Installed Dash Cam now DAB Radio not working

[Freakbro]

My partner got me a front & rear dash cam for Xmas, which I finally got round to having installed yesterday by a garage. The car is a Mazda 6.

Travelling to Nottingham straight after installation and the DAB radio kept dropping out every couple of minutes and just can't keep the reception. On googling, it seems a common thing, that the RF interference from the dash cam interferes with the radio (wish I knew about these things prior to having it installed... ) . It was mentioned the rear cam can be the worse culprit as the power wire can be routed near the antenna.

So on the way home last night I unplugged the rear camera, and though the radio was slightly better it did still struggle and is still unusable. As soon as I switched the front camera off, had uninterrupted radio all the way home.

Should I call the garage back and see if they can do anything?

I did read that rerouting the power cable to the rear cam can help, but since the radio still doesn't work properly with just the front camera on, I can see that's not going to be a complete solution.

The other thing mentioned were RF chokes, will this work as that would be a simple solution?

 

[lordrobs]

For the sake of a few quid I'd start by buying a pack of ferrite cores and experiment with putting them at the camera and/or power supply ends of the power leads.

If that doesn't work re-routing the power cables would be the next step.

 

[Street]

For the sake of a few quid I'd start by buying a pack of ferrite cores and experiment with putting them at the camera and/or power supply ends of the power leads.

I bought a better cable for mine that had those already fitted and it sorted out any reception issues that I had.

 

[Nasher]

This is a pretty common one. DAB signal is flakey AF. LED bulbs interfere with it as well. Loads of things do, FM is better tbh and it still sounds better on most stations (as most are mono and very low bit rate over DAB).

In a previous car I moved the DAB aerial from the windscreen to the rear window and that sorted it. It needs to be away from other...everything.

 

[Freakbro]

I've called the garage and they said they have routed the cable the best way to avoid any others. They are the vehicle electrical specialists in the area who were recommended, so I'm trusting it was done well.

I'll try the ferrite cores then take it from there.

I bought a better cable for mine that had those already fitted and it sorted out any reception issues that I had.

Have you got a link to something so I know what I'm looking for?

 

[cuke2u]

https://support.nextbase.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4403732599569-DAB-radio-interference

I've fitted BlackVue camera's and their cables are shielded but I don't know if this has helped, however I've never had any DAB interference..

 

[Street]

Have you got a link to something so I know what I'm looking for?

I can't find the one I actually bought as the Amazon link is dead, but it was something similar to this. I tried the hardwire one I got with my camera, along with a couple USB ones and one from the OBD2 port and they didn't work, so I went for a hardwire kit that piggy backed off the fuse box with ferrite cores which seemed to work. It runs up the same pillar as the antenna cable and it's been OK in two cars now.

 

[dlockers]

What car is it? A lot of cars have the DAB antenna in the rear window glass now so you are SOOL.

Can you live on FM?

Dab was always garbage.

 

[Freakbro]

What car is it?

The car is a Mazda 6.

Can you live on FM?

Dab was always garbage.

I can't live without BBC R6! (DAB only)

 

[dlockers]

I can't live without BBC R6! (DAB only)

BBC Sounds and bluetooth?

 

[hyperseven]

shhhhhh, dont mention D A B, you'll anger the ghost of 4K8KW10

 

[decto]

Could be a cheap 12V to usb power adapter broadcasting over the power cables. Mos cameras are usb so 5V.

 

[Freakbro]

BBC Sounds and bluetooth?

I ended up doing that last night.

I'll try the RF chokes and take it from there.

 

[dlockers]

shhhhhh, dont mention D A B, you'll anger the ghost of 4K8KW10

I ended up doing that last night.

I'll try the RF chokes and take it from there.

It isn't a terrible permanent fix tbh. I assume the M6 headunit just has a regular DAB antenna port as well, so you could always retrofit a new aerial.

Amazon.co.uk : dab antenna

 

[Freakbro]

Just to update this, I've put some RF chokes on the leads - 1 on the main lead into the front camera and 1 on each end of the rear camera lead and the radio's working fine now