DAB in the car..............what a waste of money!!

Hi gang, just bought a new DAB radio n CD and glass mount EXTERNAL ariel from DAB online. The unit is fine, the ariel looks a well made quality thing...........but Jeez, the radio drops out all the time on my to work (west London)............I'm thinking of getting an FM ariel because my old FM setup was 10 times better!!!!............is that how all DB's are?

 

Not what I've experienced. It works flawlessly 99% of the time. Occasional drop-outs when in the middle of nowhere and occasional drop-out when in a steep valley.

I don't trust those external aerials that transmit through the glass, never heard anything good about them. Have you thought about replacing with a combined DAB and FM proper aerial base and whip...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/6971585560026

Universal like that one, or even buy a proper one for your brand of vehicle (the cost might make you wince though for a genuine part!!).

 

The ariel had a great tested review from the site (DABonwheels) but my experience is the opposite (as a qualified electrician and engineer I'm positive I followed the instructions correctly). I'm open to buying a new ariel, but don't want to replicate the mistake!..................my car is a 2002 peugeot 406 (old, cheap n reliable)

 

I've had two cars with DAB radios fitted as standard. One car had a shark fin aerial the other was built into the rear screen, the reception from both was good.
Both these cars were available without DAB and the aerials were identical in appearance. My theory is that it's not the aerial in itself, rather that the aerial has a piece of wizardry (a filter if you like) which makes it more suitable for certain frequencies. Remember when digital TV came around and we were told we would nee a new "digital aerial" which we didn't need.

 

Never had any problems with the DAB in our Evoque. A mate of mine has bought a brand new transit, had two radios and a new aerial and can’t hear sod all.

 

I used to have a Pug 206, I mounted a cheap Halfords mag mount DAB aerial to the inside boot frame so the whip was across the rear window - results from this were acceptable.

This wasn't possible in my next car, so I bought a self adhesive job from DAB on wheels - it was absolutely hopeless.

Current car has factory DAB radio - soooo much better.

 

ISTR the outer on the aerial coax feed really ought to be grounded to the car body so that it uses the body as a groundplane. This is at the aerial mount itself.
Not sure if DAB ones allow this.

 

FM in the car, waste of money where I live....Main A9 between Aviemore and Perth no radio for 40 miles!! What's DAB lol??!!

 

A friend of mine had terrible trouble with their cars built in DAB. After months of pulling the car apart and testing things and garage visits it turned out the problem was interference from a cheap 12V to USB adapter he always had in the car for charging things.
It would be worth unplugging anything like that in the car to check!

 

Dab is complete and utter rubbish. We have two new Hyundias that I can select DAB or FM. The radios are manufacturer fitted. Dab stations continually drop out and go hissy and fade consequently I only ever tune to the FM channels.

 

The DAB is great on mine but I can’t get Gadio outside them gym.

 

It depends where you live, DAB coverage is not as good as FM, I don't have it but those that do report a variable signal down here. DAB is on a higher frequency than FM which means it doesn't travel so well, but it wouldn't have thought it was high enough to couple well through a 'glass capacitor' they work better around the 1000 mhz phone frequency, I believe DAB is around 150 mhz, the glass is a pretty thick dialectric offering very little coupling.

Peter