RCD 310 DAB help

[grem]

Ive got a 2010 polo moda with a RCD310 installed.
I want to upgrade to DAB so I can get more channels, but not sure if my headunit is compatible.
Can anyone tell me if I need to buy a new headunit or whether I can simply buy a DAB aerial and fit that.
Cheers

[peter_dk25]

Ive got a 2010 polo moda with a RCD310 installed.
I want to upgrade to DAB so I can get more channels, but not sure if my headunit is compatible.
Can anyone tell me if I need to buy a new headunit or whether I can simply buy a DAB aerial and fit that.
Cheers

Your unit should have a black antenna plug on the back – this is for the DAB signal:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/VW-GOLF-PASSAT-T ... 0747201777

If not the unit doesn’t have the DAB module built in

[ciclo]

[cheba]

So if you have a unit with the Fakra plug, you just buy a DAB antenna and plug it in, then activate DAB in VCDS and you are good to go, am I correct?

I am a bit confused regarding the DAB in my RNS 315. It is DAB compatible (DAB was option on the WRC) but mine doesn't have it activated. Actually DAB was one of the very few options available for the WRC, as all cars had the exact same factory spec, only options that could be retrofitted by dealers were offered. But I don't know if the option included installing a separate DAB antenna under the dash and activating the software, or if the factory roof aerial is DAB compatible and only the software activation is needed. The aerial is a sharkfin with beesting (don't know if there are both DAB and non-DAB versions of this).

[ciclo]

DAB reception antennas POLO 6R (black connector)
6R0035501A http://www.e-autoparts.eu/182-419-thick ... 35501a.jpg
6R0035501D http://cdn02.trixum.de/upload2/125800/1 ... fa18e9.jpg
NOT DAB
6R0035501C http://img1.imagehousing.com/59/d95341a ... 9dfb5a.jpg
and all other ...

Alternative:
http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/DAB-/- ... nna-module
http://www.carsystems.pl/vw-aerial-ampl ... id672.html
If you have the aerial socket for DAB in your RNS/RCD all you have to do is buy the antenna for DAB + FM with the extension and replaced by the rear window antenna (diversity system).


peter_dk25 did this himself in his BlueGT, he can explain it better than me.

[cheba]

DAB reception antennas POLO 6R (black connector)
6R0035501A http://www.e-autoparts.eu/182-419-thick ... 35501a.jpg
6R0035501D http://cdn02.trixum.de/upload2/125800/1 ... fa18e9.jpg
NOT DAB
6R0035501C http://img1.imagehousing.com/59/d95341a ... 9dfb5a.jpg
and all other ...

If you have the aerial socket for DAB in your RNS/RCD all you have to do is buy the antenna for DAB + FM with the extension and replaced by the rear window antenna (diversity system).

I have either the 6R0035501C or the 6R0035501D factory installed on my roof. But as I understand it, the retrofit kit uses the rear window antenna, you just switch the module in the boot and run the extension from there to the RNS? Then I am assuming the roof aerial factory fitted on the WRC is the non-DAB one (6R0035501C).

So one can either switch the roof aerial for one with DAB and run the antenna cable to the RNS (sounds like a more professional but also more difficult and expensive solution), or take the easier way and switch the antenna module in the boot and run the cable to the RNS? Is one method known to be better than the other (reception wise)?

[ciclo]

Links to kufatec or carsystems are an alternative if you do not want to change the roof antenna for other reasons. That DAB+FM antenna to replace by FM window antenna is used by the Golf VI...
Expensive??? Expensive is a Polo WRC (IMHO). Anyone can do, in this forum you will find help to install it yourself...

In all cases you have to install a new antenna cable (extension) if you do not have it from factory, with black connectors not with brown connectors or other colors.

Dismount a Polo is a child's play ...
(best regards to citroene from here )

This last picture is a little joke, the process is much simpler.

[peter_dk25]

DAB reception antennas POLO 6R (black connector)
6R0035501A http://www.e-autoparts.eu/182-419-thick ... 35501a.jpg
6R0035501D http://cdn02.trixum.de/upload2/125800/1 ... fa18e9.jpg
NOT DAB
6R0035501C http://img1.imagehousing.com/59/d95341a ... 9dfb5a.jpg
and all other ...

If you have the aerial socket for DAB in your RNS/RCD all you have to do is buy the antenna for DAB + FM with the extension and replaced by the rear window antenna (diversity system).

I have either the 6R0035501C or the 6R0035501D factory installed on my roof. But as I understand it, the retrofit kit uses the rear window antenna, you just switch the module in the boot and run the extension from there to the RNS? Then I am assuming the roof aerial factory fitted on the WRC is the non-DAB one (6R0035501C).

So one can either switch the roof aerial for one with DAB and run the antenna cable to the RNS (sounds like a more professional but also more difficult and expensive solution), or take the easier way and switch the antenna module in the boot and run the cable to the RNS? Is one method known to be better than the other (reception wise)?

Some time ago I replaced my "old" RNS 315 with a unit having the DAB+ module build in. Concerning the DAB+ antenna I decided to go for the solution from Kufatec replacing the window antenna module in my Blue GT as Ciclo linked to earlier in this thread, mainly because I all ready had "rebuilt" my original roof antenna to a Shark fin - inspired by some of Ciclos earlier OEM Work
The Kufatec thing was not to difficult to install - just some dismantling Work to be done. Reception is great - also in my underground parking space back home...

[cheba]

Links to kufatec or carsystems are an alternative if you do not want to change the roof antenna for other reasons. That DAB+FM antenna to replace by FM window antenna is used by the Golf VI...
Expensive??? Expensive is a Polo WRC (IMHO). Anyone can do, in this forum you will find help to install it yourself...

In all cases you have to install a new antenna cable (extension) if you do not have it from factory, with black connectors not with brown connectors or other colors.

Dismount a Polo is a child's play ...

OK, turns out the 6R0035501D roof aerial is 65€ new on ebay. That's not bad, I expected it to be much more expensive. I guess switching the roof aerial and running an extension cable to the RNS would be the way to go then. Though I have bad experiences with removing panels and dropping roof liners, as you always bend and break the clips. So I'll be looking for some tips on how to do that on the Polo, when I get around to switching the aerial.

[cheba]

Some time ago I replaced my "old" RNS 315 with a unit having the DAB+ module build in. Concerning the DAB+ antenna I decided to go for the solution from Kufatec replacing the window antenna module in my Blue GT as Ciclo linked to earlier in this thread, mainly because I all ready had "rebuilt" my original roof antenna to a Shark fin - inspired by some of Ciclos earlier OEM Work
The Kufatec thing was not to difficult to install - just some dismantling Work to be done. Reception is great - also in my underground parking space back home...

Since you know how to switch the roof antenna then, what would you recommend, switching the roof antenna or just the window antenna module? Do the cables from the roof antenna go down the C-pillar and take the same route as the one from the window antenna module?

[ciclo]

Regardless of DAB antenna of your choice, I think the best place to run the cable is by the bottom side through sill panels, avoiding A-pillar which is the most difficult to remove without breaking the clips (even with the right tools).


Best on the right side. (no picture of this, it is just like above)

Click here FYI

[cheba]

Regardless of DAB antenna of your choice, I think the best place to run the cable is by the bottom side through sill panels, avoiding A-pillar which is the most difficult to remove without breaking the clips (even with the right tools).

Best on the right side. (no picture of this, it is just like above)

Click here FYI

I just checked the antenna module in my car and it is the regular 5K0035552A module with a yellowish connector. No extra cable for DAB. So I will need to run a cable regardless.

If I install a DAB antenna/module I would like to run the cable together with the existing antenna cables. The cable from the boot lid goes into the left C-pillar, so I assume the left side might be the easier choice. Then again, the car is left hand drive so routing the cable under the dash might be trickier on the left side.

Oh and thanks a lot for those links! I've been relying on a site with an older version of ETKA which only goes to 2013.

[grem]

@ciclo call me stupid but of the picture of the headunit you posted, which one of the plugs is for the DAB.
Also is there anyway of having an arial towards the front of the car, or should I replace the roof one
Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ciclo]

Never stupid who asks.
As said peter_dk25

Your unit should have a black antenna plug on the back – this is for the DAB signal:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/VW-GOLF-PASSAT-T ... 0747201777
If not the unit doesn’t have the DAB module built in

Inside the headunit there is an electronic module that decodes digital radio signals in order to the radio itself can emit the sounds you hear. This electronic module receives signals from the BLACK plug from the back of the headunit.

On this black connector you need to plug a specific antenna to receive digital signals DAB.
In the Polo 6R these OEM DAB antennas are those that I mentioned above, they are located on the roof or boot lid as you can see in one of the pictures I posted.

It is always best to use an OEM antenna though you have other good options.
http://www.satnavsystems.com/main/rns-5 ... _vw-caddy/

Bla,bla,bla... ...better an image

[cheba]

So I took out the RNS 315 in my car to check behind it. Just in case it was already prepared with an antenna cable for DAB retrofitting. Well, it wasn't, there wasn't even a DAB plug on the RNS! Just the white double plug (FM/AM) and blue (GPS). So it's a non-DAB version of the RNS 315. I don't really understand then how they could offer DAB as an option for the WRC in the price list if there isn't a way to retrofit it...