RCD300 on the way out or just dodgy fm reception?

**ash_pearce** · 19-04-2011,10:03 PM

hi guys,

a bit of a random one for you...

The FM reception has always been poor on my radio, especially radio 1 but recently local stations have been losing signal too.

I've been following other posts on the matter and with no clear solution just put it down to bad design.

However the other day i accidently pressed the fm button instead of cd and as i was already listening to the radio it showed fm2 and dispalyed the other 6 presets available. Strangly the reception is alot clearer when a station is tuned under the fm2 presets rather than in fm1.

I tried several different stations saving them both in fm1 and fm2 and all apart from radio 1 were clearer and louder in fm2.

what the heck is going on with my radio?

sorry if this sounds like a daft post but was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the situation or at least tell me i'm not going completly mad

if you are not familiar with the radio, fm1 shows 6 of 12 available slots for you to save your favorite stations and fm2 shows the other 6.

**patomlin76** · 20-04-2011,09:13 PM

shouldn't affect the reception being on FM1 or FM2.

Have you often had the headunit in and out? One thing to check will be the aerial leads where they meet the stereo, check they are not loose. Also have you had anything else fitted like Parrot or Xcarlink (anything that requires a ground)? Loose or bad grounds can seriously affect FM reception.

**bobwmac** · 21-04-2011,02:38 AM

I suddenly lost am on my DAB radio and took it to the dealer. The problem was some connection to the rear window which they fixed in a minute.

I suspect you've got a loose connection somewhere on the FM1 feed and I'm sure it'll be a quick fix.

Though I am perturbed that you listen to Radio 1?

**ash_pearce** · 21-04-2011,11:30 AM

Originally Posted by patomlin76

shouldn't affect the reception being on FM1 or FM2.

Have you often had the headunit in and out? One thing to check will be the aerial leads where they meet the stereo, check they are not loose. Also have you had anything else fitted like Parrot or Xcarlink (anything that requires a ground)? Loose or bad grounds can seriously affect FM reception.

That's what i thought but strangely it does?!

No I've never disconnected the unit or had any equipment fitted that i know of (previously owned by vw fleet so maybe had a phone kit installed?)

I'm away this weekend but after that i think i'll strip it down and confirm good connection at the radio end and also at the antenna end.

Thanks for your thoughts

**ash_pearce** · 21-04-2011,11:32 AM

Originally Posted by bobwmac

I suddenly lost am on my DAB radio and took it to the dealer. The problem was some connection to the rear window which they fixed in a minute.

I suspect you've got a loose connection somewhere on the FM1 feed and I'm sure it'll be a quick fix.

Though I am perturbed that you listen to Radio 1?

Thanks for your thoughts, i'm going to have a look after this weekend to find the route of the problem.

and yes as bad as it is Radio 1 is, its the best of a bad situation until i fit an aux in or ipod connection

**patomlin76** · 21-04-2011,02:27 PM

FM1 or FM2 are just station selections, not actual antenna feeds. There are 2 feeds, one for AM and both for FM that go into the back of the stereo.

That's where your problem is most likely to be. The actual antenna unit which controls the signals may be faulty, but I've never known one to develop a fault. I've had mine out recently to check similar reception problems, however the unit is held in with clips and sprung connections to the rear window, so it is unlikely to be the reason for your poor FM reception.

From what I've learnt, FM signals are sent along the outer braid of the coaxial cable. If this is worn or exposed behind the stereo, fm interference can be caused.

**bobwmac** · 21-04-2011,02:49 PM

patomlin,

Can you elaborate a bit more on the antenna side of things? Are you saying there is more than one aerial in the back window? Do I have three? one for AM, one for FM and one for DAB?

Further question.

If a pass under power lines while listening to Sportsound on BBC Radio Scotland on AM, there is a roar (not from the terraces) yet if I switch on the rear window heater it does not affect AM reception.

Where exactly is the car aerial?

PS.

If you know anything about DAB radios we can do some horse trading, you explain my DAB anomalies in this ol' house and I can tell you how to fix your pooter iffen it should hiccup.

**patomlin76** · 21-04-2011,03:04 PM

Not sure on the DAB side of things. I've had lots of recent problems with reception after upgrading to MFD2 Sat Nav. Lots of interference etc... Firstly bought an antenna unit off ebay, then bought a whole aerial loom from germany. Still no better. Then I removed the Parrot Handsfree Kit with its miles of wiring, and it is all better now.

Anyway there's the background... the actual antenna looks like this (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...=1227&bih=1046)

on mine it is installed behind the hard material cover just above the rear window. A firm pull will release clips and should be able to be seen to check connections. Maybe worth a removal and clean. The 2 white and beige antenna wires are used together as a diversity aerial, so AM is on the white cable, FM is used on both of them but the unit decides which one to use depending on signal strength. Again, you may have another one for DAB reception...

**bobwmac** · 21-04-2011,04:49 PM

The DAB in the car works OK.

My problem is the DAB in the house. How come from room to room I can get one channel and not the other?

Perhaps the wi-fi is interfering?

Bob

**sawtooth** · 29-05-2011,05:06 PM

Originally Posted by patomlin76

Not sure on the DAB side of things. I've had lots of recent problems with reception after upgrading to MFD2 Sat Nav. Lots of interference etc... Firstly bought an antenna unit off ebay, then bought a whole aerial loom from germany. Still no better. Then I removed the Parrot Handsfree Kit with its miles of wiring, and it is all better now.

Anyway there's the background... the actual antenna looks like this (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...=1227&bih=1046)

on mine it is installed behind the hard material cover just above the rear window. A firm pull will release clips and should be able to be seen to check connections. Maybe worth a removal and clean. The 2 white and beige antenna wires are used together as a diversity aerial, so AM is on the white cable, FM is used on both of them but the unit decides which one to use depending on signal strength. Again, you may have another one for DAB reception...

Hi there, I've not had any reception from my RCD300 (Passat 2008) since I bought it. I checked connections as per this thread and checked the antenna circuit mounted in the rear roof panel. Low and behold I dont have a unit in there its missing. All i have is 2 coax cables and a single crimped cable that I assume delivers power to the unit (although thought that it should have 2 cables for power).

I need one of these antenna circuits or amplifiers but because the old one is gone I'm not sure what one looks like for my car. Do you think it will be the same as this one taken from a 2006 (older car)?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MK6-VW-PASSAT-...item3c93d39b76

Alternatively does anyone have a spare that they dont need?