DAB radio aerial

[Pete 21]

Has anyone managed to fit a DAB aerial that actually allows them to receive a signal? If so could you share what and how please.
I’ve tried with one of those plastic strip stick to windscreen jobs which proved about as effective as putting a wet finger in the aerial socket.

[wilf]

Yes - I bought a relatively (actually very) cheap radio that came with a DAB aerial, seems to pick up stations fine. ISTR you need to get some part of that aerial well connected with earth, which means removing a little paint down to bare metal on the A pillar.

[DZP]

Hi Pete,
I installed a Caliber RMD-050DAB-BT stereo that included a DAB aerial and it seemed to work OK.

https://calibereurope.com/nlmedia/manuals/RMD050DAB-BT_Manual.pdf

It is quite tricky to install because you need to have good earth point for the magnetic contact included with the DAB aerial and also a local power source for the aerial, as shown below.
So, it takes a bit of planning to hide all the cabling.
image.png
I installed on the near-side windscreen, adjacent to where the tax disc used to be.
Of course, you only get a DAB signal, no FM etc.
Regards,
Den

[Pete 21]

Thanks guys. I’ve fitted in a similar way and found a good earth off the screen air vents but no signal. It seems pretty flimsy and I wonder if I’ve damaged it when fitting.

[mopoole]

I used a DAB aerial splitter wired through the standard aerial. needs a powered feed. Available from Amazon inevitably. It's a bit tight behind the radio though

Maurice

[Ian F]

I’ve got a windscreen mounted one and had, or so I thought, a similar problem - getting a good earth. I even went to the trouble of running a separate wire from the adhesive earth patch to a known good earth - but still no joy!

Then one day I noticed that I was only searching DAB Signal blocks 5 & 6, but my wife’s Fiesta, and other Ford’s I was driving were tuned to blocks 10/11 etc. I persevered with the tuning, seeking the extra “blocks” of signal - and it all worked!

May be worth checking what signals you’re seeking?

[Pete 21]

Thanks Ian. You may be right as I’ve bought another aerial and still displays ‘no dab signal’ but having bought a relatively cheap radio the instruction manual doesn’t seem to extend to how to find a dab signal!!