Can anyone help me with a query? I am about to replace the stream HU in my Octavia with a RCD510DAB HU and would prefer a clean OEM look, ie, not have a foil antenna in the windscreen, just the bee sting aerial on the roof. If I purchase an amplified DAB aerial base from the dealer would I be right in thinking that all I need to do is buy a DAB extension cable to run from the aerial base to the HU and plug the power and AM/FM leads into the existing wiring?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You would need an entire new aerial cable as the dab headunit will use a different fakra connection. You'd also need a dab external aerial, expect to pay over £100 for the aerial if you want it to work.

Good choise btw, those stick on aerials are usless

Cool, cheers.

£20 and I got the 2-sided one that looks like it's fro a '90s car kit. Mounted it on the tailgate, no problems.

I am replacing a Bolero for a RCD510DAB. Can anyone recommend a DAB aerial replacement for the original FM roof aerial. I understand the original FM only aerial must be powered because it has an amp built in. Is there a direct replacement that just needs the DAB signal cable run in from the aerial to the head unit? I want it powered the same way so that the amplifier powers up when the radio is on and not have to have the ignition key switched on to power up the dab aerial from a separate switched circuit?

I've just put an RCD 510 DAB in my Roomster.

 

The aerial base is part number 6R0035501A you will probably need a a new aerial mast as well as is is a different thread size from the standard Skoda one. You plug the existing FM plug in to it (this carries the power for the amplifier in the base), you will need to run an additional cable for the DAB - I used one of these:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fakra-Z-Jack-to-jack-extension-cable-RG316-5M-500cm-/300931814696?pt=UK_Computing_Boosters_Extenders_Antennas&hash=item4610ef1528

Thanks greenstripe very helpful. Did you just order 6R0035501A  from a skoda dealer, a quick search doesn't bring much up ? What route did you take to run the cable?

It's a VW part rather than Skoda but a Skoda dealership should be able to order it for you. I bought mine from eBay from a car breakers. I ran the cable along the passenger side, tucked into the head-liner taking care to avoid airbags and then down behind the a pillar trim and across the passenger foot-well under the carpet and in to the centre consul. 

If you give me a week or so, I should be able to help a little.

I didn't like the external windscreen mounted aerial that came with my Pure 300Di, so tried the internal windscreen aerial from Alpine when I bought the Yeti.

Unimpressed with that, I've decided to go with the Skoda oem aerial, i.e. the version of the roof aerial with dab built in.

6R0 035 501 D plus new whip bit.

Unfortunately, I'm rather short on time at the moment, so am having it supplied and fitted by a local independent car audio specialist rather than do it myself.

They have indicated that it's going to take about 2 hours to fit, as they will completely drop out the headlining, run the cables and refit.

I so hope the performance justifies the cost...

If you give me a week or so, I should be able to help a little.

I didn't like the external windscreen mounted aerial that came with my Pure 300Di, so tried the internal windscreen aerial from Alpine when I bought the Yeti.

Unimpressed with that, I've decided to go with the Skoda oem aerial, i.e. the version of the roof aerial with dab built in.

6R0 035 501 D plus new whip bit.

Unfortunately, I'm rather short on time at the moment, so am having it supplied and fitted by a local independent car audio specialist rather than do it myself.

They have indicated that it's going to take about 2 hours to fit, as they will completely drop out the headlining, run the cables and refit.

I so hope the performance justifies the cost...

 

Got a part number for the new whip bit?

Got a part number for the new whip bit?

I believe that it is 6R0035849A 

I believe that it is 6R0035849A 

Thank you

Now installed and performing beautifully.

 

The only difference from what I expected was that the aerial does seem to need the phantom 5V. Without it the performance is very poor, with it the performance is excellent.

Now installed and performing beautifully.

 

The only difference from what I expected was that the aerial does seem to need the phantom 5V. Without it the performance is very poor, with it the performance is excellent.

Do you mean the extra 12v feed needs connecting for good performance? The phantom power goes up the aerial cable so you have no choice you get it connected anyway, normally you can't turn it off.

Do you mean the extra 12v feed needs connecting for good performance? The phantom power goes up the aerial cable so you have no choice you get it connected anyway, normally you can't turn it off.

On the Highway 300Di/Alpine EZi - DAB, the phantom power is switchable and - unless I'm mistaken - 5 volts.

I started with it switched off, working on the understanding that the entire aerial amplification was powered by phantom 12 volts from the original FM lead of the OEM head unit (from what I've read on Briskoda).

Like this, there was a DAB signal, but it was very poor and subject to drop outs. The integral display on the DAB device was fluctuating wildly with signal strength dipping as low as 20% and losing all signal quality.

When I switched on the 5 volt DAB phantom power, signal strength went up to 100% with signal quality sat at 90%+. I've still had a couple of drop outs, so it's not perfect, but it seems pretty good and a lot better than the screen mount aerial.

What I'd love to know is what phantom voltage (if any) is actually coming out of an OEM head unit on the DAB fakra. Has anyone measured it?

If the Skoda aerial is supposed to be fed 12 volts then I have a switched live that would be easy to connect. If that is the case though, in surprised that shoving 5 volts up it has made such a difference.

Of course other than the fact that it works, none of this will be relevant to the OP as they are using original aerial with original radio, so there should be no confusion,