Any recommendation for a DAB aerial?

[Bloater]

I have just installed a JVC DAB car stereo in my boat and I now need a DAB aerial for it. I didn't realise that this car stereo needs two aerials! It came supplied with a windscreen fit type amplified aerial which I can't use on the boat. The windscreen aerial requires to be grounded to a metal frame, which I suppose is quite easy in a car but I have no grounded metal frame on the boat so I need a different type of aerial.

The connector is a miniature co-ax type.

Has anyone fitted a DAB car radio in their boat and if so what aerial did you use?

 

[Gordonmc]

I have used a standard magmount aerial on a sheet of encapsulated steel as a ground-plane on the boat but there are better solutions now.
Have a look at:
http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/DAB_car_aerials.html
The through-screen aerials don't rely on the car body as a ground-plane. BNetter still might be the gizmo that converts an FM analogue aerial to DAB for much the same price. That would eliminate the need for two aerials.
I was using a Highway DAB plug-in for an analogue DIN receiver but found a small Pure kitchen receiver just as good for the boat.

 

[rob2]

Am I missing something here? DAB was introduced as the much vaunted "works better than existing signal", etc, etc. Now you need a "special" aerial to get it? Is this snake-oil? Many special purpose aerials are available for various frequencies - most are a con - although you may be able to get a better aerial than the bent coat hanger, it will still pick up the same signal. Chances are if the signal is weak, nothing will get a satisfactory result.

Rob.

 

[Bloater]

Am I missing something here?

I was a little suprised. However the aerial socket requires a SMB connector which is similar to a minature co-ax.

 

[lw395]

DAB in the UK operates at around 175 to 225 MHz, so twice the frequency of FM and just above marine VHF. So some vhf aerials are just not going to work. The better the aerial you get, the more range, but in many places a simple coax cable stripped to leave a 1/4 wavelength of inner might work. It is inherently less range than VHF though.
If you want the best possible reception, an amplified aerial installed up the rig will be worth it, but it still won't work miles offshore reliably.
These days, it's so easy to take loads of music and podcasts with you on a phone or ipod, I wonder if DAB is worth it? Personal choice obviously.
So long as I can get some news on R4 I am usually happy to leave the rest of it on land for a few days.

 

[VicMallows]

With all the other sources of digital 'radio' now readily available, DAB seems to me to be a complete waste of spectrum. The government only want to promote it so as to be able to eventually sell off the (much more valuable?) VHF/FM band.

 

[William_H]

DAB in the UK operates at around 175 to 225 MHz, so twice the frequency of FM and just above marine VHF. So some vhf aerials are just not going to work. The better the aerial you get, the more range, but in many places a simple coax cable stripped to leave a 1/4 wavelength of inner might work. It is inherently less range than VHF though.
If you want the best possible reception, an amplified aerial installed up the rig will be worth it, but it still won't work miles offshore reliably.
These days, it's so easy to take loads of music and podcasts with you on a phone or ipod, I wonder if DAB is worth it? Personal choice obviously.
So long as I can get some news on R4 I am usually happy to leave the rest of it on land for a few days.

Best VHF reception will be from the highest point however at 200mhz the attenuation of the coax will be significant hence an amplifier at the aerial will be best. A TV antenna with amp on mast top will proabably be good. However to give it a try as IW395 says cut the coax cable with about 12 inches of the insulated inner exposed. This can be improved by attaching about 12inches of any type of wire to the braid at the point where it ends. This wire can run roughly parallel to the cable (downwards). Or you can use any sort of wire rod or whip of 12 inches long mounted perhaps on the pushpit. In this case connect the end of the braid to the pushpit. The aerial should I believe be vertical for DAB.
Do you have a standby VHF com aerial on the pushpit? The type with just a rod is best. This might work OK and is always valuable for standby VHF in case of loss of mast etc. Give it a try. A bit to long for ideal but may be OK for what you want. good luck olewill

 

[Malish]

I got one from Maplins some time ago, just a flat panel which I placed out of the way at the back of a cupboard, it did need a power supply to the little amp attached to the panel.