I have poor radio reception after installing Columbus when I access secret menu both ant. are showing off .

How do I turn them on Please?

Anyone please?

You can't 'turn them on'.

By it showing the antenna are off it is saying that they are not connected properly or that the actuall antenna are not working.

As there are two antenna on a Columbus (although not necessarily in your car), I doubt they both broke at the same time.

Try unplugging the White connectir from the back of the Columbus, blowing on it, checking the pins in the centre of the White FAKRA on the actual Columbus are intact and then reconnecting it if they are.

Does your car have a single or double female FAKRA on the end of the aerial wires (that you connected to the Columbus)?

My antenna 1 was always off, the aerial base was just replaced by Skoda under warranty as it had failed.

As above though, both failing at once is less of a chance than connection

Have you definitely got an ant2 though, which would be the window one in the rear quarterlight on the driver's side.

Are we talking about your 2014 Fabia?

 

You have taken the factory supplied head unit out and put a Columbus in its place?

 

I'm pretty sure you should have two antenna connected to the previous stereo (double white FAKRA connector - see picture but ignore the green bits).

 

 

If not, what did you have on the end of the cables that end in white plastic blocks and connect to the aerial inputs on the back of the stereo?

 

I suspect that the Columbus may be broken as i cannot see anything other than very bad luck that both antenna are not working just because you put a Columbus in...

Edited 30 January, 201511 yr by KBPhoto

Thanks for all the suggestions. My car is a 2005 Octavia with a single roof mounted antenna and a single aerial lead to which I have fitted a fakra adapter lead to convert from the single lead to a twin plug which plugs into the back of the HU. I have recently replaced the roof aerial. The radio reception is virtually non existent.

So you only have one antenna I believe and it could be that one ie the roof aerial is faulty or has had water ingress. Shouldn't be if its new though.

Edited 30 January, 201511 yr by adamal

Unlikely to be the new roof mounted aerial base.

Remove the Columbus and check the pins in the centre of the FAKRA connectir are still there.

Remove the adapter.

Plug the one aerial cable into the double connector on the Columbus. Put it in the part nearest the GPS connector.

Do you get radio reception in antenna 2?

If you get reception (it'll be FM) then it looks like your connector / converter may be at fault. If not, I think you Columbus is faulty.

Tried everything that has been suggested but no solution as yet. The only conclusion I can come to is the roof antenna, is there a way of testing this apart from replacing it, or connecting a temp. aerial to the HU to check.

My fabia was only 6 months old when it's antenna Base died, caused me to loose signal apart from the one wired into window.

Could always see if cables are accessible when you drop headlining an inch, test it with a new one and return it if fault stays.

Or multimeter on the Base to see its getting power perhaps

Did it seal properly to the roof when fitted?  Water might have got in pretty much straightaway if not.

Did your original radio work okay? If so then the Columbus is faulty. If I remember correctly, is this the same Columbus you were asking about about 6 weeks ago when you bought it and it didn't have any maps on it?

This is the one I originally asked about which has since had the firmware updated and up to date maps installed. Everything works fine except radio reception. This seems to be a fairly common problem and I am trying to find out the best solution.

Try it in another Skoda with known working radio.

Or any vag with quad lock as it's an RNS510 in vw

This is the one I originally asked about which has since had the firmware updated and up to date maps installed. Everything works fine except radio reception. This seems to be a fairly common problem and I am trying to find out the best solution.

Did the original radio work okay before you removed it from the car?

The original radio didn't work any better this was the reason for suspecting the antenna and why I replaced it when I fitted the Columbus Unit. I have always received local programs but extremely weak signal which fades and completely disappears at times, this is what makes me think it is an aerial problem and not the H.U. I will have to invest in a new aerial to test this theory out if there I no alternative. Is there a signal amplifier in the circuit or is this built into the base of the aerial?