Hi,

A few months back I changed the standard Fiat CD/Radio for a Sony CDX-GT210 which is a CD/Radio but also has an AUX input.

CD and AUX IN work really well, but the radio reception is a bit lacking.

Could it be down to the aerial?

Is it worth swapping the aerial for a better one?

Are there any better ones?

Cheers

Ron

i'm not 100% but i think the oem head units had a aerial amplifier built in,so an after market one would need one.
luigi

Hi & thanks,

Is that something that goes between the aerial and CD/Radio, or can I get a supercharged replacement aerial?

Cheers

Ron

Hi Ron,

I am very interested in the outcome of this thread as I too replaced my standard Blaupunkt head unit (Radio/CD) and effectively lost all stations apart from Radio 4 and Heart when it feels like it.

I swapped mine out for a Blaupunkt Toronto 400 BT because I use the car for work and the integrated hands free seemed like a neat idea without having to have additional boxes and microphones dotted around the cabin. Also, the Aux-in and USB were handy options and it looked lie a straight swap over in terms of wiring and fittings.

In terms of the swap over it was very easy but as for the integrated hands free it was a waste of time as you cannot be heard over about 20mph (no ability to add external mic) and as I mentioned above have lost reception from almost all radio stations.

I have lived with it like this for over a year now but your thread has prompted me to look into it further. I have read somewhere on another forum that you can get something like this that should fix it :-

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_225952_langId_-1_categoryId_265877

But I have not tried it yet and would rather wait util someone a little more informed came along.

Anyway, Seasons Greetings to all in the meantime.

ATB

Peter

I have different sony units in both my doblos and reception is excellent, I would be checking the aerial and lead first.

It's been a few years since I swapped mine over, but I also had a problem with reception - when I took a second look, I realised I needed an adapter to connect the plug on the end of the aerial lead to the socket on the radio. Without the adapter I was only pulling in a couple of stations.

Hi,

Thanks.

The plugs on the back of the headunit are the right ones and before pushing it into the cage I tested it and it worked OKish, but the connections did seem a bit floppy so may not be 100% at that end.

My guess then is that there's something not connecting very well between the headunit and the aerial.

Will have to examine the whole run more closely.

Cheers

Ron

Might need something like this, dobby standard radio has iso socket, most after market radios have din sockets (the centre signal socket is very recessed). Can get these in Halfords too.

Car Aerial Adaptor For Car Radio ISO to DIN: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

hi peeps
seems as though on my fiorino that is, that the arial amplifier is separate in line on the coax cable, with the the coax wire going to the roof arial fm, and then a thin wire that runs up behind the windscreen trim for am.
the amplifier part has a power wire going to it that gets its power from the oem head unit.
maybe you need to see weather you have the same set-up, then all you need to do is find the wire to boot-up your arial amp?
hope this helps a little
luigi

johnhififan said:

Might need something like this, dobby standard radio has iso socket, most after market radios have din sockets (the centre signal socket is very recessed). Can get these in Halfords too.

Car Aerial Adaptor For Car Radio ISO to DIN: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Click to expand...

That's the extra bit I had to buy.

Hi,

Thanks for replies; when I get a spare moment I'll have a closer look at the connections...I'm sure that's where the problem is.

Cheers

Ron

I am guessing that the Doblo is pre-2010.

If so, the part you need is the one that changes the aerial connector from ISO to DIN as suggested above. AFAIK the Doblo didn't have an amplified signal with the original radio and I have never needed anything more than the ISO to DIN adapter when fitting my radios. (Also, don't forget to check that the switched and constant positive terminals a wired up correctly, they are often reversed upon initial set up of an aftermarket system)

Hi,

Thanks for all the tips.

I've got all the right bits; the radio works but not that brilliantly.

Like I said, I suspect it's down to a poor connection (possibly the DIN to ISO or at the connection to the aerial itself).

At the moment I'm contemplating swapping the aerial for one which has a cable with integral DIN plug (thus eliminating the DIN/ISO adaptor).

The aerial on a High Top is fixed through the body above the windscreen. Getting to the this connection point involves removing some of the ceiling lining panels and if I remember correctly from the last time I took the ceiling down the panel in front of the aerial is the last one to come out.

Will do shortly....

Cheers

Ron

Poperon said:

Hi,

if I remember correctly from the last time I took the ceiling down the panel in front of the aerial is the last one to come out.

Will do shortly....

Cheers

Ron

Click to expand...

Yep. Had to do this a few years back when I thought I had a leak, turned out to be a shedload of condensation , drips onto the lining, runs forward & drips down either side of the screen. I have the wind deflectors fitted so I also leave the windows down a touch to allow a crossflow of air. Not noticed the problem since.

I used that opportunity to ensure the aerial was mounted securely, however, if I ever had to replace it, I'd be using my mate Stanley to create an acces flap.

johnhififan said:

Might need something like this, dobby standard radio has iso socket, most after market radios have din sockets (the centre signal socket is very recessed). Can get these in Halfords too.

Car Aerial Adaptor For Car Radio ISO to DIN: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Click to expand...

Well for 69p I decided to invest and am pleased to report that I now have loads of radio stations back.

As an interim I had re-fitted the original radio and got loads of stations so decided that it was either the connection or a faulty head unit.

Thanks for the link Johnhififan

Hi,

sludgeguts said:

I used that opportunity to ensure the aerial was mounted securely, however, if I ever had to replace it, I'd be using my mate Stanley to create an acces flap.

Click to expand...

Cutting an access hole behind the aerial is the obvious thing to do. Something else to add to the list of things to do.

Our Doblo is a high top version and to make a bit more luggage space I’ve fitted a shelf above the driver/passenger seats. Useful space but right in front of the aerial mounting…so that’ll have to come out first to get to the aerial. Doh!

sludgeguts said:

Yep. Had to do this a few years back when I thought I had a leak, turned out to be a shedload of condensation , drips onto the lining, runs forward & drips down either side of the screen. I have the wind deflectors fitted so I also leave the windows down a touch to allow a crossflow of air. Not noticed the problem since.

Click to expand...

Wouldn’t mind adding some of those wind deflectors. Where did you get yours from Sludge?

Fiat ones seem to be about £40 and Heka ones £30… both seem a bit pricey, is there any difference between them? (Going off the main topic a bit…ooops).

Cheers

Ron

Ebay.
iirc they came from a German seller, about £26.