New Member With Query Over Dab Radio

[Tangojd]

Hello all,

I have a 2013 Verso Icon and am very pleased APART from the quality of the DAB radio.

Apart from very sparce, confusing or brief instructions in the owner's manual, there seems to be very few stations found when searching and poor coverage when out and about.

My previous Ford cars has brilliant DAB radios and one could tune-in and drive for hours with very few drop-outs plus it followed the station when driving up and down the country.

Now, I have to be in a clear open space in a major conurbation before I can find any stations - and I only seem to get the same 6 or 7 anyway.

This is very disappointing - I am really unhappy.

I have been to the Toyota dealer who frankly didn't want to know (possibly because the car was bought at 1 year old from a Ford dealer as a Part Exchange for my beloved Focus)

The young trainee engineer who came to help shrugged and said that I have to expect reception to drop if I am in a built-up area.

Rubbish. It should be better than this.

I have the touch screen radio (No Sat Nav installed) and the short stubby aerial fitted (standard) - Is there ANYTHING I can check myself?

[Raistlin]

Hi, Welcome to the club... Enjoy

Improve your aerial

[Tangojd]

Improve my Aerial? How?

It's the one fitted by Toyota!

[FROSTYBALLS]

You may have a separate DAB aerial either behind the A pillar interior trim or built into one of the rear side windows (have a look at the rearmost side windows to see whether either has an element built into the glass), so replacing the stubby aerial mast may not improve the DAB signal.

[Tangojd]

Ah - a separate aerial? Ok I checked the rear windows but I cannot see any elements..

I am still unsure what to do, especially given the attitude of my local dealer.

I will mention it at the next service in a week or two's time.

Thanks anyway.

I ought surely to be able to scan and get loads of stations presented to me - not just 6 or 7.

I may have another moan at the dealer - see what they say. (not very hopeful though)

[FROSTYBALLS]

Suppose the other thing to consider, if you don't have a separate DAB aerial, is whether the aerial mast you have is the OE mast, or whether it has been swapped for some reason by the previous owner.

Aside from that I would be approaching the dealer you bought the car from to see what they can do to improve the situation - your comeback would be with the Ford dealer.

[Tangojd]

OK - will do thanks. I am pretty sure I have the original.

I am interested to know if anyone else has the same problem?

[FROSTYBALLS]

Having done a search, there doesn't seem to have been other threads posted for the Verso re poor DAB reception. There has been the occasional thread in other clubs (eg Prius and Yaris).

[Tangojd]

Ok , well thanks for your responses.

The annoying thing is my favourite station is moving off FM soon so I will be without it.

I will go back to a Ford next time though!

[Andy H777]

I have new auris and the DAB radio in that is rubbish too, lots of stations but go out in the sticks a small amount and reception is gone.

Shame as you can rewind dab radio if you miss something for the amount of time it has been on.

Phone cuts out after a minute and a half too.