Adding DAB capability to your existing VW audio.....

[MattGoldi]

I was wondering if anyone has added DAB capability to the RCD510, primarily using the AutoDAB range - http://www.autodab.com/Volkswagen.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_265865" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyone have any experience with these?

Thanks

[PGN]

Don't have any experience of this but it looks like a neat solution.

[Kennowaybino]

Looks good, and fitted for under £30 by Halfords own auto technician can't be too bad

[infinidim]

Looks really good.

Has anybody had this fitted to their car yet?

[bitmadmax]

Looks interesting - wouldn't trust the monkeys at halfords to fit it though

[ZephyR]

Looked like a good solution at first but having second thoughts after a closer look.
The DAB radio function is only controllable via the steering wheel buttons.
Appears that it takes a DAB signal and converts it to FM for onward transmission on your head unit through the antenna cable. Basic station information is converted in to RDS text and sent to the head but other DAB information will be lost.
It cuts out the normal FM signal from the car's antenna during DAB transmission and sends its own signal to the head unit as a FM broadcast. Presumably you tune one of your presets to the DAB unit. You then use the steering wheel controls to scan up and down the DAB waveband to find a station you want. No presets on the DAB unit I guess.
Bearing in mind how DAB signal strength is still quite patchy across the country I wonder how good that window antenna will be. Also for £30 I bet Halfords stick that in the easiest place for them ..... your front windscreen

Its a solution to installing DAB and is fairly neat but probably has some limitations. Fine if you can live with them.

[alanstead]

I've been looking at these, seen lots of reviews with people saying how good the digital audio quality is? But it transmits on FM, so how can it sound any better than normal FM signals? Funny! So far the aerial which sticks to the window, and the fact I have a fiscon bluetooth already plugged into the quadlock connector and am not sure if I could also plug this in as well, is putting me off at the moment. If I do get one, I will post my findings. I suppose the other option is a new RCD510 with DAB, but I dont know what would need done to fit an aerial?

[MattGoldi]

Hmmm, having popped into my local Halfords to discuss further, I was underwhelmed by their complete lack of knowledge on it...they'd never known of a VW one being fitted :-0 really!!! Shocking stuff, so I think I'll see what else to do, maybe just go with a Pure device for now...

[arlurt]

Does anyone know if the DAB RCD510 is a plug-n-play swap for the Non-DAB unit? There seem to be plenty of DAB RCD510 units available secondhand. If I get one of these units, can I just install it or do I need to make changes to the antenna installation as well?

Thanks.

[salsajoe]

Does anyone know if the DAB RCD510 is a plug-n-play swap for the Non-DAB unit? There seem to be plenty of DAB RCD510 units available secondhand. If I get one of these units, can I just install it or do I need to make changes to the antenna installation as well?

Sorry if I have missed a thread but seems worth revisiting as quite a lot of interest in DAB upgrades and using the OEM FM/AM antenna seems a neat solution.

I now have a RCD 510 DAB for the 2011MY roc. I do not want a stick on window antenna and intend to use the existing OEM side window antenna by upgrading the FM/AM antenna amplifier to 1K8 035 552F (DAB amplifier) under the right hand rear window as suggested by the great RW1. Has anyone done this mod as interested in how the wiring from the amplifier to the radio was fitted. Also wondered if there is a VW wiring repair kit that did the job?

Thanks.

[salsajoe]

All sorted. Works well.

[dimexi]

All sorted. Works well.

Details? Was it straight forward? I remember seeing that thread by Chris (RIP), might go searching for it again

[salsajoe]

Hi Dimexi

Fairly straightforward. Bought a new DAB amplifier to go under the side window to replace the FM one and bought a 4 metre cable to connect from the amplifier to the radio. Also need a twin connector at the amplifier end. I think you can get a DAB retrofit kit but could not find part numbers. Then too late I found this web site: http://www.kufatec.de/shop/en/Retrofit- ... nna-module" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Not sure if they do a scirocco version.The tricky bit was routing the cable into the dash from the amplifier. Eventually pushed it into the void under the plastic trim at carpet level under the driver door and up into the dash near the fuse box and then over the steering column to the radio. The cable has female fakra connectors at each end and they are 'neutral' so will mate with any other male fakra connector.
This is what I used.
dab amplifier 1K8 035 552 F and cable 000 098 655 and twin connector 000098713 A

[dimexi]

Brilliant, thanks for that detail salsajoe. Will definitely look into this