How come you need an aerial booster for non OEM radios that have the booster normally built in, but as I understand it the beesting aerials are also "active" aren't they ?

 

I was reading about using standard aerial with a splitter for allowing DAB through and suggests beestings and the bases will be amplified. If thats the case why would you need to amplify it twice ??

I believe the OEM head unit has a booster built in.

If you were to fit a bee sting style with a booster in the base you would need a power supply to the base to power it.

I imagine cars that have bee sting style as standard will have a power supply to the base, your fabia though won't so will need adding.

Much easier to add the booster at the head unit.

Cheers Adam, I was just trying to work out whether I could get away with a FM/AM/DAB splitter - they seem to reckon that beestings tend to be amplified hence would not work with such a DAB splitter

 

(these aren't as good as a full all out proper aerial, but I can't be arsed right now with a full strip down of the headlining etc -but if it was amplified, the results won't just be unclear, it just won't work at all apparently)

 

I just wanted to throw in some elementary unit to get me going for now so thanks, it seems like that would be okay then

 

Although per my other thread my FM thing is a completely mystery - its actually doing TMC but no FM work that one out !

I think the fm signal will be split somewhere inside the head unit with one signal for the tmc and one for the fm.

Not much help really but might help you narrow it down a bit.

I've got the full schematic service manual for it, so might see some reference to that thanks.

I guess that would kind of make sense, I was hoping though maybe its something software related !

On some head units you can choose if it tunes local or distant. Should have a button or option in the menu. If this is the case and it's on local setting this could maybe cause a problem.

Thanks very much for that, but I've had a fumble through the menus and don't think its that (I've toggled that already) - but thanks a lot for trying.

I've actually seen on the wiring/electronic diagram there is quite a difference between the circuitry on the FM and the TMC....if effectively bypasses on the antenna side and goes through to TMC whilst the FM has its own circuits

 

You know what though, for now I'm just bothered enough, integrating DAB is the way forward and if I decide to get rid of it will pay for itself back anyway. It could perhaps be repaired in future but I don't think its economically viable

In case it's any help I've just gone down the DAB route, ditching the old OEM symphony head unit and going with a cheepo Pioneer DAB for under £100. I read around about trying to use my existing beesting aerial but came to the conclusion (maybe incorrectly) it just wouldn't work with any splitter you can buy. So I got the Autoleads £20 stick on window DAB aerial and reception is flawless (5 bars where I live – Oxford area). Really pleased I can listen to 6 music now. And plug in my ipod (other mp3 music players are available) for long journeys.

 

Autoleads DAB film antenna (looks huge and ugly – but actually isn't once fitted, see my pic)

http://www.halfords.com/sat-nav-audio/car-audio/dab-radios-car-stereos/autoleads-dab-film-antenna-smb-dab-aa1

 

Pioneer DEH-X6600 CD DAB+ USB-in

http://www.halfords.com/sat-nav-audio/clearance/all-clearance/pioneer-deh-x6600dab-cd-rds-tuner-with-dab--digital-radio

 

Edited 26 August, 201411 yr by vRSWitter