Poor radio reception on Ducato motorhome

[landrovereditor90]

The usual Fiat Ducato motorhome problem.
Poor radio reception, I believe is because the aerial is in the mirror.
I have tried a DAB radio with a DAB aerial but when travelling it’s no good.
I have put the original radio back in and of course the reception is poor to non existent.
I haven’t tried an amplified aerial, I have read that they suffer from electrical interference.
Plastic body is no good for earthing an aerial and I don’t want to drill holes in the wing.
If I connect the radio to my Vision Plus TV signal amplifier will that work, there is provision to attach a radio. I can’t find out if anyone has done this.
Or if you know better please let me know.
Thank you.

 

[Gellyneck]

The usual Fiat Ducato motorhome problem.
Poor radio reception, I believe is because the aerial is in the mirror.
I have tried a DAB radio with a DAB aerial but when travelling it’s no good.
I have put the original radio back in and of course the reception is poor to non existent.
I haven’t tried an amplified aerial, I have read that they suffer from electrical interference.
Plastic body is no good for earthing an aerial and I don’t want to drill holes in the wing.
If I connect the radio to my Vision Plus TV signal amplifier will that work, there is provision to attach a radio. I can’t find out if anyone has done this.
Or if you know better please let me know.
Thank you.

Think it depends on what aerial you've got and what VP amplifier. If it's a VP2 or 4 the answer is no however if it's a VP3 or 5 they do have radio amplification output.

 

[landrovereditor90]

It’s a VP3

 

[Gellyneck]

It’s a VP3

Assuming you have an aerial that has radio reception capability you should be able to connect an appropriate coaxial cable to the VP3 radio output socket and run this to the radio aerial input on the rear of your head unit.
Given you are going to have to access the rear of the head unit I would suggest you trial connect the coaxial cable before final routing.
You should also check your aerial as some have retractable antennas either side that should be extended for radio reception. Try it both ways as it can work with them retracted (it did on our caravan) because it's a pain to extend/retract every time you move.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Terrestrial radio is always going to be very hit and miss especially while mobile. I bought a little Bluetooth/FM transmitter that sends all my phone audio to the head unit. Any radio station in the world is avaliable via the Tunein app, also navigation instructions interrupt and even hands free phone calls.
Also using it in the habitation sockets keeps things neat up front and any portable radio can tune in.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CK1M1BBX/?tag=mhf04-21

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[landrovereditor90]

Terrestrial radio is always going to be very hit and miss especially while mobile. I bought a little Bluetooth/FM transmitter that sends all my phone audio to the head unit. Any radio station in the world is avaliable via the Tunein app, also navigation instructions interrupt and even hands free phone calls.
Also using it in the habitation sockets keeps things neat up front and any portable radio can tune in.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CK1M1BBX/?tag=mhf04-21

I found the tunein app £7.99 a month. Radio Stations UK is free and covers everything I’ll need so I’ve gone with that and this.
Baseus Handsfree USB Aux Bluetooth Adapter Dongle Cable Jack 3.5mm Line
Thank you for your help.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I found the tunein app £7.99 a month. Radio Stations UK is free and covers everything I’ll need so I’ve gone with that and this.
Baseus Handsfree USB Aux Bluetooth Adapter Dongle Cable Jack 3.5mm Line
Thank you for your help.

I don't think you have to pay for tunein. It asks me to sign up a lot but there's a little cross on the top right you click on, it plays 2 five second adverts instead

 

[B+W vanman]

I don't think you have to pay for tunein. It asks me to sign up a lot but there's a little cross on the top right you click on, it plays 2 five second adverts instead

Do you lose the streaming signal in areas of poor phone coverage?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Do you lose the streaming signal in areas of poor phone coverage?

Yes of course, sometimes get "Buffering"

 

[PP Bear]

Terrestrial radio is always going to be very hit and miss especially while mobile. I bought a little Bluetooth/FM transmitter that sends all my phone audio to the head unit. Any radio station in the world is avaliable via the Tunein app, also navigation instructions interrupt and even hands free phone calls.
Also using it in the habitation sockets keeps things neat up front and any portable radio can tune in.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CK1M1BBX/?tag=mhf04-21

Thank you, just ordered mine for the car. At 20 years old it’s pre-bluetooth, but not quite an 8 track.

Thanks for sharing

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[landrovereditor90]

Assuming you have an aerial that has radio reception capability you should be able to connect an appropriate coaxial cable to the VP3 radio output socket and run this to the radio aerial input on the rear of your head unit.
Given you are going to have to access the rear of the head unit I would suggest you trial connect the coaxial cable before final routing.
You should also check your aerial as some have retractable antennas either side that should be extended for radio reception. Try it both ways as it can work with them retracted (it did on our caravan) because it's a pain to extend/retract every time you move.

From Vision Plus.
Many thanks for getting in touch but I’m afraid that our amplifiers are only designed to work with Vision Plus antennas, and only for when the vehicle is stationary.
So that won’t work.

 

[Odd-no-more]

I have Android Auto, and stream the radio through that, it rarely drops out, although sometimes when in the middle of nowhere, it does go. I then stream from the music on my phone

 

[B+W vanman]

I have Android Auto, and stream the radio through that, it rarely drops out, although sometimes when in the middle of nowhere, it does go. I then stream from the music on my phone

As above for Apple CarPlay