Activate aux connection on c5

This section is for General Enquiries or for Systems not Covered Above

Moderator: GiveMeABreak

User avatar
KennyW
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 2499
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 21:22
Location: Letham, Fife
My Cars: Current Citroen's
C5 x7 2010
SWMBO C3 2012
Previous Citroen's
Xantia 2.0 90hp estate
Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 132

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by KennyW »

Marc,

Thanks for the reply that makes sense.

Where do you get your knowledge of the x7 from, I'm just curious?

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5645

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Well I have an X7 for starters Kenny ( :wink: ) and I researched the DAB options quite a lot for my vehicle, but unfortunately the AutoDAB unit isn't compatible with the NG4 (Navidrive 3D) system I was told, so that blew that one away! Plus having a 1st and 2nd generation C5 before the X7, I undertook a lot of research into the differences and options before I finally found my X7. I also did a lot of research on the newer Navidrive 3D, as I had the RT3 Navidrive on my previous C5.

Going back to your issue - in this video they are fitting an AUTODAB unit, - as mentioned you have the EZi DAB unit. However, from about 35 seconds into the video below, you can see the aerial that is needed for really good reception - noting that the black tab section needs to be attached to the metal of the pillar. If you don't have one of these types of aerials, the reception isn't going to be great. Was this type of aerial fitted?

Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
KennyW
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 2499
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 21:22
Location: Letham, Fife
My Cars: Current Citroen's
C5 x7 2010
SWMBO C3 2012
Previous Citroen's
Xantia 2.0 90hp estate
Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 132

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by KennyW »

It was the standard issue with the Easy Dab

Kenny.
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5645

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

KennyW wrote:It was the standard issue with the Easy Dab
Kenny.
Well they do sell these digital aerials separately Kenny if you wanted to upgrade it, quite reasonably priced. :-D
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
KennyW
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 2499
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 21:22
Location: Letham, Fife
My Cars: Current Citroen's
C5 x7 2010
SWMBO C3 2012
Previous Citroen's
Xantia 2.0 90hp estate
Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 132

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by KennyW »

Do these aerials give a better reception?

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5645

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Yes Kenny, they are designed to receive digital signals (which DAB is of course). There are several 'Alpine' aerials for this model, but the KAE242DA is recommended for the EziDAB.
Here's one link:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alpine-Kae-24 ... 2020782299

You have a DAB transmitter in your area - which should help too:
https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/dab/Peni ... /irt635830

Of course DAB can be a bit of hit & miss for a lot of people - but I get great reception from the DAB radio in the house - and that just has a dangled aerial cable behind the unit - so nothing special and that's in rural West Wales too.

One thing DAB is really susceptible too is any sort of interference from 12v car accessories - unplugging these can instantly improve DAB signal it has been widely reported - again I suppose it is down to how well these are shielded.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
KennyW
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 2499
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 21:22
Location: Letham, Fife
My Cars: Current Citroen's
C5 x7 2010
SWMBO C3 2012
Previous Citroen's
Xantia 2.0 90hp estate
Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 132

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by KennyW »

Thanks Marc for the link,

I found out to my cost the connection on the Easy Dab is not the same as the SMB fitting but very slightly different.

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5645

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

One other thing to check out Kenny is the windscreen. There are known issues with internal screen aerials attached to windscreens with any sort of athermic / heat-reflecting coated or built-in metalic windscreen heaters, as these can interfere with the signal. AFAIK Citroen haven't (not on the C5 anyway) used heated front windscreens (the type that are electrically heated such as Ford use), but they are definitely athermal.

The black mottled coating around the rain / light sensor and around the edges of the windscreen do not contain any coatings, so should allow signals through (i.e. some people use these areas for placing their toll cards for automated toll barrier card readers to pick up the signal).

I know this was an issue for some C6 owners with DAB radios. Some have actually had an external aerial fitted (either roof-mounted or glass mounted on one of the rear quaterlight windows). It really depends on the GPS / DAB device, the aerial specification used, the type of windscreen glass and of course the DAB signal in the area to begin with; but anyone considering a DAB 'upgrade' will need to take this into consideration. :-D
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
KennyW
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 2499
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 21:22
Location: Letham, Fife
My Cars: Current Citroen's
C5 x7 2010
SWMBO C3 2012
Previous Citroen's
Xantia 2.0 90hp estate
Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 132

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by KennyW »

Marc,

There is a roof mounted aerial which fits the Easy Dab but how and where would you run the cable?

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5645

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Kenny - I never got as far as that - after finding the unit I wanted wasn't compatible, I didn't venture into the aerials in any great depth. I do know though, that on the X7 there are 22 types of Aerial cable, 2 types of aerial wire and 7 types of aerial base - all dependent upon the Audio Head Unit fitted, whether there is an independent Telematic unit, a Service Module, GPS, Single or Dual Tuners fitted etc., etc. I only mention this in case you are thinking of replacing the existing aerial - so need to be sure that all the existing wiring and connectors will hook up.

If you are thinking of fitting a separate roof aerial, then of course it should be a matter of feeding back through the headlining, down to the passenger side, avoiding airbags etc. - I've pulled up the intermediate wiring harness diagrams for the X7 - which just about shows the aerial wiring and where it travels to. It seems that it travels back down through the passenger side pillar and through the glovebox area to the headunit.

Image
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
KennyW
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 2499
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 21:22
Location: Letham, Fife
My Cars: Current Citroen's
C5 x7 2010
SWMBO C3 2012
Previous Citroen's
Xantia 2.0 90hp estate
Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 132

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by KennyW »

Thanks for that Marc,

I was just curious, I am going to explore the options but I still have the original aerial which does work. Once I have given both aerials a go I'll see what's best and add it to this thread for future reference.

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5645

Re: Activate aux connection on c5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

That's great Kenny - will surely be useful for anyone contemplating a DAB upgrade in future.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Post Reply