rangerovers.pub
The only place for a coil spring is up Zebedee's arse
Member
Joined:
Posts: 1307

I'm fine with whatever... feel free to link to one my threads on the Android swap if you want aswell. Can't remember if I did one on here, or just Rangerovers. net...

Glad it's all installed and working... I'm thinking of replacing mine (again) as the current one is pissing me off... it's got issues with USB devices, the 4G modem always drops out as if it's been disconnected, the DAB reception is crap (might look at a different antenna) and now it's just decided to start not recognition the steering wheel controls all the time.. or it thinks they're different values every time you press the same button. I might pull the unit and check to make sure it isn't the buttons, but everything else on the steering wheel works, and no faults etc..

I think k it is just an issue with the actual unit I bought and used this time, the previous one (even though it was slower) was a lot more stable!

Will be interested to hear how yours goes over the next few months and you get settled into using it..

Marty

Member
Joined:
Posts: 995

Cheers, I'll add the link to your thread and post it up later today.

So far so good. Steering wheel controls are programmed and currently installing a bunch of apps (Audible, Amazon Music etc).

Not using a 3G/4G dongle, just tethering to my phone as it has 20gb data allowance.

Next on the list is an extension for the reverse camera so it reaches the head unit, a longer mic so I can run it up to the map light and a single din funky hole with a closable door. I plan to fit a wireless charging pad on the bottom of the cubby to charge my phone and an NFC tag that will automatically enable Bluetooth and the Wi-Fi hotspot.

When you ran your reverse camera to the handle on the boot how did you connect the power and ground cables to the reverse lights?

Member
Joined:
Posts: 1307

I have considered the NFC tag and wireless charging pad, but so far haven't bothered... I found the having NFC enabled all the time drained more battery that it was being useful for on my phone - so just switch bluetooth on manually when I get in the RR.

My rear view camera had an extra wire tagged on the side of the AV cable, which I used for power, and powered it from the reverse light power at the BECM, rather than picking it up at the tailgate... as the reverse signal to the unit is +12V to trigger the unit into bringing up the camera, and the camera itself draws next to nothing.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 995

Ah, mine has a single "reverse signal" wire at the the end that connects to the head unit but at the camera end it has power and ground wires

Member
Joined:
Posts: 784

Looking good Rutland Rover.

Have you linked to which head unit you bought? It'll help others if they decide to do the same. After much googling and deliberation, I bought this one.

When i first thought about it, all i could find were a couple of tablet installs and the info on those was a bit sketchy with limited options for ones that would fit. I happened to stumble on Marty's post on another forum and that was the turning point. Be nice to write up the procedure and add it to Marty's Info DSP/Alpine Wiring Sticky.

Have you got working DAB? I have a usb tuner with this app and originally had a window aerial which gave a patchy reception. Gilbert pointed me to an external magnetic aerial which i fitted and although the signal strength is almost full, it still drops out now and then.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 995

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F362102406915

That's the one I got. It can accept a DAB tuner but I didn't get one yet. I probably will though. I can't pick up at radio stations bit that was the same with the factory radio. Pretty much all I could get was Radio 4.

I'll need either an FM aerial booster or the DAB tuner.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 784

Says DAB+ in the description so does it not have the tuner built in?

Mine doesn't which is why i had to get the seperate usb dongle. You might just need the aerial.

Gilbert has one of these. I bought the same just with the different connector for my dongle on the end.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 995

Further down in the description it says it has DAB if you buy their adapter. It doesn't have a connection for the aerial.

The DAB tuner connects to one of the USB connections.

The manufacturers bumf says it ONLY works with their own adapter but I'm hoping that as it connects to the USB port any tuner with a USB connection will work. Their one is nearly £50 and I've seen others for around £20.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 784

I see.

I know there's a couple of apps that you have to have the right usb for or it wont work. Perhaps reading between the lines, yours is one of them. Just buy a generic usb tuner and get your own app. I bought this one and then changed the aerial for a magnetic roof one.

As i say, i still suffer from a bit dodgy reception here and there so i tend to just stick the internet on and use the Radioplayer app. Works flawless then.

Member
avatar
Joined:
Posts: 8082

blueplasticsoulman wrote:

As i say, i still suffer from a bit dodgy reception here and there so i tend to just stick the internet on and use the Radioplayer app. Works flawless then.

DAB reception can be iffy if you are out in the sticks but the problem I've got is that DAB hasn't been adopted in much of Europe so my Kenwood DAB radio don't do a lot. However, a 3G/4G tablet allows me to use internet radio and feed that into the line in on the Kenwood. My biggest gripe with internet radio is the drop outs. It'll drop out, then come back but a few seconds before it dropped out until after a couple of hours it's about 5 minutes behind the times. Even worse when, as I did a few days ago, you are moving from one country to another as you're changing networks too so I was losing it for about 5 minutes every time I crossed a border and it had to roam to a different network and then connect again.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 995

Where have you stuck the aerial?

Looks a bit large to put on the windscreen. Did you run it to one of the side windows in the boot?

Member
Joined:
Posts: 784

Windscreen?

It's magnetic. It goes on the roof.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 995

Sorry, I was referring to the adhesive ones that come with the tuners. Was mid-baby feed while posting and forgot you'd swapped aerials lol

Member
Joined:
Posts: 784

lol

The stick on window aerial that came with the usb DAB dongle is stuck on the rear passenger window. I popped the pillar trim off so i could stick the ground part to the metal. I ran the cable down the trim and under the carpets. It's pretty inconspicuous.

enter image description here

As Gilbert pointed out on my post, because it's on a side window it's going to be directional and suffer from signal loss. This appears to be very true and at best i had 2 green bars of signal. I changed to the roof aerial and can now get 4 bars on the same radio channel parked in the same spot. Alas, it's still not perfect though. There must be a solution as new cars have DAB and they seem to be ok. I know it depends on where you are but i've driven all over and suffered dropouts in major areas. I'm gonna have a look at some different DAB apps and see if that improves things. If not, an active aerial may be the solution. The internet way is great but it's a bit of a nuisance to pay to receive radio.

I think Marty has a problem with DAB reception. Since he's the resident techno boffin and is also having trouble, perhaps there isn't a solution yet.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 995

I remember having problems with a CB radio on my last P38 and I was told it was due to the amount of aluminium in the car not giving a good enough ground. No idea if it's true but maybe this is the same thing?

I saw while looking through the ETM that one of the international markets (can't remember if it's Japan or NAS) got a radio aerial on both rear windows to reduce drop outs. Seems like Land Rover were aware of the issues of having the aerial on only one side of the car but decided they didn't care enough to fix it for everyone lol.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 784

Yeah on both my rear windows theres a factory fitted aerial. Just hidden behind the plastic loadspace trims. I still use those factory aerials for normal radio without issue.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 995

I thought UK cars got the FM aerial on one side and the key fob aerial on the other?

This is what the RAVE ETM says: "The high line (NAS/JAPAN) radio has the following
features: Electronically tuned AM/FM cassette radio
(Z111), RH antenna amplifier (Z178) for AM/FM
signals, LH antenna amplifier (Z177) for FM signals
only, a subwoofer amplifier (Z176), a CD changer
(Z114) a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) amplifier
(Z293) and 10 speakers plus a subwoofer speaker
(K146)."

I took that to mean that UK cars didn't get the dual FM aerials.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 2312

I have dual FM aerials on mine. Got a pointless one for Trafficmaster as well :)

Member
avatar
Joined:
Posts: 1228

FM antennas on both sides, with one side also integrating an AM antenna. The remote fob antenna is separate and on the drivers side of a RHD vehicle.

That probably only applies to high line vehicles I imagine - our red one isn't a high line but I haven't taken much notice of the radio antenna setup to be honest.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 1307

As far as I was aware, most P38s came with diversity antennas. If not, then it was definitely a specification thing.

My first P38 was a '95 HSE and had a radio antenna on both sides as well.

Sloth is correct... they both do FM, for diversity and one of them Is AM too, with Hythe key fob receiver separate.

DAB...
Mine is patchy, and I've got one of those stick on antennas on the glass.. I've put mine on the windscreen to the side of the heater screen elements. It's ok, but I'm going to look for a better solution...