As there has been a bit of interest in DAB retrofits I thought a quick thread about it might be in order.
I've got an earlier non LED RNS 510 fitted to my GTI and have been hankering after DAB for quite some time.
I contacted dabonwheels.co.uk a while ago asking whether they knew whether the RNS is compatible with the AutoDAB unit as according to Connects2's website the unit only works with RCD radios.
dabonwheels didn't at that time have any direct experience of whether the two units would work together and offered me the option of their 45 day trial period or suggested a couple of other DAB units that should work.
For various reasons I was quite keen on the AutoDAB and going from replies to various threads on here it was seeming more likely that the AutoDAB should work ok with the RNS.
So I contacted dabonwheels and bit the bullet.
The AutoDAB arrived very quickly, dabonwheels have been brilliant actually and it's not often you'll see me mentioning specific dealers of any sort.
So, on to the fitment in freezing cold weather one February Saturday afternoon not so long ago.
First up the removal of the RNS (covered in this thread
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=152441.0 ) which takes a couple of mins.
The AutoDAB unit is easily wired up
http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/VW_AutoDAB_integrated_add-on_DAB_car_radio_for_Volkswagen.htmlI elected to run the ariel in a non recommended position but one that I used for my Pure unit in my other car (which has ok reception).
It is recommended that the ariel is run up the nearside A pillar about two thirds of the way up the screen going by the measurements supplied. I ran mine along the top of the screen so it's more discreet.
Fitting the ariel was also very easy.
I removed the nearside end of the dashboard
http://www.my-gti.com/2729 and pushed the cable through with a stiff wire and plugged it into the AutoDAB. I then ran the ariel cable under the rubber seal up the A pillar underneath the trim which can be pulled loose without actually removing the A pillar interior trim. There's enough flexibility in the trims to pull them away enough without taking any more trim off than the dash end panel. If you want to be anal the A pillar trim can be removed but it's not a quick job as the airbag clip can be easily damaged.
http://www.my-gti.com/1867/volkswagen-golf-a-pillar-trims-–-removal-and-installation
The ariel was then run a little way under the headlining and tested for signal before being stuck to the glass.
The RNS was switched on and the tuning took seconds.
The signal was good (middle of city) so the ariel was stuck on. Now my hands were bloody freezing and thus I couldn't get the wire bit of the ariel to go in a perfectly straight line without unsticking it several times which would have meant getting fingerprints in the glue which would always be visible so be a bit more careful than I was there. If you have severe OCD this will bother you a lot but I just fold down the passenger side sun visor so I can't see the ariel at all!!
Once the roof lining had been manipulated enough to get the ariel 'ground' sticker attached to the bodywork and the cable hidden out of sight the dash panel was refitted and it was back to the radio end of things.
The AutoDAB has various connectors (see link) that plug into the various factory fittings, the original FM ariel plugs into the AutoDAB as does the DAB ariel and thus the unit sends the DAB signal to the RNS/RCD via a cable.
I hid the AutoDAB in behind the dash clocks wrapped lightly in loose packaging that DVD players come in so it didn't rattle. This made sure there was plenty of air circulation behind the RNS's fan and also so that the AutoDAB didn't get too hot. There's quite a void in behind the dash clocks and plenty enough cable length.
Fitting took much less than an hour after a bit of internet research into how to get the trim bits off and thinking about routing the cables.
I then spent a little while getting to know the controls which are done through the steering wheel buttons.
In the manual it recommends switching off the scrolling text but I decided to switch it on as I'm childish and like looking at it!! I might switch it off when the novelty wears off but it's useful for checking out unfamiliar music, artist names etc.
So, the acid question is "what's the reception like?"
Err, well it's been okay so far and I more or less immediately did a trip to the bottom of Cornwall past Dartmoor and over Bodmin moor and there was a few places that reception dropped out for a second or two. In Hayle in Cornwall the reception was particularly patchy but Penzance which is right at the tip of Cornwall (give or take 12 miles) had fine reception on BBC stations.
Where the A30 & A38 meet in Cornwall was another place that the reception dropped out quite a bit.
So, just to be fair I sent a text to a mate of mine who did the same trip in a Golf GTD with factory DAB a few weeks ago and asked him what his radio reception was like. "Crap" came the reply so going from that I guess the AutoDAB is no worse than a factory radio using the rear screen ariel as standard.
