window. There are differences depending on the window
type. The Audi A8 has a total of three types of rear
windows. The antenna structure is very similar on TSG¹) and
LSG²) (privacy windows) (image 666_025).

Antenna Amplifier 2
R111

This is not the case with insulated glass. Its particularly
powerful heating wires are installed in a special foil and
cannot be used as antennas (image 666_026, page 27)
¹) Tempered safety glass
²) Laminated safety glass

DAB antenna

AM antenna

DAB connection
FM2 connection

25

AM antenna

DAB antenna 2
(wire marked in green)

Antenna Amplifier
R24

FM1/AM/DAB connection

666_025

26

DAB connection
FM2
connection

DAB antenna

AM antenna

DAB antenna 2

Antenna Amplifier 2
R111

FM1/AM/DAB connection
Antenna Amplifier
R24

666_026

Bluetooth

Wi-Fi

The Audi A8 may be equipped with up to two Bluetooth
antennas. One is used to connect external devices to the
MMI and is located in Information Electronics Control
Module J794. The second one is optional. It is integrated
in the roof antenna and connected at Driver Assistance
Systems Control Module J1121 (zFAS). Both antennas
support Bluetooth Low Energy (standard 4.0). This standard provides for a maximum range of approximately
10.9 yd (10 m).

In the Audi A8, Vehicle Interior Communication Antenna
R364 is located on the base of the interior rear view mirror.
It is no longer in J794. It now supports two frequencies:
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This allows even better reception. The
Wi-Fi standard is 802.11 ac. At 5 GHz, the data transfer is
up to 300 Mbit/s.
If the conditions are met, the Audi tablet and the Rear Seat
Remote always use the 5 GHz frequency. All other mobile
devices which are connected to J794 via Wi-Fi determine
which frequency to use themselves.

Reference
The Bluetooth antenna in the roof antenna is not yet available at the launch of the 2019 Audi A8 .
Further information will be provided at a later date.
27

Roof Antenna
The following connections in the roof antenna are possible in North America:
›› SDARS
›› Navigation
›› Telephone
Because of the different openings on glass and steel roofs, there are different roof antennas for each version.

Antenna filter for GPS R110
If the Audi vehicle tracking system (PR number 7I1/7I2),
the signal from the GPS antenna is split in GPS Antenna
Splitter R110. The GPS signal is forwarded from R110 to
J794 and J533 (connected gateway).

SDARS

Navigation

R110 is installed directly in the wiring harness. The
antenna filter is a passive component and does not have
self-diagnostic capability.
Diagnosis of the GPS antenna is performed by J533. If
there are problems, R110 should be considered.

Telephone
Roof antenna (glass roof, North America)

666_028

Signal input from roof antenna

666_029

Signal output to
J533

Signal output to
J794

GPS Antenna Splitter R110

28

Mobile phone antennas
The roof antenna of the 2019 A8 is used for both Information Electronics Control Module 1 J794 and Data Bus On
Board Diagnostic Interface J533. In most cases the signal
from the roof antenna is sent from J533 directly to J794. If
J533 requires use of the roof antenna, for example, in the
event of an Audi emergency call, the connection to J794 is
ended.

This increases the bandwidth ↗ accordingly and allows for
higher data transfer rates. Data transfer rates of up to 300
Mbit/s can therefore be achieved.
The number of mobile phone antennas in the Audi A8 is
variable. Depending on the vehicle’s equipment, there may
be up to three antennas in the bumper, one on the roof and
one under the rear right side window.

A second antenna is connected to J533. It is installed in the
rear bumper. J533 determines which of the two antennas
to use for communication based on the signal strength.
The LTE Advanced standard with carrier aggregation is used
in the Audi A8. In this system, the signal is not transmitted
via only one channel, but via several at the same time.

LTE Antenna 1
R297
Emergency Call Module Antenna 2
R322

LTE Antenna 2
R306
Cellular Telephone Amplifier 2
R328

LTE Antenna 4
R331

Cellular Telephone Amplifier
R86

Emergency Call Module
Antenna
R263
666_030

LTE Antenna 3
R330

29

Versions
Diagrams of antenna configurations are provided below. They depend on the vehicle’s equipment. The maximum possible
number of antennas is shown.

Vehicles without Audi connect vehicle-related services
(IW0)
Information Electronics
Control Module 1
J794

Mobile Device Charger 2
J1147

Cellular Telephone
Amplifier 2
R328

LTE Antenna 4
R331
LTE/UMTS/GSM
Voice/data

LTE Antenna 2
Data
R306
Mobile Device Charger 1
J1146

LTE Antenna 1
LTE/UMTS/GSM
Voice1)/data
R297

Cellular Telephone
Amplifier
R86

LTE Antenna 3
R330
LTE/UMTS/GSM
Voice/data

666_031

Vehicles with Audi connect vehicle-related services (IW3)

Information Electronics Control
Module 1
J794

GPS Antenna Splitter
(only installed with vehicle tracking system)
R110

LTE Antenna 2
Data
R306

Data Bus On Board Diagnostic Interface
(connected gateway)
J533

Emergency Call Module Antenna 2
R322
LTE Antenna 1
LTE/data
R297

Emergency Call
Module Antenna
R263
666_032

Note
For better clarity, the optional Audi phone boxes are not illustrated on the image “Vehicles with Audi connect vehicle-related
services”.
30

Audi phone box
General information
Up to two Audi phone boxes are available for the Audi A8.
Both are capable of self-diagnosis at Audi (for the first time
at Audi) and participants in MIB-CAN.
The designation in service is:
For the front Audi phone box:
›› Mobile Device Charger 1 J1146.

Depending on the vehicle’s equipment, the control module
hardware may be identical. Because of the different diagnosis Address Words, they must be installed in the correct
location. They have different part numbers to help ensure
that they are not interchanged.
In the Audi A8, the Audi phone box supports the LTE standard along with GSM and UMTS. LTE-enabled compensors
(antenna amplifier for mobile telephone) are installed for
this.

For the rear Audi phone box:
›› Mobile Device Charger 2 J1147.

The Qi standard is supported for the wireless charging
function.

Telephone antenna

Antenna circuit board

666_068

Charging coils for wireless
charging

NFC antenna
LTE antenna input
NFC antenna output

Circuit board

Power supply and
MIB-CAN

666_067

31

Mobile Device Charger 1 for mobile devices

666_049

Mobile Device Charger 1 J1146
The Audi phone box is available in the following option
dependent versions:
›› With external antenna connection and wireless charging
(9ZE).
›› Without external antenna connection, wireless charging
only (9ZV).
The display showing information on the charging status of
a smartphone in the front Audi phone box is displayed in
the MMI menu.
The compensor belonging to the charging unit J1146 has
the designation Cellular Telephone Amplifier R86.
Mobile Device Charger 1 for mobile devices with
Audi connect key

666_050

Cellular Telephone Amplifier R86

666_069

Mobile Device Charger 2 J1147

666_051

Mobile Device Charger 2 J1147
Three option dependent versions of J1147 are available:
4-seat vehicle
›› Wireless charging only (QF6).
›› External antenna connection and wireless charging
(QF7).
5-seat vehicle
›› External antenna connection only (QF8).
On 5-seat vehicles, the rear Audi phone box is installed in
the center armrest. Wireless charging is not available here
because of cooling difficulties. The rear Audi phone box
only has the external antenna connection; its PR number is
QF8.
The display showing information on the charging status of
a smartphone in the rear Audi phone box is shown on the
Rear Seat Remote.
If the rear Audi phone box is not equipped with wireless
charging, it is no longer a CAN control module. Its designation is then Roof Antenna R126. R126 exchanges information with Information Electronics Control Module 1 J794
via a PWM signal.
The compensor belonging to Mobile Device Charger 2 has
the designation Cellular Telephone Amplifier 2.

Note
The switch-on information for both compensors is still provided by Information Electronics Control Module J794 as a
12V signal.
32

Diagnosis
Address Word 00DE is used to diagnose Mobile Device
Charger 1. Mobile Device Charger 2 J1147 is diagnosed via
Address Word DF. Along with MVs, it is now possible to
diagnose the external antenna.
Any software update for the mobile device chargers is
always provided to the MMI via a full update.
Diagnosis for Telephone Baseplate R126 is done via Information Electronics Control Module 1 J794.

666_065

Function displays
The wireless charging function can be deactivated individually for front and rear if necessary.
If there is a smartphone with wireless charging function in
the front Audi phone box, the charging function is shown
on the front MMI display.
The Rear Seat Remote (SCON ↗) shows a corresponding
display if a smartphone is in the rear Audi phone box.
A corresponding notification is given if a smartphone is left
in the Audi phone box when the user is leaving the vehicle.

Notification on MMI display

666_054

Notification on Rear Seat Remote

666_055

This notification is triggered for the front Audi phone box
when:
›› A smartphone is in the front Audi phone box
›› Terminal 15 is off
›› The door is open (Terminal S off)
The notification is triggered for the Rear Seat Remote
when:
›› A smartphone is in the rear Audi phone box.
›› A rear seat belt is unbuckled.
›› The corresponding rear door is open.

Phone box registration
When a customer purchases a vehicle equipped with a
phone box, the phone box must be registered with their cell
phone carrier. The registration information is entered on a
form downloadable from ServiceNet.
Dealers will find the vehicle specific information on a
sticker in the luggage compartment.

33

Rear Seat Remote
A Rear Seat Remote is available in the 2019 A8. The device
is referred to internally as SCON (Smart Remote Control). It
can be ordered as an option, but is required if the following
equipment is ordered:
›› Telephone in rear.
›› 4-zone climate control.
›› Massage seats in rear.
›› Reclining rear seats.
›› Matrix reading lights in rear.

Rear Seat Remote in vehicle

666_058

Wireless Control Head 1 E859)

666_059

Design
The Rear Seat Remote has two components: Auxiliary
Display Control Head 1 E857 and Wireless Control Head 1
E589.

Remote control
With its 5.7” display, Wireless Control Head 1 E859 is
similar to a large smartphone. Unlike a regular smartphone, however, it has been developed specifically for
in-vehicle use and conforms to crash safety requirements.
The display is always in landscape format, with the exception of the telephone function, which is in portrait.
The remote control display has the following specifications:

Power supply
(minus)

Data

Data

Power supply
(minus)

›› OLED display ↗ with 1920 x 1080 pixels.
›› Permanently installed lithium-ion battery (2800 mAh).
›› Integrated speaker and microphone for telephone calls.
›› Wi-Fi connection to J794 via 5 GHz frequency.
›› Two volume buttons.
All information shown on the remote control and provided
directly by the vehicle is received via the Wi-Fi hotspot of
J794. For this reason, Wi-Fi must be activated in J794.
666_060

Power supply (plus)

Power supply (plus)

Connections on the remote control

Note
Only one telephone call at a time can be made via J794. It is not possible to have an active call in the front via the hands-free
system and in the rear via the remote control.
34

Auxiliary Display Control Head 1 E857
Auxiliary Display Control Head 1 E857 serves as the remote
control’s mounting and power supply. It is also used for
diagnostic functions and to bond a new remote control in
the event of renewal.
The retainer is connected to Information Electronics
Control Module 1 J794 via MIB-CAN.
A magnet in the retainer ensures that the remote control
does not slip out when engaged in the retainer.

Function
The Rear Seat Remote can be used to control the following
functions:

Terminal 30
MIB-CAN Low

›› Telephone handset
›› Radio and media
›› Sound system
›› Rear climate control system

MIB-CAN High
Terminal 31

›› Massage seats in rear
›› Reclining rear seats
›› Seat adjustment

Not used
Not used

›› Rear seat ventilation
›› Passenger seat adjustment

Auxiliary Display Control Head 1 E857 (retainer)

666_061

Telephone menu display

666_063

Display when private mode is active

666_064

›› Rear Seat Entertainment
›› Interior lighting
›› Matrix reading lights
›› Panorama sunroof
›› Rear and side window blinds

Telephone handset function
The remote control must be taken out of its retainer and
held like a smartphone to be used as a telephone handset.
The display is only switched to portrait mode for the telephone function.
The remote control does not have an integrated telephone
module. It is designed as a separate handset for a smartphone connected to J794.
If the rear passengers do not wish for smartphone calls to
be shown on the front MMI display, they can select “Private
mode”.

35

Diagnosis
E857 and Wireless Control Head 1 E859 can both be
accessed via Address Word 00E0 using the VAS Scan Tool.
The following functions are available:
››
››
››
››

Fault memory.
Measured value blocks.
Output check diagnosis.
Adaptation.

A software update for the Rear Seat Remote can only be
performed in conjunction with an update of the entire
infotainment system.
When needed, the right button (volume down) must be
held to reset Wireless Control Head 1 E859.
A new remote control must always be adapted to the
vehicle as it is a participant in the component protection