of fitting the same model, I had the same problem with the display then found you have to set the brightness on the clock for night and day it's fine now.