I now find me self looking at replacing the factory radio of my 02 Octavia . It is the one with the remote 6 disc changer in the rear fenderwell . I have a lot of staticky white noise when the radio is on , unless I am very close to a good signal , when the noise is barely audible . I can no longer receive a good signal in areas that I used to a few months ago , and I think the prob may be in the radio , or possibly the aerial . If the aerial is at fault , how difficult is it to swop that out , it is mounted at the top of the tailgate - it's an estate - on the roof . I bet routing the cable would be a chore . Unless there is another way of using an alternative aerial ? If the head unit itself has to go , does anyone know of a unit that would allow the retention of the disc-changer , and featuring some srt of mp3 capability , preferably an sd card or usb facility ? Am I right in assuming that these days , connections on the rear of these things have been standardised to some degree ? Any ideas , folks ?

Edited 23 November, 201114 yr by fatbloke-dim

There is a connector plug just under the aerial base, so changing it should not be too hard.

If getting a new HU, how about one which plays MP3s from CD/SD card, and not worry about the changer. After market HUs would require a power injector to supply power to the amplifier in the aerial base.

As far as I'm aware there is no aftermarket unit that can connect to the CD changer.

I've had two aftermarket head units in mine and never needed a power injector to get decent radio reception even with a stubby aerial fitted.

Changing the aerial shouldn't be too difficult. Getting above the headlining is probably the trickiest part.

My radio reception is absolutely shocking- apparently the sharkfins you can get from eBay aren't all that bad. Will be trying one soon. I can't even pick up Radio 1...

Good luck, keep us (me) posted on what you do.

Well.........

All good advice . It looks like the h.u. with usb may be the way forward . I reckon that would make the CD changer redundant , too . As for not being able to get Radio 1..... lucky you !! All I want to get is Radio 4 , I can't get it in areas where I've previously had no probs ,s'pose it could be down to transmitter issues , ie , they've shut some down to save some dosh , after all ,that seems the flavor of the month these days ,alas .With regard to the power injector fot the aerial amp , is it normal for a modern aftermarket H.U. to have a one o' these , or is it a peculiarity of the Grundig units Skoda fits to these early ( 02 ) Octavias ? Any recommendations for a modest - priced unit ? Has anyone had any success with removing one as per the Haynes manual , with a pair of feeler gauges ? Haynes have badly misled me in the past , so needless to say , even with a non-critical item like this , I would'nt entirely trust 'em !

Cheers all,

Fatbloke-Dim .

My radio reception is absolutely shocking- apparently the sharkfins you can get from eBay aren't all that bad. Will be trying one soon. I can't even pick up Radio 1...

Good luck, keep us (me) posted on what you do.

Perhaps that amplifier isnt connected or has packed up?

The aerial base is a surprisingly common failure point for radio reception. The base contains a headunit powered signal booster, and water gets in and corrodes the electrics until the amplifier stops working and you get poor reception. Replacing the headunit will not fix this issue, and you'll end up with a new headunit with poor radio reception. Replacing the base is quiet straightforward and the OEM part is very cheap, the base is held on by a single nut and their is a connector on the base. To replace the base should take no longer than 20 mins at most.

It should be noted that a lot of shark fin aerials just connect to the existing aerial base on the car (and cover it up), so if as Manny says the electrics in it have failed then it does not mattre if you have the standard aerial, a stubby one or a fin, it is still going to be cr@p.

it takes longer to take the trim off the boot of the car, than it does to replace the actual base. I know, I have done this (twice!). When I obtained my last aerial base it was from a hatch, and I just cut the headlining.... (don't tell the scrap yard )

So ,aerial base , eh? Best have a look at mine . Is it a headliner out job , or can they be reached without deranging the trim ? Any chance you could do the job from outside ? May still swop out the head unit , tho ' to get some mp3 capability .

I switched to a Pioneer head unit with a usb slot in mine, not had any aerial issues however.

So ,aerial base , eh? Best have a look at mine . Is it a headliner out job , or can they be reached without deranging the trim ? Any chance you could do the job from outside ? May still swop out the head unit , tho ' to get some mp3 capability .

There is a retaining nut above the headlining, but on an estate you can easily look in and see what you are going. You will need to remove the edging plastic trim though.

Now , then.....

Just been and picked up my replacement antenna base . Also got me a Kenwood DAB-41U , that's going in tomorrow . Have removed the trim around the tailgate ,and can see enough to replace it with the headliner pulled down a bit - that's a relief ! The Kenwood comes with a DAB - specific windshield mount antenna , that will route into the dash reasonably discreetly , Halfords sez .Also , just picked up a new filler strip for the roof rail channel , one piece as there's no roof rails fitted . You shoulda seen the bloody box it came in ! The dealership staff were all over it , they'd never seen nowt like it ! In real money , it was 12 feet x 2 feet x 6 inches ! I kid you not . One of the blokes said he'd put his missus's xmas present in it , if I did'nt want the box - he'd bought her some gloves !