[richardhancock9]

Has anybody had an issues with the DAB Radio on the new 2016 models of the Giulietta with the Uconnect system?

I have just become the owner of a 1 year old Giulietta Veloce and the DAB Tuner won't find any stations when stationery. I have scanned whilst driving in a different location and it picks up a station list but then ever station I choose its unavailable so I don't think its to do with the signal being too weak at my home.

Any help would be appreciated, if its something simple it would be better than having to do a trip back to the dealership!

Thanks

 

[mru]

1st verify that you have very good FM reception; if that is weak too, check for corrosion at the antenna.
2nd check the wiring, especially at the hatch. Check which side has the antenna and look for broken wires behind behind the rubber sleeve between body and hatch door.
3rd take it to a radio specialist to have the antenna checked.

 

[armoore]

Weak signal may well be caused by faulty attenna lead in left-hand rubber hatch conduit. It is a co-axial type and looks like an ordinary wire. If you need to repair it a kit with the cable and connectors is available, separate from the usual wiring kit. Costs in the region of £20. As mru says try to see if there's corrosion at the antenna but I've read somewhere that the radio/GPS antenna is one of the wires in the rear window, but I could be wrong about that!

 

[mru]

thx for the correction, it is welcome!

Good details, too!

 

[armoore]

If you want a section of co-ax to splice in and cannot find it elsewhere let be know as I have a couple of metres of it and will let you have some. It would need the connectors or be soldered in place ensuring the shielding is complete.

 

[W1NST]

If it’s 2016 model take it to a main dealer it will be fixed under warranty. Several dab antennae bases including mine have been replaced foc under warranty and you should be able to find discussions relating to this via a search.

 

[richardhancock9]

Thanks for the useful information.

I have checked the wiring and all seems to be fine as far as I can see.
I think that this issue might be more software related. After searching through here I found out that the later software versions had issues with the DAB Reception? I have updated to the newer software and still appears to be the same however I am going to try the update again somewhere the DAB reception is very good and see what happens.

Otherwise I think a trip to the garage under warranty, I don't want to start altering cabling or changing aerials myself under warranty!

 

[Randi]

Thanks folks I've had the same problem for a couple of years now but always blamed the weak signals in the south west. I only receive Classical FM on DAB all the others are silent. I'll check the aerial wiring.

 

[JTD_Liam]

My 2016 Giulietta with the 6.5" UConnect Live unit loses DAB all the time. Lately only going into the menu and selecting 'Restore Default Settings' or similar will get the DAB to return, but it goes again after stopping the car, then sometimes returns on the next start-up.

Antenna was replaced under warranty a few weeks ago. This seemed to stop the DAB cutting out for short periods mid-journey but it still loses everything and all presets on DAB go blank after stopping the car sometimes. FM works fine throughout.

It's the bane of my motoring life, that UConnect system - mostly because it worked perfectly from April to November, then I connected it to the UConnect app on my phone and all this started. I think it's dodgy software, but it seems to take such a battle to get Alfa or their dealers to know how to solve these sorts of things. Wondering if they can roll the unit back to older software to see if it solves the problem.

 

[rinsor]

I had the same issues and dealer ended up replacing aerial. ..problem solved. My mito also had same issues and problem rectified by replacing wiring loom.

 

[Gdreamer]

I had the same issues and dealer ended up replacing aerial. ..problem solved. My mito also had same issues and problem rectified by replacing wiring loom.

I have installed now twice the new software on a 2016 uconnectlive unit in the hope that DAB problems would become better. But I still do not get any DAB, only sometimes for fractions of seconds and then it is gone again. FM reception on the other hand is very good.
Given that there is very good FM reception is it at all possible that this DAB problem is caused by the antenna?

Johannnes

 

[iSquithy]

I have installed now twice the new software on a 2016 uconnectlive unit in the hope that DAB problems would become better. But I still do not get any DAB, only sometimes for fractions of seconds and then it is gone again. FM reception on the other hand is very good.
Given that there is very good FM reception is it at all possible that this DAB problem is caused by the antenna?

Johannnes

When you say you have installed the software twice, what software have you installed? The phone app or radio update?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

[Gdreamer]

It is the firmware update 17.07.55 which I installed 3 times now, as described here on the forum. The last time I found a spot where I definitely had DAB reception and installed the software there again. It does not change anything. After I drove a couple of meters away from that spot, again the DAB dropped out. But I noticed that it is always the same places where I capture DAB for some seconds or fraction of seconds and I therefore was wondering whether a) the DAB signal is so bad in Belgium where I live or b) there must be some problem with antenna/cables. But my dealer says that if FM reception is good it cannot be the antenna.

Johannes

 

[mru]

I would propose that your dealer is incorrect.
If memmory serves me we, the Giulietta has two FM antennae. One on the rear window, and one part of the roof antenna (which I think DAB is part of).

Easy way to check: tune into a distant radio station in the direction of the car's posterior. Then turn the car and see if you lose the signal. If you do, you are working off the window antenna only.

 

[CLARET PARA]

my dab now works great after installing a new battery???how can this be?

 

[mru]

karma? coincidence?
I've got not clue.

 

[Gdreamer]

I would propose that your dealer is incorrect.
If memmory serves me we, the Giulietta has two FM antennae. One on the rear window, and one part of the roof antenna (which I think DAB is part of).

Easy way to check: tune into a distant radio station in the direction of the car's posterior. Then turn the car and see if you lose the signal. If you do, you are working off the window antenna only.

Indeed, after consulting a technical service of Alfa Romeo my dealer comes now to the conclusion that he should change the antenna base. Will be done on February 19, I cross fingers that everything will be fine after this intervention.

Johannes

 

[Isotope]

Indeed, after consulting a technical service of Alfa Romeo my dealer comes now to the conclusion that he should change the antenna base. Will be done on February 19, I cross fingers that everything will be fine after this intervention.

Johannes

I know a lot of **** about radio gained from a misspent youth that involved CB radio on FM and AM for anyone who knows the difference? Your reception depends a lot on the available ground plane. On the guilietta the Ariel is positioned to the back of the car so because the amount of metal in front of the aerial makes the radio more receptive to signals infront of you. Older cars used to have aerials at the front of the car so the signals behind you prevailed. I don't have a DAB radio but it involves much lower signal strengths that may not be quite so susceptible to your direction of travel.

 

[Gdreamer]

Indeed, after consulting a technical service of Alfa Romeo my dealer comes now to the conclusion that he should change the antenna base. Will be done on February 19, I cross fingers that everything will be fine after this intervention.

Johannes

Friends,

I can confirm that today's intervention has solved all issues. I now get plenty of DAB stations and without interruption :wobble:

Johannes