1. What should you know about DAB?
DAB radio is the digital successor to FM, and since October 2017 it has been known as DAB+. DAB+ is still relatively new and is not yet fully nationwide in all areas. This means that signal dropouts and even “dead zones” without coverage may occur.
Local conditions can also affect reception. Certain concrete buildings or terrain features may block the DAB signal. However, most users will be able to receive DAB with a good external antenna. You can also try moving your DAB receiver to a different location in your home — preferably near a window — which in many cases improves reception.
2. DAB in the Car
When retrofitting a car radio with a DAB receiver, you will need a dedicated DAB antenna — just like at home. You cannot expect proper DAB reception using a standard FM antenna.
Most people install a standard DAB antenna on the inside of the windshield, and in most cases this solution works perfectly well. On some vehicle models, certain factors — such as a heated windshield — may interfere with the signal. This can be resolved by installing a new roof antenna that supports both FM and DAB reception. These antennas are available in both shark-fin and traditional whip styles.
3. Antenna Adapter for the Car
When installing an aftermarket car radio, you will often need an FM antenna adapter to retain FM reception.
Many antenna adapters come with a built-in signal amplifier. These are easily identified by the loose blue wire that must be connected to 12 volts. You can typically connect this to the wire labeled “Remote”.
4. Connecting the Interface in the Car
Pioneer
The vehicle-specific interface must first be connected to the car radio.
If the vehicle has steering wheel audio controls, the LEAD cable must be connected to the Pioneer head unit input labeled “W/R” or “STEERING WHEEL CONTROL”. The other end (with the multi-connector) must be connected to the interface box.
IMPORTANT: The vehicle’s original connectors must always be the last ones connected.
Sony
The vehicle-specific interface must first be connected to the car radio.
If the vehicle has steering wheel controls, connect the LEAD cable to the blue Sony connector labeled “REMOTE”. The other end (multi-connector) must be connected to the interface box.
IMPORTANT: The vehicle’s connectors must always be connected last.
Alpine
The vehicle-specific interface must first be connected to the car radio.
If the vehicle has steering wheel controls, connect the LEAD cable to the Alpine input labeled “REMOTE” or “STEERING REMOTE”. The other end must be connected to the interface box.
IMPORTANT: The vehicle’s connectors must always be connected last.
JVC
The vehicle-specific interface must first be connected to the car radio.
If the vehicle has steering wheel controls, connect the loose LEAD wire to the JVC wire labeled “STEERING WHEEL REMOTE INPUT”. The multi-connector end connects to the interface box. The mini-jack plug on the LEAD cable is not used.
IMPORTANT: The vehicle’s connectors must always be connected last.
Kenwood
The vehicle-specific interface must first be connected to the car radio.
If the vehicle has steering wheel controls, connect the loose LEAD wire to the Kenwood wire labeled “STEERING WHEEL REMOTE INPUT”. The other end connects to the interface box.
IMPORTANT: The vehicle’s connectors must always be connected last.
5. Can I Install My New Car Radio Myself?
We always recommend having an experienced installer handle the installation of your new car radio. This ensures that your vehicle’s electrical system is not damaged.
If you choose to install it yourself, we recommend starting by disconnecting the negative terminal of the car battery.
When removing the old radio, use plastic trim tools to avoid scratching or damaging the dashboard panels.
The car radio must be connected to power in two ways:
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Ignition power (red wire) – so the radio turns on and off with the car.
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Constant power (yellow wire) – so radio stations and settings are saved when the vehicle is turned off.
The level of difficulty depends entirely on the specific vehicle model and equipment variant.
Suggested Checklist
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Disconnect the negative terminal of the car battery.
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Connect the interface and LEAD cable to the new radio. Finish by connecting the interface to the vehicle’s connectors.
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Connect the light green wire labeled “Park Brake” to the vehicle’s parking brake (or ground). Some interfaces include a dedicated wire for this purpose.
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Connect the blue wire from the FM antenna adapter to 12 volts (connect to the radio’s “Remote” wire).
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Connect the purple/white wire labeled “Reverse Gear” to the vehicle’s reverse signal (+12V) if the car has a rear-view camera.
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Ensure ground, ignition power, and constant power are correctly connected. Use a voltmeter if necessary.
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It is also recommended to reset the new radio before first use. See the manual under “Restore Factory Settings”.
6. Installing a Rear-View Camera
Our best-selling rear-view camera, ND-BC9, is typically installed near the license plate on the tailgate, where it can be angled as desired.
The power and signal cables must be routed to the head unit. The RCA signal cable should be connected to the brown RCA input on Pioneer units. On other brands, the rear camera input is usually labeled “CAM”.
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Connect the power cable’s positive wire to ignition power so the camera receives power when the ignition is on.
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Connect the negative wire to the vehicle chassis (ground).
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Connect the purple/white wire labeled “Reverse Gear” at the back of the radio to the vehicle’s reverse signal (+12V). Some interfaces also provide a dedicated wire for this purpose.
All of our touchscreen head units support rear-view camera input.
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