Is this a solution to the antenna?

http://www.kufatec.de/shop/en/product/-DAB-Antennenmodul?info=4269

I wanted DAB in my Fabia -I bought a VW RCD310 DAB from eBay and bought a JVC J1 glass mount aerial from dabonwheels.co.uk for the princely sum of £15 -looks like this:

I wanted DAB in my Fabia -I bought a VW RCD310 DAB from eBay and bought a JVC J1 glass mount aerial from dabonwheels.co.uk for the princely sum of £15 -looks like this:

I fitted an AUTODAB aftermarket unit into my Octy last year, works perfectly most of the time and it was supplied with the same type of antenna. My understanding is that this is an active unit but it does have it's limitations in DAB fringe areas, when I get around to it I will be looking to replace the antenna, that's the only weak point with this kit. The AUTODAB interfaces with the HU and is navigated via the touchscreen and steering wheel controls, unfortunately you will need the controls to navigate.

http://www.connects2.co.uk/Instructions/DAB-SK1.pdf

I spend my time between Lincoln and London -that stick on antennae is absolutely fine on the motorway and in London, it occasionally drops out in some of the more busy parts of Lincoln.

I've mused about replacing my roof aerial with a Calearo DAB/FM combi one. Obviously it would be a lot tidier and should have stronger reception. Calearo's website states that their aerials can run on phantom power from the FM connection (which the VW/Skoda units provide). However after discussions with the chaps at dabonwheels they say this: http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/Active_DAB_car_aerial_power_connection.html and I really should provide it with it's own power supply direct from the fuse box. The Calearo is about £100 and would be a bit of effort to fit as the head liner would have to come out.

I spend my time between Lincoln and London -that stick on antennae is absolutely fine on the motorway and in London, it occasionally drops out in some of the more busy parts of Lincoln.

I've mused about replacing my roof aerial with a Calearo DAB/FM combi one. Obviously it would be a lot tidier and should have stronger reception. Calearo's website states that their aerials can run on phantom power from the FM connection (which the VW/Skoda units provide). However after discussions with the chaps at dabonwheels they say this: http://www.dabonwhee...connection.html and I really should provide it with it's own power supply direct from the fuse box. The Calearo is about £100 and would be a bit of effort to fit as the head liner would have to come out.

I fitted a sportsflex AM/FM/DAB to a Fabia VRs I once had and my previous Leon, and the results were excellent, far better than any 'stick on' patch, it is a little time consuming to fit but you don't have to remove the head lining.

Also, the antenna is powered via phantom feed as has been said, you don't need DC power.

I strongly suspect that the Amundsen+ as fitted to SE+ models can recieve DAB and has the required aerials already, it only needs to be switched on in firmware.

Hi All,

Welcome to my first ever post on this forum. I referenced most of the threads when purchasing my new Skoda which is due to arrive next month. The specifications of the models are very different here than in the UK and my Superb Elegance comes with the Bolero radio as standard equipment. I was offered a few choices of radio by the dealer: Bolero (Standard), Amundsen, Amundsen+ and Columbus.

I chose the Amundsen+, without DAB as DAB coverage is very poor out here. The differences between the Amundsen (RNS 310) and the Amundsen+ (RNS 315) are significant as they are manufactured by two different companies.

The great news is that the dealer knew the differences in technology (integrated Bluetooth and hard disk drive) however didn’t spot the price difference so I got a very good deal indeed.

I admit that the Amundsen/+ isn’t as flashy as the Columbus but seems very competent indeed.

Welcome

Hello,

Further to the posts above and before I'd posted my message asking if DAB could be activated on the Amundsen + unit fitted to the SE Plus I'd also sent Skoda UK a message asking the same question.

Following my email to Skoda UK I actually received a call from them.

The person who called me said that you can't get DAB activated in an SE Plus. However following all of the posts and advice above I'm not inclined to accept this as the definitive answer. The reason that I say this is even though I was called by Skoda UK the person who called me didn't exactly sound very confident about the answer/ information that he was telling me.

He started by saying that at present the only Skoda vehicles in the UK with DAB are the Octavia vRS Blackline and the Yeti Urban. Now having looked through Skoda brochures I'd already spotted that these were the only two cars to come with DAB already active as a standard spec from the factory.

However my question wasn't which Skoda cars come with DAB as standard from the factory. My question was that given the vRS Blackline is fitted with the Amundsen + and has DAB given that the SE Plus also has the Amundsen + unit I was asking them whether DAB can be activated on the SE Plus model.

The thing that undermined my confidence in the person who called me was the fact that he said the reason the vRS Blackline has DAB is because it's fitted with the Amundsen + unit and the reason that the SE Plus doesn't have DAB is because the SE Plus only has the Amundsen unit not the plus version. However this statement is wrong because the SE Plus is fitted with Amundsen +.

This is why I think that the people who've posted above have been really useful because I'm hoping that the Amundsen + in the SE Plus model does have the ability to receive DAB with some tweaks and settings activated by somebody with the required skills/knowledge.

Thanks @TDIum

@Skoda John14

In 8 days time I'll be getting my new Superb with the Amundsen+. One of the first things I'll do is check your theory that all Amundsen +'s have DAB. The superb I get is an Elegance so in principle it should have DAB enabled right? However looking at the specsheet that the dealer gave me (identical to this one on the web - I just dont know how to attach it here!), I think we are going to need someone who knows how to tweak it.

http://www.carcommunications.technisat.com/en/produkte/produkt.datei.php?id=117〈=en

I just found the out that Denmark plans to close the FM band by 2019, but I hope I have a new car by then.

I thought DAB was only used in the UK (bad decision made many years ago). Other countries have different (mostly better) systems.

Is there DAB in DK?

Hi TDIum,

We have DAB here too and speaking to some of the Danes in my circles they are raving about it. The system might be better than the UK's as its a small country and it wouldnt suprise me if they have invested more into the DAB infrastructure than the UK.

I once had a hire car it was a Vauxhall Insignia fitted with a DAB radio and drove it from Stansted Airport to Birmingham. I remember thinking that it was strange that the volume kept on fading and radio retuned constantly! It was a couple of years back but I wasn't impressed.

I just got all of the paperwork for the car which I get on Friday. On the tax sheet, the DAB option wasnt checked so I don't think I have it.

Expect DAB can be coded on an SE plus but it probably doesnt have the DAB versions roof antenna; if it wasnt specified with DAB they wouldnt have fitted the associated antenna and wiring at the factory; no different to the Blackline having bluetooth "capability" but no mic.

Mine has a stubby roof antenna and a diversity antenna stuck to the inside of the rear side window. It seems to be able to use both of these for recieving and demodulating ordnary FM broadcasts so this indicates to me that it already has the necessary hardware.

BTW I am an electrical engineer who used to work in military radio systems engineering, design and development.

I'm having a nightmare. The dealer mailed yesterday to say Skoda can't ship out enough Amundsen+ 's so my car gets delivered with the standard radio system which I am a bit unsure what that is. They will take it back next week when the Amundsen+ arrives and dealer fit it as was the original plan. (By the way next week is only an estimate).

BUT, that is not the major problem. Was supposed to have recieved my new car today but the Tax office system for car registration is down so it can't be registered....

So I sign this post right now as car-less :(

Update:

New Skoda Superb in the driveway and it's humongous! It's very different from my old car and going to take some getting used to. Gone is the 'sporty' driving style and I'm going to look forward to adapting a new comfortable style.

I mentioned above that I didn't know what the radio is - its a swing. The MDI interface doesn't seem to work with my iPhone 5 and 30 pin lightning connector. I don't know if this is normal though but hope the Amundsen+ arrives soon.

Just a last comment - I'm back at home new superb is now back complete with Amundsen +. I'm really happy with it, and its so much quicker than the Columbus which I'm also used to running on a VW. Sadly though no DAB even though I have an elegance.

As I understand Skoda UK must make DAB available as an option on SE and above.

If anyone has an idea if its just easy to enable DAB without any physical changes I would be interested to try.

As it's been said, it's not the car that is at fault, it's the lack of digital coverage throughout the UK. That is one of the main reasons why the government have scrapped the plans to change radio stations to digital like they have with TV.

That is not true at all - the Government will make an announcement on this in October 2013 and all the signs are that a switch off of National FM radio broadcast will be announced - only the date is in question.

In the meantime, there is a massive investment going on to improve DAB coverage.

A multiplex for Herts, Beds & Bucks and Northampton was switched on this week with a number of radio stations on it.

John.

I fitted a sportsflex AM/FM/DAB to a Fabia VRs I once had and my previous Leon, and the results were excellent, far better than any 'stick on' patch, it is a little time consuming to fit but you don't have to remove the head lining.

Also, the antenna is powered via phantom feed as has been said, you don't need DC power.

 

 

Superted: Hi there. Can you provide more details of your DAB antenna install. What make and model is the antenna. Where and how much did you purchase it from? How easy is install setup? And how strudy is it, as looking at the images it looks really tall !

 

thanks

D