12v aerial power supply for DAB?

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agentdagnamit
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12v aerial power supply for DAB?

Post by agentdagnamit » Sat Apr 24, 2021 12:14 pm

I've fitted a Sony DAB head unit and 'Bongo specific' stick on windscreen aerial from Amazon. I know these aerials aren't the best, but it does claim to have a signal booster which needs a 12v supply.

The head unit has an ON/Off setting for external aerial power, but reception is shocking regardless of which setting I choose.

The radio , CD etc works fine otherwise, using a harness I also got from Amazon.

Question is, does a Bongo provide a 12v supply to that harness which can power the aerial, or do I need to modify the supply or harness in some way?

Thanks
Bob
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Re: 12v aerial power supply for DAB?

Post by Bob » Sat Apr 24, 2021 12:37 pm

The easiest thing is likely get yourself a tester and check it out:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/22017880084?iid=271711867228

Any car shop, Asda, DiY place, will have them. :wink:
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g8dhe
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Re: 12v aerial power supply for DAB?

Post by g8dhe » Sat Apr 24, 2021 1:32 pm

If the radio has a menu option to select "Powered Aerial" then that should be sufficient, it should route the +12v supply to the radio onwards to the aerial itself.
Geoff
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agentdagnamit
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Re: 12v aerial power supply for DAB?

Post by agentdagnamit » Sun Apr 25, 2021 7:31 am

Thanks.

Geoff - the radio has that option, but choosing either on or off makes no difference to reception, which is why I wonder if the aerial is receiving the 12v supply.
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g8dhe
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Re: 12v aerial power supply for DAB?

Post by g8dhe » Sun Apr 25, 2021 9:01 am

In that case either end could be faulty you would only be able to tell by using a meter to see if the voltage is appearing and current being drawn.
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Rickster
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Re: 12v aerial power supply for DAB?

Post by Rickster » Thu Apr 29, 2021 11:59 pm

Has the van still got it's original aerial? If so, why not use an aerial converter box? It has a single socket input with 2 outputs, analog & digital respectively, the other wire is connected to the antenna power from the radio, reception is very good on DAB even with the aerial down.
Don't even bother going down any other road, glass mount contraptions are only manufactured to make the masses spend some money and nothing more.
In case you're wondering how much this magic box costs, it's only15 quid.
Rickster
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Re: 12v aerial power supply for DAB?

Post by Rickster » Fri Apr 30, 2021 12:07 am

This is the thing I was talking about.
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CT27AA135_DAB_Splitter_DIN_Female_to_DIN_Male_with_SMA.jpg
agentdagnamit
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Re: 12v aerial power supply for DAB?

Post by agentdagnamit » Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:54 pm

Unfortunately the aerial was removed when the can was converted.

DAB reception was definitely better a few years ago
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