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If you’ve replaced your FM car radio with a DAB radio you will either need a new aerial or an aerial splitter, which would allow you to use your existing aerial to receive DAB stations. The plastic trim on the A pillar should pull away easily, starting from the top of the car. You may need to pull some of the rubber strip on the door too. Step 3: Clean up In areas with a strong digital radio signal a windscreen aerial is often sufficient. If you find that stations drop out frequently you may benefit from an externally mounted aerial.
Some advantages of this type are that it usually offers better reception than internal aerials Multi-frequency roof-mount aerial
Best DAB Car Aerials Overview
If you have an AM/FM car radio, simply installing a DAB aerial won’t allow you to listen to DAB stations, as you need some equipment to decode DAB signals. This means you will either need to install a DAB car radio or buy a DAB car radio adapter. Follow the instructions provided on how to prep your car. Some manufactures will recommend sanding the A pillar for DAB aerial installation. Now you’re left with a cable you need to route through the A pillar. Some people prefer to use insulation tape to hold the cables in place. Remember, there will be two cables, one for power, and one for your aerial to connect to the radio.
The next best thing to a roof mount aerial is a magnetic DAB aerial. These benefit from being external (i.e. outside of the car) and in a high position, such as on the roof. Installation is easier and they can be used on cars without a traditional roof aerial. Once you perform your scan and see you’re getting stations, you can re-fit the other components of your car. In-car DAB will only be as good as the aerial you’re using. Even with the best speakers, you need a good aerial to enjoy reliable reception as you drive around.
Types of DAB Car Aerial
Can the underside of the roof be accessed? The headlining in the car’s interior will need to be dropped so that the securing nut and wires can be accessed. There is a risk of damaging or creasing the headlining. If you already have a great antenna for your car, you can use a splitter to support both FM and DAB signals. Splitters may be a little tougher to install than antennas, however. Make sure you seek professional assistance if you need it. Aerials fitted to the inside of a windscreen generally don’t work as well as magnetic or roof aerials. But they don’t need any new aerials or modifications on the exterior of a vehicle.
To access DAB radio, you’ll need a specific kind of aerial. The right solution needs to be able to collect digital signals, as well as FM (and sometimes AM) frequencies. Before fitting DAB aerial film to your windscreen, clean the glass. Some aerials will even come with a microfiber cloth or wipe for cleaning. The surface needs to be totally dirt-free and absent of dust. Make sure the metal bodywork is clean too, for the earth plane strip. Not all aerials come with the cables that you’ll need to install the aerial. The length of any included cables and the types of connectors can vary between aerials.An aerial splitter isn’t actually a type of aerial. It’s a cable with two connectors that allows you to use your existing AM/FM aerial as a DAB aerial. They are cheap and easy to install, so can offer a good alternative to installing a new aerial. An active aerial needs to be powered with your 12-volt car feed. In some cases, your adapter or radio will be able to provide power through the coax wire, and you can enable this setting to simplify things.
Some advantages of this type are that it’s easy to install, doesn’t require drilling a hole in the roof and can’t be broken by vandals. However, reception is usually worse than with externally mounted aerials, and this type can’t be used with reflective-coated glass. DAB transmissions are vertically polarised, so DAB aerials work best when positioned vertically. What is an amplified antenna? Replace the radio:In some situations, there may be an issue with the functionality of your radio. It’s difficult to determine this without help from a professional. There are various options out there to choose from, though many consider the DAB windscreen aerial to be easiest to install. Tape your cables together temporarily if you want to avoid any issues with getting the two wires through separately. Step 7: Connect your aerial
A shopping list for our example installation in a 2004 Vauxhall Corsa C with a Sony DAB stereo would be: If your car has a heated or polarised windscreen the performance of a DAB windscreen aerial could be affected. It’s worth asking the manufacturer or retailer for advice before proceeding. You may have to choose an alternative type of aerial or use a different window. Roof mounted DAB aerials can be installed on cars, vans and motorhomes with no existing roof aerial. However, the process would be more complex as it would require a new hole to be drilled in the bodywork.
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