Aftermarket DAB antennas - options...

[zed4]

Hi,

I’ve bought a VW RCD510 DAB for our Golf which I’m in the process of fitting and I’ll need a DAB antenna for it.

Now I know I could go pulling out the antenna on the roof and fitting a new FM/AM/DAB antenna, but that’s very expensive and I’ll have to pull through new wiring which will be a pain. So I’m looking at alternatives, one of which is a window mounted antenna. Are these any good:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-DAB-DAB-radio...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JVC-HAL-1-FAKRA-DAB-ANTE...

Any experience of them? I don’t want to spend £20 only to find it doesn’t pick anything up!

By the way, the VW RCD510 has a Fakra connector, so any recommendations must have this connector please!

Thanks,

Dan

[selym]

http://www.celsusice.co.uk/shopdisp_6217.php

and

http://www.celsusice.co.uk/shopdisp_6222.php

I recently bought a Pioneer DAB head unit with supplied antenna. It requires that a copper earth strip be affixed to the metal windscreen surround. I have a VX220 so no metal to connect the strip to. I tried to adapt (read bodge) it by running a wire from the copper strip under the dash to an earth. It didn't work and i was rather disappointed.

Fast forward to yesterday. I am in the same situation as you; running an antenna cable to the original antenna is a PITA. I plumped for another windscreen mounted aerial, the first link above. I was dubious as to whether it would work, as these windscreen mounts are hit and miss, but lo and behold I have a great DAB reception. This is in a car which seems to be notorious for not being able to use DAB kit.

Might be worth a go for you.

(I didn't need the Fakra/SMB connector as my head unit uses SMB, but linked it in for your convenience)

[DrDoofenshmirtz]

Buy a splitter and use the existing antenna...
Example: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autoleads-06-536-PIONEER...

The loss you get in the splitter is more than made up by using the external antenna.

[zed4]

DrDoofenshmirtz said:

Buy a splitter and use the existing antenna...
Example: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autoleads-06-536-PIONEER...

The loss you get in the splitter is more than made up by using the external antenna.

That’s interesting, not considered this. But it would be a right pain as the car uses Fakra connectors for the AM/FM antenna and this product uses the standard antenna connector. So it would require the splitter with adaptors at each end!

[zed4]

selym said:

http://www.celsusice.co.uk/shopdisp_6217.php

and

http://www.celsusice.co.uk/shopdisp_6222.php

I recently bought a Pioneer DAB head unit with supplied antenna. It requires that a copper earth strip be affixed to the metal windscreen surround. I have a VX220 so no metal to connect the strip to. I tried to adapt (read bodge) it by running a wire from the copper strip under the dash to an earth. It didn't work and i was rather disappointed.

Fast forward to yesterday. I am in the same situation as you; running an antenna cable to the original antenna is a PITA. I plumped for another windscreen mounted aerial, the first link above. I was dubious as to whether it would work, as these windscreen mounts are hit and miss, but lo and behold I have a great DAB reception. This is in a car which seems to be notorious for not being able to use DAB kit.

Might be worth a go for you.

(I didn't need the Fakra/SMB connector as my head unit uses SMB, but linked it in for your convenience)

Thanks, that's interesting. I'll look into that.

[StefanVXR8]

Dan, I used the Hirschmann Auta 16V on my VXR8's when I lived in the UK.

It simply replaced the existing and gave the combined DAB and FM signal required to run the original stock head unit and an Alpine EZ-DAB add on.

Not the cheapest but probably one of the best, and personally I think it's worth the effort replacing the original.

http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/Hirschmann_AUTA_16_V_...

Stef