Sony DAB Portable Radio

[securespark]

It started playing up. Sometimes all stations go off-line, sometimes most go off but a couple stay.

I can't work it out. The problem is the same regardless of which room it's in or whether I'm outside.

It says either "NO DLS" or "NO ENSEMBLE", so I reset the button in the battery compartment. Switched on and it said "INIT", then "NO SIGNAL".

Now I get bugger all!

I think it's forked. But before I throw it away, has anyone any ideas?

I know DAB+ is more stable regarding signal dropouts.

Shall I just upgrade to a new DAB+ unit?

Thanks.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Take it apart, look for dry joints in the antenna circuit - it's about all you can do.
What is the model?

Shall I just upgrade to a new DAB+ unit?

That's no fun, this is a DIY site after all!

 

[securespark]

Thanks, RG.

It's an XDR-S55 DAB.

 

[RandomGrinch]

It's an XDR-S55 DAB

It's not a specific repair for lost signal, but it will give you an idea of where everything goes back together!

As before, I would start by looking at the antenna circuit and any connectors on it.

 

[securespark]

 

[securespark]

I can't see anything immediately problematic.

 

[Murdochcat]

DAB isn’t the great solution people thought it would be

FM in lots of cases is far better

 

[RandomGrinch]

I can't see anything immediately problematic.

Neither can I, though I just wanted to check - is the antenna riveted through here?..

And it may be a trick of the light, but has the wire been trapped against the PCB here?...

 

[securespark]

I'll have a look, ta!

 

[securespark]

The antenna is screwed to that, and it's tight.

The insulation on that conductor is a bit squashed, but not broken and there is continuity between those points.

 

[RandomGrinch]

The insulation on that conductor is a bit squashed, but not broken and there is continuity between those points.

Try it without the back of the case on and see if it works?

 

[securespark]

No joy, I'm afraid.

 

[opps]

It started playing up. Sometimes all stations go off-line, sometimes most go off but a couple stay.

I can't work it out. The problem is the same regardless of which room it's in or whether I'm outside.

It says either "NO DLS" or "NO ENSEMBLE", so I reset the button in the battery compartment. Switched on and it said "INIT", then "NO SIGNAL".

Now I get bugger all!

I think it's forked. But before I throw it away, has anyone any ideas?

I know DAB+ is more stable regarding signal dropouts.

Shall I just upgrade to a new DAB+ unit?

Thanks.

Did you tell it to auto tune?

See: Initial setting for the DAB

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

DAB radios eat batteries, are you trying to run it on batteries? Have you tried new batteries? If on mains, check the PSU is within spec.?

Finally, check out all the electrolytic caps, for swelling leakage. Replace any suspect ones.

 

[JohnD]

If you end up buying a new one, look at Internet radio.

I find sound quality on DAB and on Internet very inferior to FM.