DAB Radio

[Noel]

I have previously owned four cars or fitted with DAB radio, including a ZX, in all the radio has worked perfectly, I live 10 miles north of Brighton and the reception has been perfect on all of these cars.
The DAB radio in my new PHEV is awful, outside of the dealership, it works, but as soon as I drive off it becomes intermittent, or non-existent, it appears that it needs a very strong signal in order to work. The dealership simple says there is nothing wrong with it.
On other MG forums e.g. MG4, this has been mentioned, and owners have stated that the dealerships have told the that an updat is imminent that will overcome the problem.
Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[SRP1]

I’ve had my PHEV Trophy since last February and my DAB radio has been faultless, even with a rear dash cam fitted, which interfered with the radio on my previous Ford.

 

[BUFFYGBSO]

I have only had my HS PHEV Trophy for a few days but have to say that the DAB reception has been perfect so far. Much stronger signal than that in my old Outlander PHEV

 

[BarrieG]

I've had my car since May last year and I have had absolutely no issues with the radio. I've travelled from the Midlands regularly into Newhaven, Brighton and Portsmouth without any loss of the signal.

 

[benrb7]

I did see someone posted quite a while ago if the aerial isn't grounded properly it can cause this issue.
There is a bolt in the rear window, someone else suggested removing this wet and dry to ensure good metal contact and it fixed their problem.

I've only just received mine yesterday and no issues here.

 

[PFCWales]

I must admit that I have not any issues with DAB reception, in fact it now works in some areas where where my old HS used to drop out. I get the occasional blip when in and around high-rise areas but that’s about it. Do these maps help?
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/coverage-and-transmitters/small-scale-dab

 

[Noel]

Many thanks for all the replies, I’ve resorted to the workaround of using my iPhone, selecting the DAB station I require, and then using Apple Car Play. As this works perfectly, I know that there must be something wrong with the signal in the car. I will have a look at benrb7’s suggestion regarding the earthing, or perhaps ask the dealership to check. All they do is try the radio at their location, strong signal, and say ‘nothing wrong’.
Cheers Noel

 

[Noel]

I did see someone posted quite a while ago if the aerial isn't grounded properly it can cause this issue.
There is a bolt in the rear window, someone else suggested removing this wet and dry to ensure good metal contact and it fixed their problem.

View attachment 43261

I've only just received mine yesterday and no issues here.

Many thanks for the suggestion, see my reply above.

 

[Noel]

Hello Clive.
Regarding intermittent DAB reception. My dealership had my HS PHEV in on Friday to replace a wheel, due the lacquer peeling off.
I also provided their master technician with the photograph ‘benrb7’ provided, (above) and he investigated. He also updated the software to R61, and sorted out a couple of other problems, for which I am very grateful. As it was after 5pm,when they informed me that my car was ready for collection, I didn’t have an opportunity to speak with the technician.
Previously the dealership had always stated the there was nothing wrong with DAB. However, they are only a few hundred metres from a local DAB repeater, and of course it works perfectly there.
On the way home, the reception was perfect to begin with, but when, on the A27 between Polegate and Lewes it became intermittent, however it was a lot better than it had been.
I have also checked the location of the DAB+ transmitters, and the area on the A27 is served by two, one to the north, and another to the south. In addition I have never suffered from intermittent reception on 5 previously owned cars at all.
I understand the CANBUS system, and the way in which it uses a 12 V ‘BUS’ to provide power to equipment, and that that the equipment, e.g. the rear screen heater, is controlled by the system.
Regarding the rear screen heater, research indicates that it draws between 10 and 20 amps, for convenience let’s assume 12 amps.
The size of CANBUS power cables is 2.5mm (square), and the resistance of 1 m, at 20°C is 0.0074 ohms. Therefore 135 metres of cable will have a resistance of 1 ohm, and I doubt there is 135 meters of cable between the battery and the tail gate.
I connected a high quality ohm meter between the 12v battery negative terminal, and a good earthing point on the tail gate, and obtained a reading of 1 ohm.
Logic indicates that if the screen and cable are both 1 ohm then the power is equally divided between them!
This is supported by the fact that I’ve noticed that the rear screen heater takes a considerable amount of time to even start to de-mist the screen.
Do you, or anyone else have any thoughts, please?
Many thanks Noel.

 

[Noel]

I've had my car since May last year and I have had absolutely no issues with the radio. I've travelled from the Midlands regularly into Newhaven, Brighton and Portsmouth without any loss of the signal.

Thanks Barry, if it works in the Brighton are, I live 9 miles north of of Brighton, it should work in mine. See my report below.

 

[Daza26]

I’ve also noticed this, DAB in my 2026 phev is shocking to the point that I can’t even use it.
I just get blips of sound and then nothing for a few minutes.
Gonna have a look at the bolt as suggested and see if that makes any difference.

 

[Noel]

Hi Daza. Since I wrote my long post above. As I said, the the dealership updated the software, and I’m not sure what else they might have done, but the DAB has been a lot better, it’s not perfect, but its OK
If you do take the back panel down to get to the bolt, it might be worth connecting a multimeter between the bolt thread, and the negative battery terminal to measure the resistance.
Cheers Noel.

 

[Daza26]

Hi Daza. Since I wrote my long post above. As I said, the the dealership updated the software, and I’m not sure what else they might have done, but the DAB has been a lot better, it’s not perfect, but its OK
If you do take the back panel down to get to the bolt, it might be worth connecting a multimeter between the bolt thread, and the negative battery terminal to measure the resistance.
Cheers Noel.

I’m hoping I don’t need a software update because the car was new in 1st March

 

[Noel]

I’m hoping I don’t need a software update because the car was new in 1st March

Have you checked the bolt?

 

[Daza26]

I have, took it down and used the sander in the dremel to sand off the paint from the hole and also sanded the back of the bracket as well.
Put it all back together tested and working perfectly….. BUT.
When I put the rear dashcam “Nextbase” back onto its magnetic mount it stopped working immediately. Put it on and off a few times to check and same each time dashcam off the mount, working. Put it back on , not working.
So I have had to move the magnetic mount off of the rear screen and put it on the plastic brake light cover.
Anyway it’s all working perfect now so I would suggest if you have a rear dashcam that uses a magnetic mount in your rear screen and your DAB is not working you might want to move it and see if that helps.

 

[Noel]

I have, took it down and used the sander in the dremel to sand off the paint from the hole and also sanded the back of the bracket as well.
Put it all back together tested and working perfectly….. BUT.
When I put the rear dashcam “Nextbase” back onto its magnetic mount it stopped working immediately. Put it on and off a few times to check and same each time dashcam off the mount, working. Put it back on , not working.
So I have had to move the magnetic mount off of the rear screen and put it on the plastic brake light cover.
Anyway it’s all working perfect now so I would suggest if you have a rear dashcam that uses a magnetic mount in your rear screen and your DAB is not working you might want to move it and see if that helps.

Hi Daza. Thanks for the update. It certainly opens a new window. I do have Nextbase rear view cam. Tomorrow I’ll have a look and see what I can do.
Many thanks Noel

 

[Daza26]

This is how I have mine set up now and it works beautifully.
It’s a bugger to get it to stick though and I had to use some superglue.