External Screen Mounted DAB Aerial

Mr Colpot

Mr Colpot

Free Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2009
Posts
1,216
Likes collected
774
Location
West Sussex
Funster No
6,505
MH
Burstner Nexxo T740
Exp
since 2008
Has anyone had any experiences of an external screen mounted DAB aerial on an A Class Motorhome. We had an internal one fitted recently but the signal is patchy. Local Car Audio have suggested external one but wanted to see if anyone using one can comment before I invest.
 
I’ve given up on the radio - I Bluetooth from phone using BBC sounds. With latest phone deals data usage not a problem. Also works throughout Europe.


-although for some reason I seem to hit a not spot just as pop master starts!!
 
We've got an active dab stick on screen aerial the car. It still depends more on the signal strength in your area than aerial.

If we go west towards Chesterfield the signal is useless, but east towards Mansfield, it's spot on.
 
I've got one of those 'little bar' type ones stuck to the windscreen, It's powered but to be honest fairly useless unless the DAB signal is very good.

However , If I put my internal silvered screen covers on the reception is excellent!

Pity I can't drive it like that :happy:
 
Richard and Ann said:
If we go west towards Chesterfield the signal is useless, but east towards Mansfield, it's spot on.
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That's my concern. I can get patchy reception and inconsistent as well - I can drive down the same road and get crystal clear signal one day and rubbish the next. I don't want to throw good money after bad if sticking the aerial outside isn't going to make any difference.

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Jake Royd said:
However , If I put my internal silvered screen covers on the reception is excellent!

Pity I can't drive it like that :happy:
Click to expand...


says who ........ :X3:
 
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Hi I have used one of these on our MH, to get the best signal, did give the screen one a go but got worse signal the main problem that I had was interference from the DASH CAM when the DAB signal was weak switch off the DASH CAM signal was fine, bit like the others I use an APP just got back from Spain and had GEM radio playing all the way
 
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Phil 748 said:
the main problem that I had was interference from the DASH CAM when the DAB signal was weak switch off the DASH CAM signal was fine,
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I wondered about the Sat Nav as it appeared worse when the Sat Nav was giving me a route to follow as opposed to just showing the map/speed. I tried turning the Sat Nav off and unplugging but the signal was still patchy.
 
I have a 'through glass' one on our Smart car. It has a base that sticks on the outside with a normal mast on it. Inside there's a small box stuck to the window. It works well.
 
Jake Royd said:
I've got one of those 'little bar' type ones stuck to the windscreen, It's powered but to be honest fairly useless unless the DAB signal is very good.

However , If I put my internal silvered screen covers on the reception is excellent!

Pity I can't drive it like that :happy:
Click to expand...
It's always better when parked though. Mine is anyway.

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Hi Colpot,
I spend days with mine installed the new radio everything was working great until I started the Engineer and the Dash cam came on, re routed the aerial cables, power cables different lengths on the Aerial whip, but still lost radio signal just got used to it as I want the dash cam on more than radio
 
I had one on my truck windscreen in 2003, one day the external mast fell off and the reception did not change. It still lost reception in the exact locations as it did when the mast was there.
I am having the same issues now with my glass mounted internal aerial and I am thinking of a proper external one for the top of the motorhome, but I'm stalling as I don't really want to drill another hole in the roof and also the need to stick something metallic on the inside for a ground plane which still won't work as well as if the roof was steel.
 
R1guy said:
I had one on my truck windscreen in 2003, one day the external mast fell off and the reception did not change. It still lost reception in the exact locations as it did when the mast was there.
I am having the same issues now with my glass mounted internal aerial and I am thinking of a proper external one for the top of the motorhome, but I'm stalling as I don't really want to drill another hole in the roof and also the need to stick something metallic on the inside for a ground plane which still won't work as well as if the roof was steel.
Click to expand...
I am thinking the same. If I am going to make a hole in the roof I'll probably go old school and put an FM one up top as I don't trust that the loss of signal is to do with the Van.
 
Agree with earlier, if you've got data tether your phone it opens up a whole new radio world.
 
[
bladerunner said:
I’ve given up on the radio - I Bluetooth from phone using BBC sounds. With latest phone deals data usage not a problem. Also works throughout Europe.


-although for some reason I seem to hit a not spot just as pop master starts!!
Click to expand...
Sillious Sodus said:
Agree with earlier, if you've got data tether your phone it opens up a whole new radio world.
Click to expand...
I am going to try this at the weekend - will see how much of our 1gb data we use up and if it works for us.
 
So- was a bit more forceful with the fm aerial and it extends further than I thought. Today tested radio on fm and not too bad although cant get radio 2 just local stations. Radio 2 on the DAB was ok (around Ashdown Forest at least) Then used Global Player App on way back to listen to Gold fm via bluetooth and it used about 40mb per hour with no interuptions so with the DAB/fm/App we have probably got it covered now.
 
Mr Colpot said:
So- was a bit more forceful with the fm aerial and it extends further than I thought. Today tested radio on fm and not too bad although cant get radio 2 just local stations. Radio 2 on the DAB was ok (around Ashdown Forest at least) Then used Global Player App on way back to listen to Gold fm via bluetooth and it used about 40mb per hour with no interuptions so with the DAB/fm/App we have probably got it covered now.
Click to expand...
Glad you have it sorted. To be fair 1gb data does not go far so keep and eye on your usage it can be expensive to go over your allowance.
 

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