Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: 05omegav6 on 26 October 2013, 17:23:19

Title: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 October 2013, 17:23:19
Looking for a suitable Shark fin type aerial.

Found this as a starter for 10... http://www.smartauto24.com/car-shark-antenna-for-am-fm-radio-gps-gsm-dvb-t-5-in-1-1744  (http://www.smartauto24.com/car-shark-antenna-for-am-fm-radio-gps-gsm-dvb-t-5-in-1-1744)

Looking for comparible recommendations, bearing in mind the following...

My current system consists of all Sony...

XAV-72BT HU
XT-DTV1 DVB/DAB tuner
VCA-130 window mounted DTV antenna
XT-100HD tuner
XA-C30/40 (can't remember which) source selector
CDX-656 disc changer x 3

The Digital reception is woeful locally, and intermittent on the move, have previously tried an alternative window mount aerial to no avail. Thinking roof mounted might obtain a clearer signal.

Radio reception is fair to good, both with and without the HD tuner connected, but being a US unit, the frequency choices are somewhat lacking ::) A european version of the HU could resolve that issue, but decent DAB reception would render that problem irrelevant... I can also stream internet radio from my phone to the head unit.

I would prefer Plug and Play, and prepared to pay a reasonable amount for something that provides at least
DVB, DAB and analogue signals, GPS/GPRS capability are a plus :y
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: zirk on 26 October 2013, 17:49:49
Looking for a suitable Shark fin type aerial.

Found this as a starter for 10... http://www.smartauto24.com/car-shark-antenna-for-am-fm-radio-gps-gsm-dvb-t-5-in-1-1744  (http://www.smartauto24.com/car-shark-antenna-for-am-fm-radio-gps-gsm-dvb-t-5-in-1-1744)

Looking for comparible recommendations, bearing in mind the following...

My current system consists of all Sony...

XAV-72BT HU
XT-DTV1 DVB/DAB tuner
VCA-130 window mounted DTV antenna
XT-100HD tuner
XA-C30/40 (can't remember which) source selector
CDX-656 disc changer x 3

The Digital reception is woeful locally, and intermittent on the move, have previously tried an alternative window mount aerial to no avail. Thinking roof mounted might obtain a clearer signal.

Radio reception is fair to good, both with and without the HD tuner connected, but being a US unit, the frequency choices are somewhat lacking ::) A european version of the HU could resolve that issue, but decent DAB reception would render that problem irrelevant... I can also stream internet radio from my phone to the head unit.

I would prefer Plug and Play, and prepared to pay a reasonable amount for something that provides at least
DVB, DAB and analogue signals, GPS/GPRS capability are a plus :y

IMHO unless you live very close to a Transmitter or within a known good DVB Signal Area, its all a bit of a non starter trying to use DVB whilst on the move in the car.

Might be better off using TVcatchup.com on 3g or HSDPA somehow.
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 October 2013, 17:53:30
Streaming from the phone is audio only :-\
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: zirk on 26 October 2013, 17:59:59
Streaming from the phone is audio only :-\

Why is that then?
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 October 2013, 18:20:19
Yep, DVB is a non-starter while actually moving. The transmission standard simply can't cope with the amount of multipath fading you get on the move.

Bearing in mind that a house antenna is up about 30' off the ground and has a gain of 10-15db or more, and that's the benchmark by which network coverage is planned, you are always going to be fighting a losing battle with a very low gain antenna in a car.
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 October 2013, 18:49:23
Surely the DAB signal would be improved with a roof mounted aerial rather than one mounted inside the rear windows :-\

The tuner is mobile rather than portable, which implies a certain level of moving ::)

Streaming from the phone is audio only :-\

Why is that then?
I have to stream via Bluetooth as the HU won't recognise a USB connection to my phone, (still charges it though).
Suspect this is because the HU is designed to be crapple friendly... :-X

Newer models of the HU have mirror link, which accepts some Sumsung phones...
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: Broomies Mate on 26 October 2013, 19:59:57
Surely the DAB signal would be improved with a roof mounted aerial rather than one mounted inside the rear windows :-\

The tuner is mobile rather than portable, which implies a certain level of moving ::)

Streaming from the phone is audio only :-\

Why is that then?
I have to stream via Bluetooth as the HU won't recognise a USB connection to my phone, (still charges it though).
Suspect this is because the HU is designed to be crapple friendly... :-X

Newer models of the HU have mirror link, which accepts some Sumsung phones...

It either accepts Android or it doesn't.

If it accepts iOS, you know what to do!  8)
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 October 2013, 20:02:08
Set light to it :-X

 ;D
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: zirk on 26 October 2013, 20:38:58
Any old Nokia's or SE kicking around in the cupboard with RGB or HDMI out?  ;)
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 October 2013, 20:51:34
Any old Nokia's or SE kicking around in the cupboard with RGB or HDMI out?  ;)
Phone has a mini hdmi socket on it if that helps :-\ HU has a flying lead with standard USB socket... there's a readily available adaptor lead for it for crapple purposes which also needs a separate RCA video lead...

Just to add, the USB input is perfectly capable of running a n other storage device, such as a memory stick or Arcos type device, struggles with much over 40mb iirc :-\
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 October 2013, 21:53:22
Surely the DAB signal would be improved with a roof mounted aerial rather than one mounted inside the rear windows :-\

Yes, it'll be better, of course. Just saying that it's unlikely to be great whatever you do, especially while moving. ;)

Quote
The tuner is mobile rather than portable, which implies a certain level of moving ::)

Yes, but it's the signal it's trying to receive that is vulnerable rather than the receiver itself. What you're trying to do is akin to trying to play records in a WRC car, i.e. "it might work OK when you're parked" is about the best you can expect IMHO.
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 October 2013, 22:00:19
 :y that makes sense, the tuner doing what it can with the signal it receives...
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: Andy H on 26 October 2013, 23:10:52
Surely the DAB signal would be improved with a roof mounted aerial rather than one mounted inside the rear windows :-\

Yes, it'll be better, of course. Just saying that it's unlikely to be great whatever you do, especially while moving. ;)

Quote
The tuner is mobile rather than portable, which implies a certain level of moving ::)

Yes, but it's the signal it's trying to receive that is vulnerable rather than the receiver itself. What you're trying to do is akin to trying to play records in a WRC car, i.e. "it might work OK when you're parked" is about the best you can expect IMHO.
OP's question was about DVB (digital video) I agree that it will be a 'challenge' to hang on to a DVB signal on the move as it was never designed to work with low gain omnidirectional receiving aerials.

DAB (digital audio) was and is intended for mobile use. I get excellent reception with a roof mounted aerial in my Omega.

Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 October 2013, 23:30:51
Sorry - didn't spot the shift from DVB-T to DAB.  ::)
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 27 October 2013, 00:17:38
Not so much a shift :y same unit for both :y
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: Andy H on 27 October 2013, 08:24:35
Packing all the antenna into one small device I suspect you will have something that is Jack of all trades, master of none :-\

My DAB aerial is a short whip aerial on the roof of the Omega, I don't think a sharks fin is big enough to get a decent length aerial for the frequency used for DAB :-\

My DVB aerial is a 14 element thing about 4 feet long stuck on the roof of the house  ;)
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 27 October 2013, 11:24:37
BMW fit summat similar to their cars with Nav/DAB/TV HU, and a mate of mine has a new shape Superb with inbuilt Nav/Phone/DAB with the ability to drive a tv tuner (albeit not fitted) which has a single Shark fin aerial and no reception issues :-\

I hear what is being said with regard to the DVB side of things though :y
Title: Re: DVB-T aerial advice.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 28 October 2013, 00:51:09
Anyone any experience with these...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/602-407-002-Hirschmann-AUTA-1-DVB-T-/300992710110?pt=UK_Computing_Other_Computing_Networking&hash=item46149045de (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/602-407-002-Hirschmann-AUTA-1-DVB-T-/300992710110?pt=UK_Computing_Other_Computing_Networking&hash=item46149045de)

Guessing might be better than my first suggestion :-\