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jont

Member Since: 02 Apr 2011
Location: Aylesbury, Bucks
Posts: 242

2006 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Santorini Black

DAB aerial - what type and where to place ?

As part of my xmas ICE project (tweeters/4 new midrange and a sub to go in the 90XS) I've been looking at getting a Pure 300i DAB unit - mainly for Planet Rock it has to be said - but am wondering what aerial to go for ...

There the 'internal' stick-on strip aerial type - that obviously can't go on the windscreen because of the heating elements - but was wondering if having it installed on one of the alpine lights was a good place ?

The other type is an external 'magnet mini-sharkfin' mount - that I understand on a 'normal' car once on the roof, the steel skin helps with the reception - but I'm guessing not having a steel roof on the Defender means it a) wont stick and b) loses the additional reception effect ? ... the only thought I had was whether it would work if I fitted it to the external frame somewhere - maybe on the front door a-frame ? (and hope it doen't get nicked/knocked off !)

Any othe rthoughts from those with DAB radios fitted already ? ... the Pure unit looks really tiny but seems to do everything with a usb/ipod/iphone connector as well as a 3.5mm jack input, FM pass through (if necessary) and a 3.5 jack output ...

Was even thinking of ditching the OEM head unit completely and just fitting a small amp inbehind the console and just using the Pure as a tuner/switching unit ?

Any thoughts/comments gratefully received ... and anyone in/around the Aylesbury/Wycombe area that wants to come over and have a look at tweeter/sub fitting is more than welcome !

TIA

Jon

J

22nd Dec 2012 11:52am

foxkilla

Member Since: 01 May 2009
Location: J23 M1
Posts: 156

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Auto Tonga Green

I have an amplified roof mount on mine, brilliant reception.

22nd Dec 2012 11:59am

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20359

Re: DAB aerial - what type and where to place ?

jont wrote:

Any thoughts/comments gratefully received ... and anyone in/around the Aylesbury/Wycombe area that wants to come over and have a look at tweeter/sub fitting is more than welcome !

TIA

Jon

J

Pity your a fair way away from me.. As regards positioning your DAB aerial I would think up near the alpine windows would in-fact be a better place as it's higher up than the windscreen is. If I was you before positioning properly I would test it out first in a couple of positions and see what works out best. If you mount externally you'll also have the issue of routing wires as-well which will not be easy.

*Edit* Also if you did mount up near the Alpine window you could easily route the cable along under the edge of the head lining down the inside of the A pillar (behind the black trim) and down to the rear of the centre dash where required. It'll also be well away from and Amp power cables ect which could cause interference.

$W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
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22nd Dec 2012 12:03pm

lukev01

Member Since: 24 Mar 2012
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 412

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

I have the Pure Highway unit. As for placing the sticky aerial, I can see that the front windscreen isn't suitable but how about sticking it somewhere close? The cable I had with mine would stretch a good way, it is too long for my daily driver so I had to coil part of it up. 1970 Series 2A 88"

22nd Dec 2012 1:16pm

davew

Member Since: 02 Jan 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 888

1990 Defender 90 V8 Petrol PU Auto Rioja Red

I fitted a roof mount aerial on the wing in place of the factory one. It's a combined DAB and FM aerial, works really well and is flexible. On my Range Rover I used a stick on type but there's a lot more glass in that !

This is the one I used on the 90 wing...
http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/JVC_HAL-2__DAB_car_aerial.html http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/

22nd Dec 2012 2:00pm

WelshGas

Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Posts: 935

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

The sticky DAB aerial works fine on a Defender heated front screen as the heating elements Do Not extend to the sides there being about 15 cms gap between elements and windscreen edge. At least there is on mine -both sides and a 1 cm gap in the centre with no element.

I've used the Kenwood DAB windscreen aerial. LANDYWATCH

Neighbourhood Watch for Land Rover Owners

http://www.landywatch.co.uk/smf2/index.php

22nd Dec 2012 5:55pm

jont

Member Since: 02 Apr 2011
Location: Aylesbury, Bucks
Posts: 242

WelshGas wrote:
The sticky DAB aerial works fine on a Defender heated front screen as the heating elements Do Not extend to the sides there being about 15 cms gap between elements and windscreen edge. At least there is on mine -both sides and a 1 cm gap in the centre with no element.
I've used the Kenwood DAB windscreen aerial.

Mine are edge to edge pretty much

22nd Dec 2012 6:39pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

interesting thread, I'm looking to change/replace my headunit.

any pics of what these DAB Ariels look like ?

19th Jan 2013 9:14am

YeomanOfTheBar

Member Since: 04 Nov 2012
Location: North Notts
Posts: 206

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 DCPU Santorini Black

bpman wrote:
interesting thread, I'm looking to change/replace my headunit.

any pics of what these DAB Ariels look like ?

Plenty of options: http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/DAB_car_aerials.html 2013 Defender 110 XS DCPU
2016 Ford Mustang 5.0 V8

19th Jan 2013 11:37am

NormanD

Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 286

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black

DAB Aerials

Thought about fitting one of these to my roof rack.

http://www.panorama-antennas.com/datasheets/odp224-4bp.pdf NormanD WE191

2015 110 XS Utility
2014 VW Caravelle 180 Executive

19th Jan 2013 12:00pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

thanks guys, why did I think they looked like gold electronic circuit boards stuck on the glass ?

I'll try on in the alpine window, just need to ensure roof rack will not interfere (when I get one)

19th Jan 2013 12:23pm

YeomanOfTheBar

Member Since: 04 Nov 2012
Location: North Notts
Posts: 206

bpman wrote:
thanks guys, why did I think they looked like gold electronic circuit boards stuck on the glass ?

You do get those - being the cheapest way to do it, they're what you're most likely to get bundled for free with your shiny new DAB radio...

2013 Defender 110 XS DCPU
2016 Ford Mustang 5.0 V8

19th Jan 2013 3:27pm

bm52

Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Havana

bpman wrote:
thanks guys, why did I think they looked like gold electronic circuit boards stuck on the glass ?

I'll try on in the alpine window, just need to ensure roof rack will not interfere (when I get one)

i would be grateful for you opinion on this, plus how you routed the cables etc.

i am thinking about a Kenwood DAB/FM radio and their aerial
http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/produ...ivers/dab/

thanks BM52

19th Jan 2013 8:23pm

WelshGas

Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Posts: 935

I fitted the 455 DAB head unit and used the Kenwood aerial http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/produ...AB-Aerial/ fitted to the windscreen, a heated screen. It fits well and works flawlessly with the heated screen ON or OFF. Fitting this unit on an alpine window would be difficult because of the curved glass and the fact that the amplifier has to be earthed to the bodywork ( doesn't matter if it is painted , still works ok ). Cable routed down the side of the screen under plastic trim, under passenger dash shelf and up into the central dash .

Here is the fitting instructions http://images.kenwood.eu/files/prod/2389/5..._Guide.pdf

LANDYWATCH

Neighbourhood Watch for Land Rover Owners

http://www.landywatch.co.uk/smf2/index.php

19th Jan 2013 10:27pm

bm52

Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

Spent my HD bumper fund on a Kenwood DAB radio and their recommended aerial.

Fitted the aerial to the lower left windscreen and routed the cable as per WelshGas.

I already had a Kenwood radio so it was just a pull out and reconnect along with the DAB aerial lead.

Great sound with the Alpine Sub. I am very happy with the result, no interference at all as far as i can tell from the heated window.

BM52

24th Jan 2013 2:38pm

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