Poor DAB signal (cured) (1 Viewer)

[jezport]

I have a Blaupunkt DAB head unit and have suffered with the signal dropping out and the weak channels receiving no signal.

The first thing that I noticed was that the rear view camera seemed to instantly wipe out all but the strongest signals. I replaced the cheap Chinese monitor with a better quality one, this improved the signal massively.
The next thing I noticed was if my phone was charging on a high output charger powerful enough to keep it charged while running tomtom the signal from the DAB radio was also reduced. I tried a genuine charge adapter and a number of others to no avail until I got one from Autosound in Bradford. This improved the signal but not enough for me.
The phone was still causing reception issues so I tested different USB leads and found big differences in the DAB signal. The USB leads definitely degraded the signal. I went out and purchased an expensive USB lead with decent screening, the difference was massive. I now rarely have issues with the DAB signal and also found the new USB lead charges faster and charges my old note1 that went on and off charge with other leads.

So my recommendation is that if you are having DAB signal problems, try disconnecting your phone and turn the rear view camera off to see if it helps.

 

[The Wino]

Same thing happens with our phone charger on fm radio

 

[Figaro]

The usb lead effectively acts as an Ariel to pick up interference causing radio to drop out, dab am or FM.
I found a hardwire kit for dashcam made a bid difference but yes, good quality leads with screening will work too.

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[jezport]

Same thing happens with our phone charger on fm radio

I would try one of the chargers from Autosound if I was you, then if that doesn't solve it get a good (not Samsung) USB lead.
I am going to try and find a wholesale supplier for the good leads so I can sell them at shows

 

[jezport]

The usb lead effectively acts as an Ariel to pick up interference causing radio to drop out, dab am or FM.
I found a hardwire kit for dashcam made a bid difference but yes, good quality leads with screening will work too.

I think the modern phones that charge at over 2A seem to cause RF radiation from the leads so a good screened one is now what is required. Plus poorly built 12V adapters are extremely good at transmitting interference.

 

[Figaro]

Plus poorly built 12V adapters are extremely good at transmitting interference.

Yes I think someone with more technical knowledge than me wrote on here that the components used to step down the voltage were also a cause of interference

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[jockaneezer]

We have one of those tennis racquet fly zapper things, if I go anywhere near our DAB with it, the signal drops out straight away.

 

[Don Quixote]

Digital audio broadcasting was originally promoted as being less prone to interference and it is true that compared with AM and FM radio, reception is less likely to be affected by pirate transmitters, stations on adjacent frequencies or multi-path (reflected) signals. However, there is now a long and growing list of devices blamed for interfering with DAB radios and it includes microwave ovens, LED lighting, laptops and laptop power supplies, step-down transformers, Inverters, Solar panel s and controllers, LCD TVs, mobile phones and power line networking, routers to name just a few.The list goes no and on.

Interference tends to be more of a problem in weak signal and fringe reception areas and the fact that it comes and goes when you stand near your radio suggests that it could be a factor in your case. Something as simple as moving the aerial, or the radio, or using an outside aerial may help. Otherwise, most of the devices implicated to date are mains-powered, and the chances are the interference is traveling through the mains wiring. You may be able to track down the source by switching things off, one at a time, until it disappears. If the guilty device cannot be easily moved, replaced or suppressed try using a mains filter plug or adapter with your radio.
In the end, though, it shouldn’t happen. If the interference is coming from an otherwise blameless appliance, that’s not affecting any other audio or video products, then it may be due to a flaw in the design of the radio and you should complain to the manufacturer.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I've noticed that DAB signal strength is getting noticeably stronger almost on a monthly basis.

The reception we get in the MH is several times better than this time last year without me doing or changing anything.

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[Don Quixote]

Cheap cables, extensions leads, phone chargers do not have a great deal of shielding over the core that carries the power and this will cause you no end of problems as they all will give off RF that causes you to loose signals

 

[Don Quixote]

I've noticed that DAB signal strength is getting noticeably stronger almost on a monthly basis.

The reception we get in the MH is several times better than this time last year without me doing or changing anything.

Nick, this can be due to atmospheric pressure, which can cause signals to get better or worse at certain times of the year and times of the day. In "ham radio" terms it also cause ducting allowing station to talk to people 1000's of miles away as if they were local and other times cannot talk to the chap in the next village. Having severed in the Royal Signals the thing you learn about radio signals is sometimes amazing.

 

[Lenny HB]

Interesting but I think a lot of the problems comes down to the quality of the DAB aerial. A lot if people spend hundreds on a decent stereo then just a few quid on an aerial. Spend £50 to £100 on a decent aerial you get good reception without interference.
We use the standard Hymer aerial which is very good it is a roof mounted whip with an amplifier.

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[Deleted member 29692]

Nick, this can be due to atmospheric pressure, which can cause signals to get better or worse at certain times of the year and times of the day. In "ham radio" terms it also cause ducting allowing station to talk to people 1000's of miles away as if they were local and other times cannot talk to the chap in the next village. Having severed in the Royal Signals the thing you learn about radio signals is sometimes amazing.

I know that.

I'm not talking about it being better on odd days but rather a sustained and consistent improvement over a period of time.

 

[tonyidle]

Digital audio broadcasting was originally promoted as being less prone to interference and it is true that compared with AM and FM radio, reception is less likely to be affected by pirate transmitters, stations on adjacent frequencies or multi-path (reflected) signals. However, there is now a long and growing list of devices blamed for interfering with DAB radios and it includes microwave ovens, LED lighting, laptops and laptop power supplies, step-down transformers, Inverters, Solar panel s and controllers, LCD TVs, mobile phones and power line networking, routers to name just a few.The list goes no and on.

Interference tends to be more of a problem in weak signal and fringe reception areas and the fact that it comes and goes when you stand near your radio suggests that it could be a factor in your case. Something as simple as moving the aerial, or the radio, or using an outside aerial may help. Otherwise, most of the devices implicated to date are mains-powered, and the chances are the interference is traveling through the mains wiring. You may be able to track down the source by switching things off, one at a time, until it disappears. If the guilty device cannot be easily moved, replaced or suppressed try using a mains filter plug or adapter with your radio.
In the end, though, it shouldn’t happen. If the interference is coming from an otherwise blameless appliance, that’s not affecting any other audio or video products, then it may be due to a flaw in the design of the radio and you should complain to the manufacturer.

I agree. If power line filtering on the radio is poor or the aerial coax isn't the best there will be a long list of electrically noisy devices competing for bandwidth.

 

[TerryL]

I had a new Kenwood DAB radio (including all the bells and whistles but not satnag) fitted by Autosounds in Newcastle which, almost at their insistence, included a new screen mounted aerial. Before that we got an excellent signal on FM with the vans own mirror-mounted aerial but found using any form of charger nearby degraded it to unuseable.

Just back from a week trip and am delighted with the performance of both DAB and FM with no noticeable interference from anything. Goes to prove a proper installation will always give the best results.

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[jezport]

Interesting but I think a lot of the problems comes down to the quality of the DAB aerial. A lot if people spend hundreds on a decent stereo then just a few quid on an aerial. Spend £50 to £100 on a decent aerial you get good reception without interference.
We use the standard Hymer aerial which is very good it is a roof mounted whip with an amplifier.

Not so with me. We changed to an expensive active aerial as we thought it may help. It didn't.

 

[jezport]

proper installation will always give the best results.

Mine was fitted professionally.

 

[Silver-Fox]

I was thinking of going dab but do bt think the aerial is up to much on our A class Rapido.

I wonder if I dropped a cable onto the chassis and used it as a ground plane and soldered it to the aerial earth?

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[Don Quixote]

I was thinking of going dab but do bt think the aerial is up to much on our A class Rapido.

I wonder if I dropped a cable onto the chassis and used it as a ground plane and soldered it to the aerial earth?

It might providing all the other equipment used in your MH is will screened, but on the other hand the length of the earthing cable can act as a aerial receiving the frequency interference. One of the hardest things to find is frequency interference, so much so the the old BT years ago had a specialist team who used to go out and try and find were the interference was coming from and they charged for it...........

 

[mitzimad]

I have a Blaupunkt DAB head unit and have suffered with the signal dropping out and the weak channels receiving no signal.

The first thing that I noticed was that the rear view camera seemed to instantly wipe out all but the strongest signals. I replaced the cheap Chinese monitor with a better quality one, this improved the signal massively.
The next thing I noticed was if my phone was charging on a high output charger powerful enough to keep it charged while running tomtom the signal from the DAB radio was also reduced. I tried a genuine charge adapter and a number of others to no avail until I got one from Autosound in Bradford. This improved the signal but not enough for me.
The phone was still causing reception issues so I tested different USB leads and found big differences in the DAB signal. The USB leads definitely degraded the signal. I went out and purchased an expensive USB lead with decent screening, the difference was massive. I now rarely have issues with the DAB signal and also found the new USB lead charges faster and charges my old note1 that went on and off charge with other leads.

So my recommendation is that if you are having DAB signal problems, try disconnecting your phone and turn the rear view camera off to see if it helps.

do you have a link to the usb lead you bought or maybe a name as its a minefield knowing which ones to buy my daughters original i phone lead interferes with our radio

 

[jezport]

do you have a link to the usb lead you bought or maybe a name as its a minefield knowing which ones to buy my daughters original i phone lead interferes with our radio

I bought it from a shop but I will check what it is when I get in the van tomorrow to go to the newark show. I did try a few supposedly good leads first.

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[Lenny HB]

Not so with me. We changed to an expensive active aerial as we thought it may help. It didn't.

Wasthe aerial fitted on the roof with a proper ground plane? It's the best way to guaranty a good signal on a Motorhome body.

I wonder if I dropped a cable onto the chassis and used it as a ground plane and soldered it to the aerial earth?

Best way is a 12" sq of SS on the roof around the base of the aerial.

 

[tonyidle]

I was thinking of going dab but do bt think the aerial is up to much on our A class Rapido.

I wonder if I dropped a cable onto the chassis and used it as a ground plane and soldered it to the aerial earth?

A ground plane has to be directly beneath the aerial to work as such. The aerial coax outer, earthed at the radio, will work just as well as a separate earth to the chassis. If the aerial is mounted on aluminium bodywork it is well worth checking that the aerial base connects to it.

 

[jezport]

Wasthe aerial fitted on the roof with a proper ground plane? It's the best way to guaranty a good signal on a Motorhome body.

Best way is a 12" sq of SS on the roof around the base of the aerial.

Our van is a PVC so we tried using the roof aerial via a DAB/FM signal splitter and it was no good. the best we got was on an active window aerial. I don't want 2 separate roof aerials

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[Silver-Fox]

It might providing all the other equipment used in your MH is will screened, but on the other hand the length of the earthing cable can act as a aerial receiving the frequency interference. One of the hardest things to find is frequency interference, so much so the the old BT years ago had a specialist team who used to go out and try and find were the interference was coming from and they charged for it...........

Mmm hadn't thought of that

I could use shielded coax for satellite maybe?

I think my problem is lack of earth that you would normally have with a steel body.

 

[Silver-Fox]

A ground plane has to be directly beneath the aerial to work as such. The aerial coax outer, earthed at the radio, will work just as well as a separate earth to the chassis. If the aerial is mounted on aluminium bodywork it is well worth checking that the aerial base connects to it.

Mines an A class with a fibre glass body.
I have to admit I've not looked at the aerial on the roof.

I did find the remnants of an electrical type aerial in one of the cavities in the cab area.

Maybe a thin steel plate under the roof aerial might work?

Edit

Must type quicker

 

[tonyidle]

Mines an A class with a fibre glass body.
I have to admit I've not looked at the aerial on the roof.

I did find the remnants of an electrical type aerial in one of the cavities in the cab area.

Maybe a thin steel plate under the roof aerial might work?

Edit

Must type quicker

Unless you want red streaks to add to the black ones I'd avoid steel. Painted aluminium would be fine. Or even white pre-coated aluminium stuck down with Sikaflex. Circular or square with radius about the same length as the aerial.

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[Lenny HB]

Mines an A class with a fibre glass body.
I have to admit I've not looked at the aerial on the roof.

I did find the remnants of an electrical type aerial in one of the cavities in the cab area.

Maybe a thin steel plate under the roof aerial might work?

Edit

Must type quicker

Think that is what my Hymer has, the whip aerial is on the roof below it in the locker is a round plastic box I assume this has the ground plane in it as it works very well. They use the same aerial with different amplifiers for DAB, FM & TV all work really well even a GPS aerial somewhere.
Doesn't matter if it's GRP or Alloy will still need a steel ground plane.

 

[Theonlysue]

Had a blaupunkt sat nav radio reversing camera fitted by vanbitz. Spoke to him after fitting and travelling as dab radio no good. Switched back to fm. He said I needed better dab Ariel, £150 plus fitting. Declined but will bear in mind for future reference.

 

[tonyidle]

Think that is what my Hymer has, the whip aerial is on the roof below it in the locker is a round plastic box I assume this has the ground plane in it as it works very well. They use the same aerial with different amplifiers for DAB, FM & TV all work really well even a GPS aerial somewhere.
Doesn't matter if it's GRP or Alloy will still need a steel ground plane.

It definitely does not have to be steel! Anything that is a good conductor is equally effective with copper, brass, or aluminium being optimum.

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