DAB signal drop S212

[ForestAthlete]

Hello Everyone,

Recently my DAB radio is loosing signal more frequently than usual and for longer periods, especially when driving on the M3 between Basingstoke and Bagshot, but in other locations too.
Any ideas on a remedy?

When I owned a E300TD W210, I retro fitted a Blaupunct Woodstock 52 (DAB) with external DAB antenna, which worked wonderfully, perhaps I need to fit a decent antenna?

Thanks

 

[markjay]

Hello Everyone,

Recently my DAB radio is loosing signal more frequently than usual and for longer periods, especially when driving on the M3 between Basingstoke and Bagshot, but in other locations too.
Any ideas on a remedy?

When I owned a E300TD W210, I retro fitted a Blaupunct Woodstock 52 (DAB) with external DAB antenna, which worked wonderfully, perhaps I need to fit a decent antenna?

Thanks

Welcome.

Best thing book the car in with www.comandonline.co.uk in Lightwater (near M3 J3), it's very near you.

 

[jayboy222]

I had the same issue with my W212 and DAB reception dropping out. I took it to Mercedes who applied an update which sorted the issue, never hada problem with signal dropping out since.

 

[ForestAthlete]

Thanks Jayboy222, did Mercedes do this as part of a service? Or did they charge you for this update?
Thanks

 

[markjay]

My experience with software updates done at the dealer, is that they will do it FOC if the car is under warranty, and there's a specific customer's complaint regarding the relevant component - in all other circumstances I've been charged by the dealer when requesting a software update.

Also, dealers never carry-out software updates as a matter of course during a service, unless there's a recall.

That been said, you can always give it a go and try and blag a free software update from the service manager while the car is at the dealer being serviced, you never know.

 

[jayboy222]

Thanks Jayboy222, did Mercedes do this as part of a service? Or did they charge you for this update?
Thanks

It was a few years ago but I think they did it for free when my car was being serviced. Worth asking, what's the worst they can say.

 

[Bendo]

Seems daft for them not to do updates as standard given how many bugs get fixed in modern cars. It's something Volvo make a big deal of as part of their service.

 

[markjay]

Seems daft for them not to do updates as standard given how many bugs get fixed in modern cars. It's something Volvo make a big deal of as part of their service.

Downloading and installing software updates is time consuming, and requires STAR, plus a STAR-trained technician, both of which are available only in limited numbers. In contrast, Tesla have Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, which makes the process of keeping the car always updated fully automated.

 

[st13phil]

In contrast, Tesla have Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, which makes the process of keeping the car always updated fully automated.

Is that the case for all safety-critical systems on the Tesla too? If so, one must wonder what happens when the update is borked, and also implies the presence of a potentially dangerous attack vector for bad actors.

 

[markjay]

Is that the case for all safety-critical systems on the Tesla too? If so, one must wonder what happens when the update is borked, and also implies the presence of a potentially dangerous attack vector for bad actors.

As far as I am aware, yes, all updates are received OTA, but I don't actually own a Tesla so I don't know for certain... @clk320x might know?

My IONIQ 5 receives only infotainment system updates OTA, other updates still require a trip to the dealer, however Hyundai said that from MY 2023 all updates will be OTA.

 

[clk320x]

As far as I am aware, yes, all updates are received OTA, but I don't actually own a Tesla so I don't know for certain... @clk320x might know?

Software updates are OTA yes and work seamlessly. Never had an issue.

 

[clk320x]

Is that the case for all safety-critical systems on the Tesla too? If so, one must wonder what happens when the update is borked, and also implies the presence of a potentially dangerous attack vector for bad actors.

The entire MCU is updated - similar to how an iPhone OS is updated. They regularly update the cars so it wouldn’t be practical to do it in person (and imo way more hassle).

 

[st13phil]

The entire MCU is updated - similar to how an iPhone OS is updated.

Thanks for the confirmation - but Wow! OTA updating of safety-critical features must present risk factors that just don’t exist for a dealer-based wire connected update process.

BTW, this is not meant to be any sort of Tesla-bashing, just that I’m genuinely surprised that OTA updates of that kind are routinely happening.

 

[FiveAlive]

In terms of getting updated software installed, it can be made fairly fail-safe as long as there is enough storage for both the old and new code images within the MCU. The new code image is downloaded without erasing the old image, and a checksum is then calculated across it to confirm that what is stored is exactly the same as what the factory expects it to be, confirming that the download and programming were successful. After that a flag can be set to mark the new image as valid, the module can be reset and the boot code within the module, which is separate to the code image, selects the new code image to run rather than the old one. If the download process was interrupted, or the new image checksum is wrong, the old code continues to be used.

As a belt-and-braces safety measure, a 'watchdog' timer can be used to revert to the old code image if the module locks up whilst running the new code image.

I don't know if this is what Tesla does but it is fairly common practice.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Recently my DAB radio is loosing signal more frequently than usual and for longer periods, especially when driving on the M3 between Basingstoke and Bagshot, but in other locations too.
Any ideas on a remedy?

I used to have that DAB problem listening to Greatest Hits on that same stretch of the M3 in my C216, S212 and E91. Too many conflicting stations floating in and out of signal.

Solution? I switched to Apple podcasts and Spotify. I loathe wasting money on in-car audio. I haven't used DAB since.

But if you do want to spend money to fix it - Comand are the best people.

The good news: everything is still better than the days of AM / Medium Wave. which was laughable.

 

[clk320x]

Thanks for the confirmation - but Wow! OTA updating of safety-critical features must present risk factors that just don’t exist for a dealer-based wire connected update process.

BTW, this is not meant to be any sort of Tesla-bashing, just that I’m genuinely surprised that OTA updates of that kind are routinely happening.

I’m not sure on the technicalities but during the process literally every system goes through a test cycle (you hear things clicking/clunking as they are engaged) - I’m sure there’s a few fail-safes in place to keep everything safe.

 

[Bendo]

Downloading and installing software updates is time consuming, and requires STAR, plus a STAR-trained technician, both of which are available only in limited numbers. In contrast, Tesla have Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, which makes the process of keeping the car always updated fully automated.

Whilst there are some good points, it doesn't wash. Other manufacturers manage it, I'm sure Volvos VIDA is no more complex than star. Whilst it may have been acceptable in the early days, it isn't now, e.g. a 2016 S212s DAB is pretty much completely broken without software updates, stuff like that should be patched as a matter of course when it's serviced at a dealer.

Current Volvos have moved to OTA updates though so that makes things a bit better.

 

[ForestAthlete]

Happy to report that a Mercedes software update has fixed the DAB radio signal dropping. Done FOC during an A service.
Can now listen to Test Match Special on DAB without AM crackles!