DAB window antenna placement?

G

Gebbly

Member
 Hersham, Surrey
I'm planning a stereo replacement in my Z4M e86 which would include installation of a DAB antenna. Most commonly these are small units which stick to the windscreen like this. I was after some opinions because there are 2 things I dont like about this.

1. I'm unsure how permanent sticking something to the windscreen would be. If I wanted to remove it at a later date how hard would that be?

2. I dont like being able to see the antenna on the windscreen.
I understand general opinion is that the antenna cant go on a windscreen with a heating filament in the screen (like our rear window) as it would interfere with the signal. Would the interference only be when the heated rear screen is on? In which case it wouldnt matter as I mostly drive in the spring/summer so no interference or would there be interference when the heated screen was off too?

Is there some significance of the FRONT screen? I'm wondering if it would work if I installed it on the small side window just behind the passenger?

Any opinions or suggestions greatly appreciated.
 
Pretty sure my Ford S-Max has it in the rearmost side windows (FM one side, DAB the other side?) so I can't see why mounting it in the side windows would be an issue for you.
 
I've put mine in the conventional place, top left of windscreen, but fitted one like this, so looks a bit neater, and doesn't need earthing. To be honest, the DAB reception isn't great, not sure if it's the type I've fitted, or just the limitations of an aftermarket aerial.
 
At this point I have to do something because the standard FM signal is pretty poor. We went on a driving holiday down to Sussex a week back and the FM signal was pretty non-existent so we spent all the time streaming music from my phone via bluetooth module. I'm hoping that getting DAB working will give another option.

The stick on DAB aerial is my plan B because for plan A as an experiment I've purchased an external aerial to replace the current stubby. I know some people wont like the aesthetics but for me the signal quality is more important. Another option could be something like this but I think the footprint could be rather large.
 
Why not stream DAB from your phone using the tune-in app? I've got one of those aerials in my cayman, but the dab signal through it isn't very good, so I just stream it from my phone instead.
 
You won't necessarily get a better/wider signal on DAB vs FM...as in most places that I can't get FM, I also can't get any DAB. But then some of those places don't give me any phone signal so I can't stream either :cautious:
 
The previous owner of my 330i fitted a DAB head unit, but I don't know what sort of aerial he used or where he put it but it isn't on a window.

Sadly I don't seem to get a DAB signal more than a few miles outside of the M25. :(

Hopefully you can do better than that!
 
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