Morning,

 

The FM radio reception on my Columbus is decidedly patchy (no problems though with Satnav coverage). I was thinking maybe the aerial is in need of replacement, as the car is now 10 years old so could be corroded.

 

I looked on eBay and the combined base + mast they seem to be priced from £30 for supposedly genuine VW ones, and considerably less for the pattern units.

 

I thought I’d call Skoda to see how much they’d charge – I was stunned when the guy came back to me with a price of £156.66!

 

The guy was adamant he’d quoted the correct part  - but how can it be so expensive compared to the eBay ones? Does the aerial and mast differ for cars with Satnav?

 

Thanks 

 

 

 

Edited 30 November, 20178 yr by yeager2004
error

Do you have Sat Nav and a Shark Fin style aerial on roof?  I guess you do with the Columbus as factory fit?

 

There will be different sharkfin aerials for different service combinations. I.e. Sat nav / GSM.   Sat nav / FM.   Satnav / FM / DAB / GSM.  That may explain some of the difference in prices of genuine items.   I'm sure someone who has replaced or retrofitted can tell you what is required and if any pattern parts work ok I don't have first hand experience.

Edited 30 November, 20178 yr by TheClient

Hi - I've not had the car from new, so don't know if the Columbus unit was a factory fit. The aerial is a standard base with the long thin mast (not Shark Fin). I was looking for a like-for-like replacement. I only need Sat Nav and FM

 

Cheers

OK. That changes things a bit. It doesn't sound like factory fit. There must be an internal Sat Nav aerial somewhere, as I don't think the standard Bee Sting aerial does Sat NAV ever. 

 

So, back to your problem, the amplifier in the base of the aerial and is a common failure that causes poor reception. The bee sting aerial and amplifier should not be that expensive I'd guess £30 from a dealer...

 

Need to make sure the correct part, these guys (number1forskoda) are a skoda dealer. You can phone and check the part. I wouldn't mention the columbus bit, just see what the Reg / Vin check produces in terms of part number required.  This could well be it:

 

E.g.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-SKODA-ROOF-AERIAL-MAST-BASE-1U0035505F-/321974249465

 

PS. Lots of posts in here if you search for aerial failure, poor fm reception, aerial amplifier etc etc..

 

Edited 30 November, 20178 yr by TheClient

You can also test the current being drawn by the aerial amp, but you need access and a multi meter:

 

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/166696-testing-aerial-amplifier/

Thanks for all the info. I've added a pic of my aerial - it looks different to that of the aerial in the eBay link you sent in so much that there's another part to the aerial in front of the base. Is that part of the Satnav?

 

Appreciate your help

 

That is the same as fitted on mine, I found a cheap fix for mine, remove the base unit and you will see 2 small phillips screws remove them and you can then split the electronics unit from the plastic cover/whip

The silver bit is the contact to the electronics part

 

On mine there was corrosion on both the silver bit in the cover and on the tang sticking up from the electronics module, cleaned both up and straightened the tang a bit to ensure better contact pressure on the cover, then reassemble, mines been working fine now for the last 18 months

 

26 minutes ago, yeager2004 said:

Thanks for all the info. I've added a pic of my aerial - it looks different to that of the aerial in the eBay link you sent in so much that there's another part to the aerial in front of the base. Is that part of the Satnav?

 

Appreciate your help

 

 

 

 

Arr right. Haven't noticed that type before...  I still don't think that would carry sat nav. But I've already been wrong in this thread!....  If it doesn't carry sat nav, there might be an option to simply use the another type, like what I linked to, if it is a lot cheaper.    I still find it hard to believe £156 is being quoted, was that fitted, would make more sense if it was? 

 

Anyway, before I dig myself another hole on this I'll wait until someone has replaced the type on your car....

The OP's picture is the one with GPS/FM & possibly GSM, all depends on how many leads come from the base unit

There you go, I haven't come across that design before! Said I could be wrong again! Every day a school day.

Thanks chaps - great info as always.  I think I'll have a go at cleaning mine.  So my next chanllenge will be removing it - lack of space makes it look a bit awkward from the Youtube vids I've watched.

11 minutes ago, yeager2004 said:

Thanks chaps - great info as always.  I think I'll have a go at cleaning mine.  So my next chanllenge will be removing it - lack of space makes it look a bit awkward from the Youtube vids I've watched.

 

Mine was on a MK1 Estate so it was a simple job of removing one bit of plastic trim, then reaching in under the headlining trim and undoing the large nut and disconnecting the aerial cables, refitting was the trickier job, as I didn't have anyone to hold the base straight while doing up the nut, so it took a few attempts to get it straight 

 

Originally I did try one of those cheaper eBay units, but had to run a separate 12v supply to the base and even then the FM reception was terrible  

Edited 30 November, 20178 yr by nige8021

maybe a bit silly question but if the factory aerial is removed, after re-installing will there be any danger that the sealing won't be as before or the base may not sit fine and then humidity and water ingress starts entering?

It's a common recomendation i've heard not to touch factory antennas as then problems will start - is this true really?

I/m thinking of replacing the standard FM with a sharkfin and connecting only the FM leads which come from infotainment.

 

I did reseal the electronics unit to the cover with some silicone rubber sealant and a small amount under the base before I refitted it, and that was 18 months ago and no problems with either the FM or GPS, I must admit I preferred the look of the sharks fin (copy) but the FM reception was dire, If your set on a shark fin, before you buy one, check what the aerial connections are under the headlining, as there are a few different types (Fakra, BNC, SMB) then look on eBay for ones from a mk5/6 Golf and I would steer clear of the copies and go for a genuine one from a car being broken/dismantled