RCD510 DAB - poor reception with VW DAB antenna

[flashp]

Ok, I've installed my new head unit and I'm very happy with that element of this upgrade. However, concerning the DAB reception I'm less pleased. I'll list the parts below before I go on.

• Antenna base - 6R0 035 501A
• Antenna - 6R0 035 849A
• Aerial wire (Fakra extension for DAB) - 000 098 656

Are these the correct parts? I intended to have an amplified antenna base, hopefully this part is.
I'm noticing that the reception for some stations is so unstable that the unit mutes in the even of signal loss.

I have experience of DAB in two other cars I've owned, one of which we still have and the reception in that (MX5 with £20 mag mount aerial on rear shelf) is far superior and never drops signal at all on the same stations, even when it's in the garage. That car has a ~£100 Philips head unit.

My reception is so poor I am wondering if I have missed something in setup, so a couple questions - Do I need VCDS to enable DAB? Is the phantom power for the DAB antenna on by default?
At a bit of a loss with this at the moment, surely this antenna cant be that bad??

When I asked my dealer about these parts they were less than helpful. If it's not a standard part for your car they can/will tell you nothing it seems.

This is what I have:


Looking forward to some advice!  

[SI-R32]

defo right base unit for dab, i take it it did have a black connector on it ?

[flashp]

It did indeed, white & black.

[paulw123]

Hi flashp, sorry to hear the headunit drops out a lot. There doesn't seem a way of testing signal strength etc, like on a sky box, which would tell you everything was working ok.
I'm going to follow you shortly with the roof DAB antenna , as I wasn't happy with the windscreen one after my mate said his corsa never dropped it where mine did. But it might be the same....or worse

Did you route the extension through the roof or under the carpets in the end?....any tips

[flashp]

Hi flashp, sorry to hear the headunit drops out a lot. There doesn't seem a way of testing signal strength etc, like on a sky box, which would tell you everything was working ok.
I'm going to follow you shortly with the roof DAB antenna , as I wasn't happy with the windscreen one after my mate said his corsa never dropped it where mine did. But it might be the same....or worse

Did you route the extension through the roof or under the carpets in the end?....any tips

On the RCD510 if you hold down 'setup' for a few seconds it'll take you to a screen where you can check signal strength etc. Mine seems to be up and down like a yoyo 
I'm going to check a few things like earthing to body shell at the antenna base, 12v at the end of the Fakra extension cable and any cable damage on the underside of the antenna base. I've a feeling I'll draw a blank with all of these but they're obvious checks to make before I put it into Sextons at Portsmouth for further investigation. They'll probably try a different antenna which I'm interested in doing. I previously used a Hirschman antenna on a Subaru with a Philips head unit and it was faultless. One of these http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/Hirschmann_AUTA_16_V_DAB_DAB_car_aerial.html with this head unit http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/44901/philips-cem-3000b

As for routing the cable, I looked at running along the edges by the carpet but having checked carefully the run length it was clear it would be too tight so in the end I went down the edge of the headlining. Easy to do, release both grab handles, upper trim from the B pillar, A pillar trim and C pillar trim.

I'll update back here on Sunday if I have news, good or bad! 

[Eddie-NL]

are all the parts used new?

i've fitted them in the past and have worked better than the window stick on type.

try a different antenna or different radio if you have one

[flashp]

They are new apart from the head unit.

[paulw123]

flashp - many thanks, I will follow your lead on this....no pun intended   
just waiting for a sunny sunday morning. Iam dreading taking the centre air vents out as last time they all fell to bits and took me 2 hours to re-assemble. I think the previous parrot fitter was a bit of an animal.

[flashp]

I'll update here Saturday afternoon  . There are some fragile assemblies in there aren't there. Certainly don't want to overtighten anything on reassembly. On the plus side since I took all the trim parts out all my dash rattles have gone! Had some minor repairs to do also. Polyurethane adhesive - my new best friend 

[paulw123]

fitted the polo DAB aerial yesterday, roof lining route, just loosened ABC pillar trims. Worst bit was releasing FM fakra plug that was well hidden amongst loads of other plugs, can't really see what to do with it all hidden under roof lining.
Anyway DAB reception is loads better than windscreen stick on one, I can actually get it on drive, whereas before it cut out 2miles away. Well happy, should have done this in first place...

[white91]

@flashp did you ever sort this?

[4ndy]

http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/DAB_car_aerials.html  Worth a look  I have the 6003 one fitted very pleased with it

[Golf_GT_TDI]

I fitted the Polo DAB aerial last year and to date have had no problems 

[white91]

I fitted the Polo DAB aerial last year and to date have had no problems 

Do you remember how much it was?


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[Golf_GT_TDI]

Do you remember how much it was?


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http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?page=mods&mod=283