RAV4 - DAB Radio Reception Issues

[Trebor64]

Hi Members

Is anyone else having issues their DAB radio loosing it's signal intermittently? I have contacted Toyota UK and they confirm there is no problem with the DAB system. I wondered if a system update was required? Any advice would be grateful,  many thanks

[flash22]

Do you have a dash cam ?

[Trebor64]

Hi Flash22

Yes, a Nextbase 380GWX ( front & rear) which was installed by Toyota last March. Its only of recent months that the DAB keeps dropping out.

[flash22]

Pull the fuse on the dash cam and see if it improves, a ferrite bead on the DAB aerial cable should do the trick (as close to the DA as possible)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122248857939? 4-7mm should be about right

 

 

[Trebor64]

Hi Flash 22

That's great information,  thankyou. I will certainly try the ferrite bead.

Sorry to ask a stupid question but when you say DA, what do you mean?

I knew a member would come up with an idea, thanks once again.

[flash22]

DA - Display Audio aka head unit, Radio or Stereo

[Trebor64]

Hi Flash22

Many thanks for explaining it.

Another silly question,  is it easy to get to the aerial at the head unit?

Thankyou

[flash22]

That i do not know, sorry

I don't think i have any info on this newer rav4 either - there may be something on YouTube

[SteveB23]

Hi, it will be the cable from  your front camera to your rear camera. I have the same Dashcam fitted by Toyota with the same problems. If the cable is run too close the the shark fin aerial cable in the roof or in the side pillar it will block the DAB signal in areas where the signal strength is low

I have added a couple of ferrite cores to the Dashcam lead and its a bit better. Might try adding some to the head unit aerial if i can get to it

Really frustrating, i had Toyota fit it to avoid this as its a well known issue with DAB but they didn't have a clue about how to resolve or even that it was the Dashcam causing the problem

[Trebor64]

Hi SteveB23 & flash22

That's great,  thankyou. I will certainly try the ferrite beads.

I wonder if Toyota have a Technical Bulletin which addresses this issue, especially as its a known problem?

Thanks once again for your advice.

[Trebor64]

On 2/14/2022 at 7:33 PM, SteveB23 said:

Hi, it will be the cable from  your front camera to your rear camera. I have the same dashcam fitted by Toyota with the same problems. If the cable is run too close the the shark fin aerial cable in the roof or in the side pillar it will block the DAB signal in areas where the signal strength is low

I have added a couple of ferrite cores to the dashcam lead and its a bit better. Might try adding some to the head unit aerial if i can get to it

Really frustrating, i had Toyota fit it to avoid this as its a well known issue with DAB but they didn't have a clue about how to resolve or even that it was the dashcam causing the problem

Hi SteveB23 and Flash22

I have taken your advice ( thankyou) and contacted both Nextbase and Toyota UK with your suggestions. Nextbase came back with some relevant advice which I then passed onto my local Toyota Dealer ( who fitted the Dashcams) and the Dealer finally fitted two extra Ferrite beads to the Dashcam cables which should have been done in the first place? It's early days, but at the moment the DAB reception is working satisfactorily. Thanks once again for your advice.

[Marcusthehat]

I fitted a Nextbase with the rear screen mounted camera. I used the Nextbase kit as supplied and routed the cable up the nearside "A" pillar, along the top of the doors, through behind the rear panel, across beneath the roof lining and up through the rubber grommet/tube that routes the various wires to the rear hatch.

I have noticed no loss of DAB signal nor any interference.

mth

[Cyker]

As long as the USB cable doesn't get too close to the DAB antenna/wiring you're normally okay.

The problem is USB is very 'noisy', and without a grounded shielded cable or ferrite beads, it tends to leak a lot of the noise as radio interference. It's not very strong and is very short range, but DAB signals are very weak to begin with so if the USB cable is anywhere near the DAB stuff it can swamp it.

 

[Trebor64]

Hi Cyker

Many thanks for your advice, I'm just hoping the Dealer has rectified the problem, bearing in mind they installed the Toyota 'recommended ' Nextbase Dashcams 

[Roop]

I've noticed the same thing on mine.  (I have no Dashcam though).  On my previous 70 plate rav 4 I had no DAB issues.  On the New 22 Plate I get drops on occasions.

[Trebor64]

1 hour ago, Roop said:

I've noticed the same thing on mine.  (I have no dashcam though).  On my previous 70 plate rav 4 I had no DAB issues.  On the New 22 Plate I get drops on occasions.

Hi Roop

That's worrying about the drop outs. I need to closely monitor this.

[andytwonames]

On 3/7/2022 at 9:17 PM, Trebor64 said:

Hi SteveB23 and Flash22

I have taken your advice ( thankyou) and contacted both Nextbase and Toyota UK with your suggestions. Nextbase came back with some relevant advice which I then passed onto my local Toyota Dealer ( who fitted the Dashcams) and the Dealer finally fitted two extra Ferrite beads to the Dashcam cables which should have been done in the first place? It's early days, but at the moment the DAB reception is working satisfactorily. Thanks once again for your advice.

HI,
Can I ask you to share the advice you got from Nextbase please? Also, what did the dealership charge you for fitting the ferrite beads? - readig it again, I see they fitted to the Dashcam cables. Did you get them to fit them to the antenna cable as well?

My DAB is driving me mad

[Trebor64]

Hi andytwonames.

This is the response I had from Nextbase:-

Millie (Nextbase )

16 Feb 2022, 16:51 GMT

Hello Trevor, 

Thank you for contacting Nextbase Technical Support regarding your 380GWX. 
A ferrite core was provided with your 380GWX and should have been installed by Toyota at the time of installation. 
All of our devices are thoroughly tested for elecro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) as part of EU regulation, all cameras are well below the limits set.
Unfortunately some radios are far more susceptible to interference than others, especially when the aerial is in-built into the window. Ferrite cores usually help to suppress this, although in rare cases the issue may persist.
I'd recommend returning to Toyota and they can do the following:
1) Check the ferrite cores are installed correctly and potentially look at installing a secondary ferrite core on the rear cable. 
2) Re-routing the wiring away from the current position as it may be routing near the aerial cable.
3) Moving the Camera to different positions on the Window. Some area of the window may be more susceptible to interference than others.

 

The Toyota Dealer did not make a charge, as they originally supplied and fitted the Dashcams. To be honest, the Dealer's actions did not make any difference to the reception. What I have done though, is installed a Ferrite core on the rear Dashcam cable and it is hidden behind the trim where the cable goes into the top of the boot lining. This has actually improved with the DAB reception,  with now a very minimal loss depending on the area I am driving in. Hope this helps.

[6greens]

I have the same issue (No dashcam) with MY21 rav 4, the media system is the touch2 system (reminds of an old computer) , by comparison, I have a MY21 eNiro that has a very similar shark fin aerial in the same location and barely suffers a dropout. the fin on the Rav must be 500mm higher up than the eniro yet I am constantly affected by dropouts. Its back to the dealer next week and they have promised to update any firmware theta needed so will advise once thats done, otherwise im finding it pretty useless

[jamiem1987]

any joy from anyone with a fix? My 2022 is dropping out in areas my previous car didn't... dealer not interested

[Marcusthehat]

Class FM have been incessently preaching that they are switching to "new improved" DAB+(or somesuch similar catchy title) in lesss than 2 weeks.

Will this affect a 2021 Rav4?

Guessing it wont, but?

[philip42h]

1 hour ago, Marcusthehat said:

Class FM have been incessently preaching that they are switching to "new improved" DAB+(or somesuch similar catchy title) in lesss than 2 weeks.

Will this affect a 2021 Rav4?

Guessing it wont, but?

There's an interesting question ...

Check your Information System handbook for the specification of DAB capability. Mine refers to DAB - there is no mention at all of DAB+ - which could mean one of two things: DAB+ is NOT supported or when they say "DAB" they mean multiple specifications of DAB.

Googling the wider web, I find that the specification for the 2023 Prius PHEV explicitly mentions support for DAB+; I can't find corresponding support mentioned for RAV4s.

So, at this point I wouldn't be entirely surprised to find that Classic FM disappears from the car tomorrow - not too long to wait to find out.

We can always revert back to FM, classically! 😉

[philip42h]

And, elsewhere a thread that suggests that more recent Toyotas do support DAB+:

There are also a good number of stations already broadcasting on DAB+ so if you can receive one of these you should be OK tomorrow:

Quote

There are now over 180 stations broadcasting on DAB+ in the UK, including 25 national stations – Fun Kids, JazzFM, Forces BFBS, Virgin Radio Anthems, Virgin Radio Chilled, Smooth, Smooth Chilled, Heart, Heart Dance, Heart 90s, Heart 80s, Heart 70s, Capital, Capital XTRA, Capital XTRA Reloaded, Capital Dance, Boom Radio, talkSPORT2, talkRADIO, Radio X, LBC News, Gold, GB News Radio, UCB1 and UCB2 – and a number of local commercial stations, plus around 150 ultra-local community and commercial stations on small-scale DAB. (Updated 04 March 2022)

 

[Marcusthehat]

Thanks guys, I did not bother researching cos "it is what it is", but your input is much appreciated.

Cheers,

Marcus

[philip42h]

6 minutes ago, Marcusthehat said:

Thanks guys, I did not bother researching cos "it is what it is", but your input is much appreciated.

Cheers,

Marcus

I tried it this afternoon because today is supposed to be the day - Classic FM is still there and, if anything, reception is better ...