DAB Radio install,help required

[tc4332]

Did a return trip to Glasgow today, two hours fortyfive minutes each way, non stop. Had a few hours in Glasgie, had a great dinner. Drive was really grand apart from horrendous downpour at Preston during the return but the 8 coped beautifully.

DAB radio report.

• North bound we had Smooth on, really good, DAB as far as Carnforth then nothing. After panicking realised that Smooth does not have cover that far north.
• Southbound listened to Radio 1, did not like the racket but the reception was good till we reached the hills north of Beatock, where it transferred to FM for a very short time. Then nothing till Lockerbie where it came back in FM. Gretna area DAB reappeared but after a while I could not take the so called music so muted it until Smooth came back north of Lancaster. Then had DAB the rest of the journey. The heavy downpour did not affect reception at all.

Final result, I like DAB and think it was good value, not perfect but then neither am I.

[Burnzybubbles]

I'm really missing Bose and DAB now, I can't wait to get back into the driving seat of the 8, the biggest thing I notice is the sound quality, so much better than normal fm

[tc4332]

After a good few miles playing with DAB we are still not 100%.
We have a 2008 D3 3.0 TDI at work, same as mine but 4 years younger. The DAB in that is OEM from new and the reception is much better than mine. For example Smooth works without a glitch all the way from Wigan to Gatwick and back. Whilst mine breaks into FM and even has blank spots.
I'm wondering if an aerial pre-amp might help with this.
Has anyone tried this, or am I really off the track?

[mannyo]

Maybe just a new aerial amplifier is needed, I've read that they can fail as I had to thoroughly test mine when adding the DVB-T just in case one part had failed.

The amp is located in the rear of the car and is where all the aerials attach.

Does the heated rear screen work fully, another possibility is that the failed element is reducing signal as the antenna for everything IIRC is the heated screen element.

[tc4332]

Thanks Manny.
I replaced my old aerial amplifier at the top of the rear window with 4E0035225AK.
I did this because the original did not have DAB on it.
I'm wondering if a later one might be better.
For example I have spotted this:-
AUDI A8 D3 2005-09
AERIAL AMPLIFIER
PART NUMBER - 4E0035225AP

REMOVED FROM 2007 A8 D3 3.0TDI

Note the different suffix.

[Somerandomguy]

If i remeber rightly, all the different suffixes relate to the different amps (and therefore connections) that could be installed.
So models without a TV for exmaple wouldnt have the amp for it etc.

[tc4332]

Thanks.
So that raises a question:-
Does anyone have the definitive explanation of the suffix codes on this part?

[mattylondon]

Originally Posted by tc4332

Thanks.
So that raises a question:-
Does anyone have the definitive explanation of the suffix codes on this part?

Yes, but I've no time to cross reference all the PR codes. Looks like there are two amps for TV+DAB, which I've highlighted.
Edit - looks like some PR codes are related to the type of glass installed.

4E0 035 225 aerial amplifier
F >> 4E-5-009 500
left 1 PR-QV0:4KC,
VW8
2008.02 - 2010.04


4E0 035 225 S aerial amplifier
F >> 4E-6-014 939
left 1 PR-QV0+4KC,
VW8
2008.02 - 2012.05


4E0 035 225 AP aerial amplifier left 1 PR-QV0+4KC,
VW8


4E0 035 225 B aerial amplifier
for radio: 'HIGH' 1 'J..'
PR-QV0:9M0


4E0 035 225 C aerial amplifier
F >> 4E-5-009 500
left 1 PR-QV0:4KC,
VW8:9M9
2008.02 - 2010.04


4E0 035 225 AA aerial amplifier left 1 PR-QV0+4KC,
VW8+9M9


4E0 035 225 K aerial amplifier
F 4E-5-009 500>>
left 1 PR-QV0:4KV:
9M0
2011.03 - 2010.04


4E0 035 225 T aerial amplifier left 1 PR-QV0+4KV+
9M0


4E0 035 225 L aerial amplifier
F >> 4E-5-009 500
left 1 PR-QV0:4KV:
9M9
2011.03 - 2010.04


4E0 035 225 AB aerial amplifier left 1 PR-QV0+4KV+
9M9
21 4E0 035 225 D aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception
F >> 4E-5-009 500
left 1 PR-VW8,4KC
2008.02 - 2010.04


4E0 035 225 AC aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception left 1 PR-VW8,4KC


4E0 035 225 F aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception
F >> 4E-5-009 500
left 1 'J..'
2011.03 - 2010.04


4E0 035 225 AE aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception left 1 'J..'
PR-VW8,4KC


4E0 035 225 AM aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception left 1 'J..'
PR-VW5,4KS


4E0 035 225 G aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception
F >> 4E-5-009 500
left 1 PR-VW8,4KC:
9M9
2008.02 - 2010.04


4E0 035 225 AF aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception left 1 PR-VW8,4KC+
9M9


4E0 035 225 M aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception
F >> 4E-5-009 500
left 1 PR-4KV
2011.03 - 2011.04


4E0 035 225 AD aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception left 1 PR-4KV


4E0 035 225 N aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception
F >> 4E-5-009 501
left 1 PR-4KV:9M9
2011.03 - 2010.04


4E0 035 225 AG aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception left 1 PR-4KV+9M9


4E0 035 225 AH aerial amplifier
for models with digital radio reception left 1 PR-VW8,4KC


4E0 035 225 AJ aerial amplifier
for models with digital radio reception left 1 PR-4KV


4E0 035 225 AK aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv recept. and digital radio recept. left 1 PR-VW8,4KC
PRCode: 4KC = Side and rear windows in heat-insulatingglass
PRCode: VW8 = Side and rear windows burglar-restrained

4E0 035 225 AL aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv recept. and digital radio recept. left 1 PR-4KV
PRCode: 4KV = Side and rear windows in laminated glass


4E0 035 225 R aerial amplifier
for vehicles with tv reception 1 'J..'
PR-4KV:9M0

[tc4332]

Thanks Matt.
Where do you find all this info?
Looks like I have the correct amplifier already.
Think I'll have a play with an extra(non OEM) amplifier to increase the signal.

[mattylondon]

Originally Posted by tc4332

Thanks Matt.
Where do you find all this info?
Looks like I have the correct amplifier already.
Think I'll have a play with an extra(non OEM) amplifier to increase the signal.

Etka 7.5, or one of the few online parts catalogues - VW are getting quick to take them down...