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Best way to arrange TMC antenna

 
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Cfcfan
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Joined: Feb 27, 2008
Posts: 14

PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:32 pm    Post subject: Best way to arrange TMC antenna Reply with quote

Hi all

I have experienced the same problems receiving and holding TMC signals. Has anyone found the most effective way of arranging the TMC antenna to get the best signal?

I have two cars. I have tried running it vertically up the right hand side of the windscreen, across the top to the rearview mirro and then vertically down as far as it would go. This was moderately effective in the BMW but pretty inneffective in the Mercedes. I have not found any configuration that works in the Mercedes.

Has anybody cracked it?
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Greenglide
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Joined: Apr 04, 2006
Posts: 295
Location: South East Northumberland, UK

PostPosted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lack of signal tends to be due to athermic windscreens.

There is a long thread about how to connect the wet string to the car's aerial - mainly based on the TomTom unit.

If you search through this forum and the TomTom One forum for my username or "athermic" you should find it.

Obviously this is a permanently fixed solution, not suitable for hire cars etc.

I now have two 3.5 jack sockets on the dashboard (mounted in two dummy switches) one is the line input to the radio (a sad omission for the specification) and the other is the aerial connection for the TMC. Works a treat.
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mostdom
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Joined: Jul 10, 2006
Posts: 1964
Location: Surrey, UK.

PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you wish to have another go with the wet cable then have a read of This first, before resorting to butchary. The link also provides you with the links to the arial conversion threads.

I am still using my wet cable on my navman, now almost three years on. Not perfect but it works.
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HERE LIES PND May it rest in peace.
Navigon 7310/iPhone Navigon&Copilot
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philpugh
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Joined: Dec 28, 2005
Posts: 2003
Location: Antrobus, Cheshire

PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:40 pm    Post subject: Re: Best way to arrange TMC antenna Reply with quote

Cfcfan wrote:

I have experienced the same problems receiving and holding TMC signals. Has anyone found the most effective way of arranging the TMC antenna to get the best signal?

I have two cars. I have tried running it vertically up the right hand side of the windscreen, across the top to the rearview mirro and then vertically down as far as it would go. This was moderately effective in the BMW but pretty inneffective in the Mercedes. I have not found any configuration that works in the Mercedes.


Lack of TMC reception is caused by one or more of the following conditions:

Poor radio reception area.
Car preventing reception (lots of metal / 'athermic' windscreens)
Car/other equipment inducing interference onto internal aerial - this would cause errors in the received RDS signal.
The UK generally runs low FM signal power due to the small size of the country and the plethora of radio stations. The RDS signal is a small fraction of the radiated power from the transmitter. The only high power stations (BBC Radio 1-4) don't carry commercial data.

Most of these can be improved by fitting/connecting to an external aerial. Unfortunately this usually requires surgery on the internal aerial - invalidating any warranty.
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Cfcfan
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Joined: Feb 27, 2008
Posts: 14

PostPosted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the responses - I do not think it is an athermic windscreen because I can receive a signal when the car is stationary. I loose the signal when travelling at speed.

I was just wondering if the way the arial is spread on the windscreen makes a difference. TomTom suggest mounting it vertically but it is too long. I do not know whetehr it is better to mount the outer ir inner ends vertically.
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