I have been struggling with finding a solution to poor radio reception after retrofitting an RNS510 to my 2008 T2 which came originally with a Delta2 head unit.
The Delta had very good reception and I was rather disappointed that when I fitted the RNS510 it seemed to me that reception was inferior which was confirmed when in convoy with another identical T2 with a factory fitted RNS510, he could receive many more FM stations with a good signal than I could.
After some searching and testing of the aerial leads it was confirmed that only one aerial was being seen by my RNS510 and as we know, T2’s have only aerials on both rear side glass of the vehicle, (unlike T1’s which had additional aerials in the tailgate glass plus Diversity). The LHS aerial (Antenna R11) receives AM + FM signals and the RHS (R93) only FM.
(Refer Pic1, Pic2)
There is a tread on myTreg.com which is quite good in dealing with a solution when the RNS510 upgrade is done in a T1 with Diversity module fitted (antenna selection done by the module in the rear headlining) but contains some errors when talking about a retrofit in the post 2007 facelift T2 Touareg without the diversity, one poster in a T2 claims he gets perfect reception without the need of a bypass, another says bypass is required and cable required is a “double Fakra to two single Fakra connections”. WTF, there are only two aerial wires in the T2.
It’s this sort of mis-information has sent me on wild goose chases.
The T2 (or mine at least), OEM fitted is an aerial selection control unit (J515) fitted in the rear headlining (Note: this is not the “diversity” box from the T1) which switches aerial used on signal from the Delta head unit (unlike the Diversity in T1's which selects and switches aerials without any input from the HU).
(Refer Pic 3)
Many thanks to hedditch (CT Moderator) for taking the time to study the wiring diagrams and determining that each antenna had to be bypassed to enable the RNS510 to function correctly, finally we had something tangible to work with.
(Refer Pic 4)
The RNS510 does the antenna selection itself so we need to take the J515 out of play by bypassing the module, very simple but you will need the not so common, male-male Fakra pigtails x 2, I didn't have these so decided to make my own by cutting and soldering two male-female pigtails which I did have.
(Refer Pic5, Pic7)
And this did the trick, problem solved, I now show both antennas ON and reception is noticeably better.
(Refer Pic6)
I hope this write up helps others that want to upgrade to the RNS510.
Tonyb
The Delta had very good reception and I was rather disappointed that when I fitted the RNS510 it seemed to me that reception was inferior which was confirmed when in convoy with another identical T2 with a factory fitted RNS510, he could receive many more FM stations with a good signal than I could.
After some searching and testing of the aerial leads it was confirmed that only one aerial was being seen by my RNS510 and as we know, T2’s have only aerials on both rear side glass of the vehicle, (unlike T1’s which had additional aerials in the tailgate glass plus Diversity). The LHS aerial (Antenna R11) receives AM + FM signals and the RHS (R93) only FM.
(Refer Pic1, Pic2)
There is a tread on myTreg.com which is quite good in dealing with a solution when the RNS510 upgrade is done in a T1 with Diversity module fitted (antenna selection done by the module in the rear headlining) but contains some errors when talking about a retrofit in the post 2007 facelift T2 Touareg without the diversity, one poster in a T2 claims he gets perfect reception without the need of a bypass, another says bypass is required and cable required is a “double Fakra to two single Fakra connections”. WTF, there are only two aerial wires in the T2.
It’s this sort of mis-information has sent me on wild goose chases.
The T2 (or mine at least), OEM fitted is an aerial selection control unit (J515) fitted in the rear headlining (Note: this is not the “diversity” box from the T1) which switches aerial used on signal from the Delta head unit (unlike the Diversity in T1's which selects and switches aerials without any input from the HU).
(Refer Pic 3)
Many thanks to hedditch (CT Moderator) for taking the time to study the wiring diagrams and determining that each antenna had to be bypassed to enable the RNS510 to function correctly, finally we had something tangible to work with.
(Refer Pic 4)
The RNS510 does the antenna selection itself so we need to take the J515 out of play by bypassing the module, very simple but you will need the not so common, male-male Fakra pigtails x 2, I didn't have these so decided to make my own by cutting and soldering two male-female pigtails which I did have.
(Refer Pic5, Pic7)
And this did the trick, problem solved, I now show both antennas ON and reception is noticeably better.
(Refer Pic6)
I hope this write up helps others that want to upgrade to the RNS510.
Tonyb