StephenFord Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 I currently have one of those windscreen stick on aerials to power my DAB converter, it's fine for about 80% of the time but isn't brilliant. Is there any way I can use the standard roof mount aerial to feed my DAB? (2005 Focus LX) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F0CUE Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 There is a dab version available that was made for the newer dab stereo it has an amplifier in the base but something needs to send 12v to that amp so it works. @rhyds has had experience with this and came to some conclusion on another site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botus Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 all the wires are different (no reason other than ford being difficult) I reused the original and added an aftermarket amp to boost the signal and push phantom power feed up the coax. the stock wire can be retained and the ford DAB mount and antenna can be used but you need to play to convert from male (pre 2009) to female fixing of the base to the roof... I made a "nut" from a brake bleed nipple.... and used an antenna amp depending on the head unit some have Faka DAB and a std Ariel connector (old style), later ones get 2 x Fakra (so if buying the antenna wires be carful which you get ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 mmm... I was afraid of that! I was rather hoping there would be some kind of 'splitter' option at the aerial connector end. I think I may just suffer the drop out of DAB and fill the gaps with FM 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 I just typed 'splitter DAB' into eBay and got this. Waste of money? Ebay splitter listing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botus Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 ….. it'll probably be rather average, I got a specialist amp with 15db gain over the stock ford stuff (plus genuine Ford DAB base and antenna rod) and its only just OK, no idea how the ford (DAB) parts get any reception the other issue is most aftermarket stuff uses SMB connector which is rubbish and NOT compatible with any car manufacturer antenna connections. All cars use Fakra. You can modify SMB grind the outer down a few thou but its a phaff and no positive retention check these robbers for a OK range and ideas https://incartec.co.uk/category-listing/DAB-antennas-and-adapters 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 To be honest, if I could get LBC on FM I wouldn't touch DAB. I hate the way digital is either ON or OFF, at least with FM, if it fades out a bit you can still listen to it even with a bit of crackle. Though I was bought up on a 12" B&W TV screen with a coat hanger for an aerial, so am well use to the 'emperors new clothes' LOL Much more interested in content than quality... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botus Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 I don't think many car manufactures care about reception BMW seem OK, but Merc antenna's are the worlds biggest joke... however Ford seems to be vying to beat Mercede's stupidity. Wouldn't surprise me if German's deliberately make the antennas specifically so they just meet the broadcast specification, even though they know no one meets this anymore (especially since 3g, 4g, 5g, DAB and DTV all clash with one another so they need to broadcast something that's 1/3 of what they are supposed to) rather that just making one's they know will work 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 I was actually a passenger in my mates 5 year old Skoda, and his DAB worked perfectly through all my normal 'black spots', hence my initial query! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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