XTRONS DL14DAB Radio Hum and lost presets
Discussion
I have fitted a (yes, cheapo...) XTRONS DL14DAB to our 56 plate Fiesta.
It is to allow my techno-philistine wife purely to listen to 6Music (to get away from the awful Radio 2) abd R4 on FM whilst on the move.
I have fitted the antenna to the A pillar and windscreen.
With the engine off, there is a high pitched whine/hum from the speakers when the volume is not muted or at "0".
There appears to be a ferrite bead on the +12v input.
I have connected the black cable directly to a clean ground behind the glovebox.
The dab also appears scan for stations every time the unit is powered up, failing to store presets.... The user interface is awful too.
I appreciate that this is not a very high quality unit, but does anybody have any tips?
I have a Sonichi plug in DAB in another car with an external antenna and it works brilliantly. I decided against it for the Fiesta to make it easier for my wife.
It is to allow my techno-philistine wife purely to listen to 6Music (to get away from the awful Radio 2) abd R4 on FM whilst on the move.
I have fitted the antenna to the A pillar and windscreen.
With the engine off, there is a high pitched whine/hum from the speakers when the volume is not muted or at "0".
There appears to be a ferrite bead on the +12v input.
I have connected the black cable directly to a clean ground behind the glovebox.
The dab also appears scan for stations every time the unit is powered up, failing to store presets.... The user interface is awful too.
I appreciate that this is not a very high quality unit, but does anybody have any tips?
I have a Sonichi plug in DAB in another car with an external antenna and it works brilliantly. I decided against it for the Fiesta to make it easier for my wife.
Edited by MC Bodge on Saturday 10th February 12:50
Having now tried the radio whilst driving, it won't receive and play properly anyway. Stuttering to the point of being incomprehensible, if playing at all.
The Bluetooth connection does the same extreme stuttering non-playing too.
It is very poor and unfit for purpose. AVOID.
I'll be sending it back.
The Bluetooth connection does the same extreme stuttering non-playing too.
It is very poor and unfit for purpose. AVOID.
I'll be sending it back.
Edited by MC Bodge on Saturday 10th February 12:55
In a 12 year old Fiesta, the only thing in the pillar is the rear screen wash/wipe.
I've actually used plug in DAB radios in Fords for about 10 years so I do know about the antenna and in the Manchester area, the signal is strong.
The Head unit is basically rubbish. Had it just retained 6music when Switched on / DAB selected, we could probably have coped with it.
A full, slow re-scan on every startup and extremely poor navigation through channels to find the one you want, along with the non-reception, made it useless.
I have now refitted the OEM and fitted a Sonichi plug in DAB (only 30 quid as they have been discontinued) with an external magnetic antenna, which will work well everywhere.
I'll hard-wire the power to a switched supply.
I've actually used plug in DAB radios in Fords for about 10 years so I do know about the antenna and in the Manchester area, the signal is strong.
The Head unit is basically rubbish. Had it just retained 6music when Switched on / DAB selected, we could probably have coped with it.
A full, slow re-scan on every startup and extremely poor navigation through channels to find the one you want, along with the non-reception, made it useless.
I have now refitted the OEM and fitted a Sonichi plug in DAB (only 30 quid as they have been discontinued) with an external magnetic antenna, which will work well everywhere.
I'll hard-wire the power to a switched supply.
Edited by MC Bodge on Monday 12th February 09:29
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