Kenwood dab multimedia system

[Kenwood UK]

The DNX521DAB is supplied with the glass mount antenna.

This is supplied because it guarantees fitment to all applications regardless of chassis year and spec of antennas fitted to the vehicle - IE no matter what you have as standard DAB or not you can upgrade to a Kenwood.

This antenna works exceptionally well - and is designed for use with our DAB chipset.

I understand some would rather not have it on their screen - and because of this we have developed a small antenna adapter to adapt a factory DAB antenna to be able to plugged into the Kenwood - this also carries the correct power feed to power the factory DAB diversity antenna.

Alex + SMG Cowfold has some of these for his customers.

If you plug the factory lead onto the Kenwood (by breaking off the VW plastics and bodging it on) it will pick up some signal but not very well as it is not powering the antenna correctly - this could also cause the Kenwood to display error codes or run slow as the processor is overrun with signal errors. I would advise against this!

I have also known some independent car audio specialists to install aerial masts or sharkfin types to vehicles - there is no reason why these shouldn't work but I haven't tested them. The Glass mount works perfectly fine so this is choice is purely down to aesthetics - and obviously having a retrofitted antenna will incur a local cost!

 

[timhutch]

I have the digital TV

Thanks for that info.
Is the freeview TV a simple hardware add-on?
I have a Garmin Nuvi Sat Nav with built in Freeview and the reception is normally very good even with the extremely small built in aerial .... but the screen is a bit small, so would be good to incorporate that on the Kenwood.

Sorry for the delay in my answer - Yes, the Digital TV is a slave box that's plug and play. My only challenge was deciding where to place it, then installing the diversity antennas, and the remote eye.

Mine is placed in the rear cupboard which meant that I had to route the wiring loom to it through the van. I put it here because I had run out of space behind the dash.

The diversity antenna is a pair of antennas, that you have to place on opposite sides of the van. One is behind the blacked out glass at rear right, and the other rear left in the glass.

Works marvellously! Would be nice to override the safety switch off, if the Kenwood guy would like to share that info!

If you want photos, let mw know and I'll try and get some this week....

 

[timhutch]

Screen size - yes its small, but run a set of video/audio outs from the head unit to the cupboard and plug in a bigger telly. I hardwired mine to a bespoke caravan outlet for tidiness.

 

[Kenwood UK]

Would be nice to override the safety switch off, if the Kenwood guy would like to share that info!

The safety side of the system is done by CANBUS trigger through the loom - when the van is stationary it will play visual out - iPod Video, DVD, TV etc

When moving it will still play however the unit will cut the visual feed for safety - you can still listen to Audio etc so a music DVD is fine.

I don't advise you modify the loom, especially being that it is safety critical and illegal to have a entertainment display within the drivers field of vision.

For your information the lime green wire that goes from the CAN box on the loom is the trigger. When the vehicle is stationary this cable is switched to negative (earth)

When the vehicle is moving and playing media although the Kenwood display screen is blacked out the output is not so your rear headrests / roof monitor or whatever will still play for passengers entertainment.

To change the source of what goes out the rear video output press and hold the NAV hard key and it will cycle through what you can output.

 

[timhutch]

Would be nice to override the safety switch off, if the Kenwood guy would like to share that info!

The safety side of the system is done by CANBUS trigger through the loom - when the van is stationary it will play visual out - iPod Video, DVD, TV etc

When moving it will still play however the unit will cut the visual feed for safety - you can still listen to Audio etc so a music DVD is fine.

I don't advise you modify the loom, especially being that it is safety critical and illegal to have a entertainment display within the drivers field of vision.

For your information the lime green wire that goes from the CAN box on the loom is the trigger. When the vehicle is stationary this cable is switched to negative (earth)

When the vehicle is moving and playing media although the Kenwood display screen is blacked out the output is not so your rear headrests / roof monitor or whatever will still play for passengers entertainment.

To change the source of what goes out the rear video output press and hold the NAV hard key and it will cycle through what you can output.

Cheers Mr K.

 

[surfbus]

we have developed a small antenna adapter to adapt a factory DAB antenna to be able to plugged into the Kenwood - this also carries the correct power feed to power the factory DAB diversity antenna.

Unfortunately my dealer has been unable to source this adapter.
Mr K. Can you please let me have the part number or, Alex, can you sell me one of yours.
Many thanks,
Bill