Annoying issue with dashcam and dab windscreen aerial

Jamesyboyjim · 10 Mar 2016 at 16:02

Looks as though a few ferrite clips arrived in the post for me today so we'll see if it makes a difference

Jamesyboyjim · 10 Mar 2016 at 18:03

Well, the ferrite clips have made a difference but have not irradiated the issue completely, I'm able to pick up some stronger signalled stations but there are a lot I still can't get until I remove the camera. I'm actually thinking of removing the aerial and sticking it on the back window, maybe keeping it as far apart from the USB cable as I can will help. Or would the fact that the dab aerial will still need to be earthed to the car cause the same problem. Any ideas?

breadturbo · 10 Mar 2016 at 18:54

A geiger counter? if said vehicle is radioactive

Jamesyboyjim · 11 Mar 2016 at 10:16

breadturbo said:
A geiger counter? if said vehicle is radioactive

seems to be the case, doesn't it

Phil99 · 11 Mar 2016 at 10:45

Jamesyboyjim said:
Well, the ferrite clips have made a difference but have not irradiated the issue completely, I'm able to pick up some stronger signalled stations but there are a lot I still can't get until I remove the camera. I'm actually thinking of removing the aerial and sticking it on the back window, maybe keeping it as far apart from the USB cable as I can will help. Or would the fact that the dab aerial will still need to be earthed to the car cause the same problem. Any ideas?

Unfortunately you may then end up with poor signal caused by the heating elements in the rear glass

(I don't have any direct experience, but have looked into this briefly before and found the following: "Internal glass mount aerials will not work properly, if at all, on or behind metallised or heated glass. Because this type of aerial is DAB only, you must retain your existing FM/AM aerial." http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/dabonwheels_Star_Rating.html)

Jamesyboyjim · 11 Mar 2016 at 11:01

I have a heated front windscreen that it works fine with, well, did until I got the camera.

I didn't explain myself properly either, I meant one of the side windows at the back, I have two small windows between the rear window and rear passenger windows

snapdragon69 · 11 Mar 2016 at 11:20

Does it do it when the dashcam runs off it's own battery?
Most of these USB cigar chargers have inverters (DC-DC converters) in them that cause interference on DAB.

Jamesyboyjim · 11 Mar 2016 at 11:41

snapdragon69 said:
Does it do it when the dashcam runs off it's own battery?
Most of these USB cigar chargers have inverters (DC-DC converters) in them that cause interference on DAB.

The camera works fine alongside the dab running from the battery yeah, the issue is as soon as the usb cable is connected to the camera. It does not have to be connected to the cigarette charger, only connected at the camera.

IAmATeaf · 11 Mar 2016 at 13:33

So are you sure that it's not the actual unit that plugs into the ciggie lighter that's causing the issue? I'd also try another cable assuming it's just a standard micro usb cable just to eliminate either the cable or the ciggie lighter plugin thingy

Jamesyboyjim · 11 Mar 2016 at 14:49

IAmATeaf said:
So are you sure that it's not the actual unit that plugs into the ciggie lighter that's causing the issue? I'd also try another cable assuming it's just a standard micro usb cable just to eliminate either the cable or the ciggie lighter plugin thingy

It could be! Its just a mini usb cable one end (the camera end) with a cigarette lighter adaptor at the other end. Its deffo the lead that's the issue, as mentioned above, the camera operates fine via battery with no cable connected to it.

But when the lead is plugged in, even only into the camera and not the cigarette socket, the interference starts. I'm guessing that, even when not connected to the cigarette socket, the camera itself sends some kind of signal down the cable, looking to charge and that's what causes the interference.

I've discovered that, the more the cable is closer / touching the windscreen (which is heated, so full of small wires) the more it interferes. Using the previously suggested ferrite clamps, it has improved the issue, but its still there.

At this stage I'm thinking that my only choices are, trying a different standard mini usb cable with a different 12v cigarette usb adaptor, or try a different aerial system in the car, or trying to relocate the existing aerial to the window in the back. All of which will require spending a few quid annoyingly.

Jamesyboyjim · 11 Mar 2016 at 21:10

Ok, had another play, turns out it's the camera itself causing the interference. I removed the cable completely and tried the camera just running off its battery and it caused reception to drop. It would drop completely when held closer to the aerial. So frustrating!!!