DAB radio and aerial question

Soon going to be getting a radio/stereo fitted as my 110 has never had one.

Went into Halfrauds yesterday to look at aeriels and the guy there said that most DAB radios come with an internal windscreen aerial, no need for a traditional aerial outside of the vehicle.

Is this correct? Should I fit a non DAB radio and traditional aerial instead?

I think the windscreen aerial is fitted by the manufacturer and isn't aftermarket, mines a fairly modern one using USB etc and works with a standard aerial. No doubt someone will know heaps more than me.

Lee

LeadFarmer said:

Soon going to be getting a radio/stereo fitted as my 110 has never had one.

Went into Halfrauds yesterday to look at aeriels and the guy there said that most DAB radios come with an internal windscreen aerial, no need for a traditional aerial outside of the vehicle.

Is this correct? Should I fit a non DAB radio and traditional aerial instead?

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Not sure when they gonna turn orft the analogue signal asomewhere between 2015 n 2020 but if yer buyin a radio to listen to Radio 1, 2 or the Archers (delete as applicable) then yer gonna need a DAB radio.

I think yer aerial is irelievant an aerial still picks up the signal it's the tuner what decodes it.

Kind of correct

To listen to DAB you'll need a specific aerial for that, you could do away with the traditional one as long as you didn't want to use analogue radio stations.

I've got a JVC head unit with a short DAB aerial mounted on the opposite wing to the tradional. Can't tell you how to install as I had it done at a audio specialists. The reception from the it is great, only had a couple of occasions where i've had no reception.

Used to have a Pure Highway DAM - FM transmitter with a window mounted aerial and that was rubbish reception, think it might be affected by the heated screen.

Hope that helps

Ian

Thanks for the help. Im going to be fitting a heated windsreen soon, so pehaps I ought to avoid the internal windscreen aerial.

Sounds like I need a DAB friendly aerial on the wing/roof. I assume most of the traditional radio stations broadcast in DAB?

Most popular ones transmit in DAB, yes plus alot of other great stations as well ( Absolute for one, but it's London bound atm )

Anyone thinking of buying a DAB Highway radio for their car with the supplied internal stick on windscreen aerial, don't bother. Had one in my Defender and the reception his pathetic.

Chris.

The internal windscreen aerials are ok but only in the City where reception is strong. I used to have one here in the Warwickshire countryside but it kept dropping out. Got better in Birmingham and London though. You will always get better reception with a DAB aerial outside the vehicle which you can easily fit in exactly the same place as your old analogue one. Good luck, it's worth it just to listen to Alice Coopers breakfast show on Planet Rock

External aerial it is then

My 110 doesnt even have an aerial fitted, so ive got to decide whether to mount it on the wing as most folk have, or top corner above the rear tailgate door.

LeadFarmer said:

External aerial it is then

My 110 doesnt even have an aerial fitted, so ive got to decide whether to mount it on the wing as most folk have, or top corner above the rear tailgate door.

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personally ah'd go fur the wing mounting ( just infront of the bulkhead) as the cable that comes with it is just the right length

Pure highway would be fine if you used an external aerial, saves having to change the head unit, but agree its internal window mounted aerial is rubbish

The internal one for the Pure Highway is crap. I got the external one for it and it's now usable as a radio

Don't forget that analogue reception is about 100 megs Where dab is about 220 megs so for best results get the correct aerial We all know a 6 inch nail will receive some thing but there is a great difference when you have the correct length of aerial.

Never heard of this Pure Highway thingymijiggy that keeps getting mentioned. Just had a look on google and it appears to be a device that sends DAB to your car radio. Which would be great, if I had a car radio

I have nothing fitted at all, so Im doing a fresh new install. Probably gunna have a car stereo fitted inside an MMS cubby box between the seats.

I guess as Buster said, aerial on the bulkhead means the cable will reach hopefully. Or if positioned above the back door I would need an extention cable.

Suppose I ought to visit a specialist ICE shop and see what they have. But I assume they wouldnt be the best price.

Andy Land said:

The internal windscreen aerials are ok but only in the City where reception is strong. I used to have one here in the Warwickshire countryside but it kept dropping out. Got better in Birmingham and London though. You will always get better reception with a DAB aerial outside the vehicle which you can easily fit in exactly the same place as your old analogue one. Good luck, it's worth it just to listen to Alice Coopers breakfast show on Planet Rock

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That's what I used to listen too on digital, before I realised it was repeated every three or four weeks.

I found that reception in the South West of the West Midlands was poor. In the middle of Kidderminster I got no reception at all.

Chris.

cinstone said:

That's what I used to listen too on digital, before I realised it was repeated every three or four weeks.

I found that reception in the South West of the West Midlands was poor. In the middle of Kidderminster I got no reception at all.

Chris.

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Right on both counts there Chris ... I used to go shooting at Kinver Edge and had to play my Buddhist Chants CD on the journey instead

I've got a sony DAB head unit and had a windscreen mounted aerial which gave pathetic reception and looked horrible. I swapped it for an external aerial that I've fitted on the rear corner of the roof, and the reception is now fantastic, I've only lost reception once (in Buxton).

The only thing I have to be careful of is the metal height restriction bars on car parks and the like. I tend to hear a "ping" as the aerial catches them when I drive through.

Thanks Ampo, did you have to use an aerial extention cable to route it from the back?

Just to update the dab situation with a 2003 defender td5. I was looking for the best low cost way to get dab and better sound at VERY low cost. I bought an ex display mvh270 pioneer dab dab+ aux in and use to control iPod from halfords for 40quid. Bargain. I read a lot on here about internal glass aerials and decided to try a splitter to my original Landy aerial before I shelled out for a stick on aerial. Got a din adaptor thingy because the Landy aerial connection on my vehicle was female for about £1.99 off eBay. Got a harness to connect the pioneer to Landy 13 pin (I think, can't quite remember) round pin harness for about £5 on eBay again. Got a splitter fro dabonwheels as they seem to know what they are doing for 24 quid delivered. The defender has a passive aerial. Connected the harness, no probs, connected blue power aerial cable from head unit to blue power for splitter, connected dab aerial and conventional,aerial to head unit. Turned it on and hey presto, works like a dream, got planet rock and probably other stations no probs, reception on fm am dab etc great and iPod menus work as well as aux in for other gizmos. Reception's pretty great everywhere here yeehaa! So....before shelling out on a DAB dedicated aerial give it a try, honestly, in this case no dramas!

I bought a Kinetic ampified Bee Sting DAB aerial from DABonwheels ! Roof mounted 100% better than the screen mounted jobs