Best way to arrange TMC antenna

Cfcfan · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 27, 2008 Posts: 14

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?

Greenglide · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject:

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.

mostdom · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:53 am Post subject:

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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Dom

HERE LIES PND May it rest in peace.
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philpugh

Cfcfan · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 27, 2008 Posts: 14

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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