Are all motorhome cab radio's cr#p

[Busman]

As per title never seem to get decent signal always fading in and out that's if I get a station at all. Aerial perched on the roof at front of van so I wouldn't of thought that was a problem. Not a big problem as normally only use it to play music but it should work ok ??

 

[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Have you checked the aerial lead connections?

 

[Gellyneck]

Is the aerial properly grounded? Is the connection into the back of the head unit loose?

 

[scotzsue]

YES ?

 

[tonyidle]

No - but non-OEM installation usually is.

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[Jev88]

My replacement head unit was out of another Funsters new MH and works well with s windscreen mounted DAB aerial.

However, it is subject to interference from the rear view camera screen!

 

[Richard n Ann]

Ours is ok, think the aerial is in the door mirror. Sound quality = D.I.S.C.O ??

 

[Hawkstone]

Yep....s**t. Fades in and out for a pastime. Hubby keeps promising to look at it

 

[Kingham]

Signal and quality is fine on mine, but only for 20 bloomin’ minutes at a time with the ignition off ?

 

[Mr Colpot]

Ours is rubbish - aerial is on drivers side front screen pillar and doesn't poke up above the van roof. Also if I do extend it when driving it flaps against the outside of the van so don't use it. Looks like previous owner had a DAB aerial on the windscreen at some point but not sure if he removed it to put on another van or in the bin. Its on my list of things to sort out.

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[Gellyneck]

Hubby keeps promising to look at it

Whilst Hubby is looking at it could you not be fixing the radio problem? Come on Wifey get with the act!

 

[cranky]

Signal and quality is fine on mine, but only for 20 bloomin’ minutes at a time with the ignition off ?

Fiat? its a power saving feature. rewire to the hab electrics. I had to do the same to my reading lights which were obviously wired from the original courtesy lights.

 

[Stealaway]

I have found that because most of them are wired to the hab batteries (so they can be on continually). They suffer from all kinds of interference from the applieces / chargers.
Try running a new supply from the engine / cab wiring. It's probably still behind the radio somewhere.
Although I have in the past improve mine by simply replacing a crap aerial.

 

[Glas Robin]

FM is fine - using the built-in Ducato antenna (no idea where it is) on an aftermarket Eonon head unit.

DAB is usually fine, until the aerial dropped down between the dashboard and screen!

 

[Gellyneck]

Signal and quality is fine on mine, but only for 20 bloomin’ minutes at a time with the ignition off ?

You need a permanent on power supply to the back of the radio to replace \ supplement the switched supply. From memory, so don't quote me on this, when I replaced our head unit there was a single wire, (in addition) to the standard ISO wiring, connected directly to the hab battery(?) that connected to both A4 and A7 pins in the ISO plug.

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[HandyAndy]

Shockingly yes. ?

 

[pagey]

my pioneer works well on the fiat antenna where ever it is

 

[mikebeaches]

My DAB/FM Pioneer radio in our pvc is one of the best vehicle radios I've ever had regarding quality of reception.

 

[Larrynwin]

Is Aerial amplifier fitted and connected.
Mine was lousy when bought new from dealer , took it back and the guy they used to install the radio had not connected the feed to the Hymer powered amplifier, one connection and sorted.
Other builders may provide the same.

 

[jockaneezer]

Our wing mounted rubber duck job is hopeless, I was looking at the windscreen mounted units, but there seems to be a "boxy" part of them that sticks out and might catch on the interior blind, anyone else tried one ?

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[Flamenca]

As per title never seem to get decent signal always fading in and out that's if I get a station at all. Aerial perched on the roof at front of van so I wouldn't of thought that was a problem. Not a big problem as normally only use it to play music but it should work ok ??

Mine was certainly rubbish due to the lack of a ground plane for the aerial. Would have worked fine in a car or other vehicle of steel construction but my Hymer - no way. Ripped out the radio years ago.

 

[tonyidle]

A decent FM / DAB aerial will cost from £35 - £70. The best place for it is on the roof. If the roof is not aluminium a 60" strip of aluminium or stainless stuck on using PU adhesive with the aerial in the centre is an adequate groundplane. It is vital that the pointy or star washer supplied with the aerial is in contact with either the underside of an aluminium roof or the underside of the groundplane. That means cutting a plug of insulation material so that the aerial is tightened against roof or groundplane. Such an aerial will always work correctly. Anything else is a cheapo or a bodge. Or both.

 

[Lenny HB]

Isn't your van all GRP Dave?
You will probably get a huge improvement if you fit a ground plane to the aerial.

 

[Busman]

Isn't your van all GRP Dave?
You will probably get a huge improvement if you fit a ground plane to the aerial.

Yes that's correct Lenny will check out your suggestion.
Thanks ?

 

[Grianan]

The FM/DAB radio we had fitted back the dealer was brilliant but after a couple of weekends away we realised we needed a CarPlay model. So we got another Kenwood, also great and have the first one in a box ?.

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[Camping Gaza]

came as standard, CD player DAB/AM/FM, RDS, Traffic alerts, voice activated tuning for radio and phone dialling and phonebook, auto tuning if reception changes, road noise volume compensation built in sat nav, phone, bluetooth, usb playback, will read out text messages, will send pre selected text messages to incoming text, compass and linked to cab steering controls.

Radio reception all good AM is a bit carp, can even get radio 4 in France on FM. No external antenna. So, er,..... No.

 

[Innkeeper]

We just use the CD player or put radio 2 app on phone or tablet.
We have tried taking but that never seems to work ?

 

[Reallyretired]

Mine is crap, almost certainly due to lack of groundplane. As I would probably only be able to receive a station in English on the hour and a bit journey to the tunnel it has never seemed worth doing anything about it.
If required can always listen on line.