Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: feeutfo on 12 March 2012, 09:23:35

Title: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 12 March 2012, 09:23:35
Any fix? It's an ncdc 2015 in a saloon. Afaik the aerial is the rear window heater element, and the aerial/mouse on the roof is for the phone.

Does the radio aerial have an amp to boost signal? If so can it be tweaked or a more "boostyer" one be fitted?

Ta
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: Dave DND on 12 March 2012, 09:34:00
Sadly, unlike external antennas, the signal strength from the internal rear screen aerial is of such poor quality, that the use of inline modulators is really not advised, as the extra joints and circuitry degrade the signal even further to a point that it is too weak for the head unit to receive.

Any boosters will just give more "Mush" as the signal is too poor to start with.

either External aerial or Wireless modulators are the way to progress forwards

 :y
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 12 March 2012, 14:40:59
Any insertion loss specs for the modulator?

Connector insertion loss should be of the order of 0.3dB
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: TheBoy on 12 March 2012, 16:55:28
I reckon it matches mine, for reception, and no uphill gardener HK unit in mine ;)
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 12 March 2012, 17:18:18
Not that I can see :-\

http://www.harmankardon.com/resources/Brands/harmankardon/Products/ProductRelatedDocuments/en-US/OwnersManual/DP1_US_revB_f.pdf
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 13 March 2012, 08:22:49
Sadly nothing in there.

A basic setup could be resistive so quite lossy, slightly more advanced would use a transformer which are good from an insertion loss perspective.

A good system would be electronic!
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: Dave DND on 13 March 2012, 08:58:18
Change the roof aerial for an aftermarket tri-state one,  GSM/GPS/FM  and the signal will certainly improve.

Hirschmann and Bosch are worth searching for

 ;)
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 13 March 2012, 10:27:27
This one any good?
http://www.bluespot.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/arpndt01m-aerial

With tv ;)
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: Dave DND on 13 March 2012, 10:51:39
This one any good?
http://www.bluespot.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/arpndt01m-aerial

With tv ;)

Yep, thats the sort of thing, although it must be said that you can get them without the Chav Fin if you wanted it to look more like the original antenna.

BTW, the TV side is redundant here, as was intended for analogue, not diigital !! Which may offer a good bargaining chip as the aerial is now obsolete !!
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 13 March 2012, 11:10:59
Dab, no? :-\
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: aaronjb on 13 March 2012, 11:16:16
This one any good?
http://www.bluespot.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/arpndt01m-aerial

With tv ;)

That one says it's discontinued, but apart from that minor issue.. if you find one at a decent price (i.e. less than the OE aerial base), see if they'll offer a discount for two - I could be tempted seeing as how I broke my OE base  :-[
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 13 March 2012, 11:19:50
Was trying to avoid the BMW type shark fin ones tbh. :(
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: aaronjb on 13 March 2012, 11:22:58
I'm not all that fussed about looks - I went looking for a suitable replacement before (actually, I think Dave pointed me to one) but the price was somewhat eye watering and pretty similar to the OE replacement price :(
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 16 March 2012, 18:22:36
Lost all reception now, emulater as well. Bit of soldering at the weekend by the looks...

I've been meaning to have the HU out for a while now anyway, as the cc temp knob has gone all unresponsive again, air flow sensor was found to be dislodged when the emulator was wired up.

Another job for the weekend. Sigh... ;D
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 16 March 2012, 23:16:43
Nope, scratch that, emulater was on pause  :-[ ;D
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: TheBoy on 17 March 2012, 08:34:06
So are you currently getting radio, or is it only emulator that is working?
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 17 March 2012, 11:04:38
Radio is very poor, crackly, breaking up.

Emulator works, now its not paused. I only went to emulator Chanel as the radio was hopeless. The screen was displaying a track, but I was hearing nothing but static. So assumed the soldered connection had failed, and went to cd's.

Next journey, ignition off resets the emulator, so had music playing already.

Anyway, emulator now works. Radio still poor at best. :(

Still need to source a tri state roof aerial.
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: zirk on 17 March 2012, 16:16:32
Radio is very poor, crackly, breaking up.

Emulator works, now its not paused. I only went to emulator Chanel as the radio was hopeless. The screen was displaying a track, but I was hearing nothing but static. So assumed the soldered connection had failed, and went to cd's.

Next journey, ignition off resets the emulator, so had music playing already.

Anyway, emulator now works. Radio still poor at best. :(

Still need to source a tri state roof aerial.

One from an Elite Estate?. NCDC and Telematics type, wouldn't look too out of place on a Saloon.

 :-\
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 17 March 2012, 16:26:41
Radio is very poor, crackly, breaking up.

Emulator works, now its not paused. I only went to emulator Chanel as the radio was hopeless. The screen was displaying a track, but I was hearing nothing but static. So assumed the soldered connection had failed, and went to cd's.

Next journey, ignition off resets the emulator, so had music playing already.

Anyway, emulator now works. Radio still poor at best. :(

Still need to source a tri state roof aerial.

One from an Elite Estate?. NCDC and Telematics type, wouldn't look too out of place on a Saloon.

 :-\
If that would work for fm/am gps and gsm, might be a simple answer.

But I thought the fm aerial was in either the side or rear window on the estate as well? :-\
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: RobG on 17 March 2012, 16:40:26
http://www.techmall.co.uk/products.php?product=Car-Antenna-for-AM%7B47%7D-FM%7B47%7D-GPS%7B47%7D-GSM%7B47%7D-DVB%252dT-ALL%252dIN%252dONE
http://www.renair.co.uk/2J-Antenna/products/GPS-Combined-Antennas/2J850B%20car%20combined%20antenna%20%20in%20R&D.html
 :-\ :-\
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: zirk on 17 March 2012, 17:07:25
Radio is very poor, crackly, breaking up.

Emulator works, now its not paused. I only went to emulator Chanel as the radio was hopeless. The screen was displaying a track, but I was hearing nothing but static. So assumed the soldered connection had failed, and went to cd's.

Next journey, ignition off resets the emulator, so had music playing already.

Anyway, emulator now works. Radio still poor at best. :(

Still need to source a tri state roof aerial.

One from an Elite Estate?. NCDC and Telematics type, wouldn't look too out of place on a Saloon.

 :-\
If that would work for fm/am gps and gsm, might be a simple answer.

But I thought the fm aerial was in either the side or rear window on the estate as well? :-\

Broken glass sensors for the alarm as far as I know, early Estates used the rear heater element, later ones uses the roof Antenna, something to do with the coax breaking / wear on the rear door hinge on the early ones. 
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: fiend61 on 17 March 2012, 17:18:34
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-GSM-PHONE-SATNAV-AERIAL-/110842938047?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19cec102bf

any good ??
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: zirk on 17 March 2012, 17:36:56
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-GSM-PHONE-SATNAV-AERIAL-/110842938047?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19cec102bf

any good ??


Afraid not no FM, Hmm, seen that before somewhere.

 :-X :-X ;)
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: RobG on 17 March 2012, 17:47:43
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-GSM-PHONE-SATNAV-AERIAL-/110842938047?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19cec102bf

any good ??


Afraid not no FM, Hmm, seen that before somewhere.

 :-X :-X ;)
;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: feeutfo on 17 March 2012, 18:14:11
http://www.techmall.co.uk/products.php?product=Car-Antenna-for-AM%7B47%7D-FM%7B47%7D-GPS%7B47%7D-GSM%7B47%7D-DVB%252dT-ALL%252dIN%252dONE
http://www.renair.co.uk/2J-Antenna/products/GPS-Combined-Antennas/2J850B%20car%20combined%20antenna%20%20in%20R&D.html
 :-\ :-\
Yeah been trying to find something a bit less BMW tbh. But that might have to do. :y
 Be nice if it's footprint was big enough to cover the old one too.
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: aaronjb on 17 March 2012, 21:44:22
Yep - roof antenna for FM on my Elite estate .. it's still a shocking aerial, though, with shocking reception (even worse now I've knackered it  :-[ ) - but an OE aerial base is close to £200 IIRC!
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: TheBoy on 17 March 2012, 22:16:36
If its that bad, you have a problem.

Check the car's antenna loom is still firm in the Uphill Gardener unit - seem to remember its a wanky connector...
Title: Re: Wired emulator, lost some reception.
Post by: VXL V6 on 17 March 2012, 23:09:47
Radio is very poor, crackly, breaking up.

Emulator works, now its not paused. I only went to emulator Chanel as the radio was hopeless. The screen was displaying a track, but I was hearing nothing but static. So assumed the soldered connection had failed, and went to cd's.

Next journey, ignition off resets the emulator, so had music playing already.

Anyway, emulator now works. Radio still poor at best. :(

Still need to source a tri state roof aerial.

One from an Elite Estate?. NCDC and Telematics type, wouldn't look too out of place on a Saloon.

 :-\
If that would work for fm/am gps and gsm, might be a simple answer.

But I thought the fm aerial was in either the side or rear window on the estate as well? :-\

Estate base is too big to follow the curvature of a saloon roof, when you bolt it down the front edge doesn't touch the roof - been there, tried it, failed!