DAB radio reception problems.

[Squirrelly]

I've been happily listening to DAB radio in my 2013 A4 Avant 1.8 TFSI Black edition for years now perfectly well, but just recently over he last couple of months the signal has deteriorated through broken reception to the point now when the channels have all but disappeared completely.

Is anyone aware of any recent signal problems in the Chester/North West area or do I have a problem with the car's aerial?

 

[rum4mo]

Out of interest, do you have MMI or a Concert etc radio?

If you have just a Concert etc, why not just remove it and check if the DAB aerial is still fully plugged in - it should be retained by the Fakra plastic cage, if it passes that step, then buy a cheap screen fitting aerial from Halfords etc had just plug it in ignoring the need for a 12V supply and hang it over the passenger seat back, if that allows you to get DAB stations then you know it is a DAB preamp issue.

 

[JohnS3]

I’d run a scan with VCDS first to check for errors on the antenna side. For reference the DAB antenna module is on the right hand D pillar.

 

[JohnS3]

I’m assuming you have a facelift B8.5

 

[RS3 S.]

My SQ5 is newer 18 plate,but did the same. Went to Audi & they sorted it with a ''software'' update. Might be worth a go ?.

 

[666markyboy]

I'm in the Northwest, Manchester to be precise and I've noticed issues over the last couple of days with the signal breaking down or dropping out , I did notice it's worse if I have the Heated rear screen and mirrors turned on so I assumed it was an issue with the car but it's strange you have the same problems at the same time , maybe there are issues with signal strength at the moment

 

[ld2130]

I'm also having issues with mine, there was chat about dodgy 12v usb chargers. I unplugged mine and it still happens
Just haven't had time to investigate any further, so following

 

[Squirrelly]

Yes my car is the B8.5, it has a Concert radio with Bang & Olufsen upgrade.
I don't really want to start taking the car apart and I know nothing about VCDS sorry.

I was rather hoping that the problem would be with DAB signal strength or settings rather than with the car itself.
I should add if it matters , that FM reception is fine.
To explain further ;

Radio 2 seems to be less affected as the signal drops only occasionally, but sometimes there seems to be an issue where the sound
goes 'backwards' and the presenters repeat themselves - once is enough!
Planet Rock and Union Jack for instance, are affected much worse sometimes dropping out for minutes at a time.
Do some stations have a stronger signal than others?

I had a play with the radio's settings while parked on my drive this morning and tried a couple of stabs in the dark...
1. 'Station Following' was set to FM/DAB so I changed it to DAB.
2. I turned 'L Band ' (whatever that is?) off.

This seems to have improved things while stationary but I haven't been for a drive around yet.

 

[Squirrelly]

Yes my car is the B8.5, it has a Concert radio with Bang & Olufsen upgrade.
I don't really want to start taking the car apart and I know nothing about VCDS sorry.


I had a play with the radio's settings while parked on my drive this morning and tried a couple of stabs in the dark...
1. 'Station Following' was set to FM/DAB so I changed it to DAB.
2. I turned 'L Band ' (whatever that is?) off.

This seems to have improved things while stationary but I haven't been for a drive around yet.

Update. It's still crap.
I've now tried re tuning all the stations, it sounds good stationary again...

 

[spartacus68]

Must be antenna strength. My A4 Allroad pops in and out of connection, where as my daily runner 15 plate Polo will happily stay tuned to DAB, and we live in NE Scotland, so not exactly metropolis.

 

[RS3 S.]

Mine lost all the D.A.B chanels when i was at the top of Scotland doing the N.C.500. I first thought it was due to the location etc but as we got closer to home still nothing, would not even search for the chanels. As before i went to my Audi dealer who did a ''softwear'' update & it's been fine since, never had any issue before it happened.

 

[666markyboy]

Mine seems to have returned to normal now... can only think my issue was atmospheric conditions or poor transmitter strength for a week or 2

 

[cuke2u]

Unfortunately this is normal for this time of year in areas with high humidity, ours has been 99% during the day. Our digital tv reception is the same..

 

[HertS3]

To revive this thread, this morning I noticed that quite frequently all the DAB stations would suddenly have a speaker with a cross through and the sound would cut out for a little while.
Tried big stations like Kiss, Kisstory etc which I never had a problem with in my previous S3. Seemed better when I was sitting at home stationary. Did a VCDS scan and no faults found, hoping it was a one-off or maybe it happens when the car's warming up (for some strange reason). Will keep an eye on it.

 

[Squirrelly]

Mine still does it randomly , it's a PITA .

My wife has just got a new Q2 I'll check to see if it happens in that too, if it does then it's the reception in the area rather than an issue with the car I guess.

 

[HertS3]

Strange one, I don't recall this happening in my S3, saying that I listened to my SD card mostly and not so much to the radio lol

 

[HertS3]

I just ran the latest firmware update through my car (again), it updated (or re-updated possibly!) some components so hopefully that will help though I haven't the foggiest what the components are! ARU = Audi Radio Unit??

 

[HertS3]

I think it must be as there was a folder in there called DAB. The update did find some modules that needed updating, I should've paid more attention to which they were! When I tried again it showed that none need updating so hopefully my DAB issues will disappear

 

[Squirrelly]

I'm sorry but I really don't understand how you (and if I) can update the radio firmware?
VCDS? I have no Idea?

 

[HertS3]

All here Sonny Jim - https://www.a5oc.com/threads/mmi-3g...2-and-firmware-updates-currently-2017.113737/

Essentially you download the firmware (if you've not got Bose then you can download the stock one, otherwise get the modified one), stick it on a SD card or USB drive formatted as FAT32 and follow the instructions in the manual in that link, just need to get into engineering menu then press update and point it to the SD card / USB port, select what to update and let it do its thing!

 

[HertS3]

@Squirrelly had perfect reception today, I suspect it was a software issue so I would suggest that you update to the latest firmware and see if that solves the reception issue for you. Always good to be on the latest firmware anyway

 

[Squirrelly]

Coincidentally, I took my car to Audi for a service this morning and asked about the firmware update you mention for the radio, they looked at the car's history and said that there wasn't any outstanding updates for it so I guess it's running the latest firmware already.

 

[HertS3]

I highly doubt that if you haven't upgraded it yourself.
Put key in ignition, wait a minute or so then press car and middle button down, should bring you to engineering menu. Put a photo here of that screen so I can see what version you're on. Same keys again to exit that menu, or just pull key out

 

[Squirrelly]

I've just got back from the Audi dealership and on the service invoice is noted... " Static fault logged for aerial."
I was told to book it in to get the fault investigated. I've got no idea where the aerial is located in an A4 Avant but I suspect it'll be an expensive lesson to find out for a 7 year old car? The FM radio works faultlessly, DAB is intermittent so I may well just live with it.

 

[HertS3]

I'd go independent if you want sane prices for a fault like that. Did they not give you a quote to rectify? When mine was in for recall work on Monday I got quotes for everything including £250 per tyre! Ordered a couple of AO Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres from Costco virtually next door for £209 lol

 

[jdp1962]

I'd go independent if you want sane prices for a fault like that. Did they not give you a quote to rectify? When mine was in for recall work on Monday I got quotes for everything including £250 per tyre! Ordered a couple of AO Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres from Costco virtually next door for £209 lol

I agree; this isn't a job for a dealer. You're better off taking it to a car audio/security specialist.

 

[jdp1962]

I've got no idea where the aerial is located in an A4 Avant but I suspect it'll be an expensive lesson to find out for a 7 year old car?

I seem to recall it's built in to one of the rear side windows; looks a bit like a heated rear window element.

 

[Squirrelly]

I don't think I'll bother now to be honest, I'll probably be changing the car next year.

Funny you should mention tyres, I need 2 for the rear of mine and the dealer today quoted £198 each for Pirelli p zero.
I'm booked in at Kwik Fit tomorrow afternoon @ £144.50 each. A saving of £107.

If the Audi dealer had quoted a competitive price I would've let them do it rather than mess about going somewhere else.
Surely most customers will go elsewhere at these bonkers prices.

 

[HertS3]

Well I was quoted for 19" tyres by the dealer even though my car has 18" rims! Apparently the computer says it should have 19", can't see how that works seeing as it comes standard with the 18" wheels that I've got and there is no build code for other wheels on there...

 

[HertS3]

Bit of an update on this...I've started listening to the radio more recently and the constantly dropping reception (all stations on the screen would show the muted speaker icon for a few seconds, sound would come back on for a bit then switch off again ad infinitum) and started looking through the forum to try to find some answers.
Decided to try unplug my Nextbase dashcam and wireless phone charger/holder and see if that improves. Surprisingly, it did actually help, but the strange thing is that I've plugged them back in (one at a time) and signal is still fine!! I'm baffled.
Hope that helps someone anyway