No AM reception and poor FM reception Isata 3s

[caswelld]

Brian,

I thought the issue with no AM & poor FM reception on the Isata 3 radio had been fixed.

This new owner reported it had not: http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ns-157330.html

Has it been fixed? Can you fix it?

Thanks.

Dave

[bclemens]

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...-157330-2.html

See post #15.

I frankly am not aware of a specific antenna issue on the 9" Xite. I asked River Park what their guy meant and they did not know.

It could be a reception issue in general. But then I have always had antenna issues, back to the Sunseeker days. Cabovers, etc seem to play havoc.

[Underdog]

No AM and very weak FM is a classic symptom of a dead antenna. If you can, try disconnecting the antenna and see if it makes any difference at all.

[Mikemdd]

Originally Posted by bclemens

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...-157330-2.html

See post #15.

I frankly am not aware of a specific antenna issue on the 9" Xite. I asked River Park what their guy meant and they did not know.

It could be a reception issue in general. But then I have always had antenna issues, back to the Sunseeker days. Cabovers, etc seem to play havoc.

Hi Brian,
My Isata 3 was built last month and has a 6" screen. Are there also Isata 3's with a 9" screen? If so, is it possible that my 6" screen version can be replaced with a 9" screen (at extra cost of course)?

[Mikemdd]

In addition, there is a long thread here about the AM reception issue, but not sure which size screen.

[bclemens]

They are not available with a 9" screen. We proto-typed two, but for various reasons we have decided not to push forward. You are welcome to reach out to River Park or Xite on your own however. They make a 9" screen designed for the Sprinter dash.

As for our reasons...
1. The brain for the 9" screen resides in a separate module that has to be installed where the change tray goes.
2. It made it pretty tight on the install and it was taking a decent amount of time.
3. We had already had our module designed to use the steering wheel controls on the 6" screen. The 9" was not quite ready yet and so caused some undue frustration.
4. While it may be resolved...Mercedes is changing the dash for the 2019 MY...which may obsolete that radio anyway. So we have decided to stick with a traditional double DIN at this time. For our 2019 MY it is a Kenwood with a capacitive 7" screen (6.9" if we have to be exact)

[Mikemdd]

I guess I was confused. You mentioned the 9 inch screen in post 2. So all Isata 3s have the 6 inch screen?

[bclemens]

The OP referenced a post saying the reception had been fixed in the 9” screen. I was saying I was not aware of an issue solely related to the 9” screen, if we had a reception issue i thought it was antenna related and not screen specific.

We did proto two 9” screens. So yes, all Isata’s have a 6” screen, barring the two we tested with the 9” XITE. And the 2019 MY that are 7” Kenwood’s.

[markb422]

Installed a lot of aftermarket head units. When I looked at the wiring diagrams most had a wire labeled power antenna. At first I thought power antenna meant a power antenna that went up when you started the car/truck. I did not connect the wire because there was no power antenna. I never used the radio so I did not know, or care about reception. After installing a head unit in my daughters car she said the radio did not work. Did some research and found out power antenna meant that when connected to 12 volt it is a antenna booster. I connected the wire on her car to 12 volt ignition source and wa la all the AM and FM you could want.

[Magnatudes]

Originally Posted by markb422

Installed a lot of aftermarket head units. When I looked at the wiring diagrams most had a wire labeled power antenna. At first I thought power antenna meant a power antenna that went up when you started the car/truck. I did not connect the wire because there was no power antenna. I never used the radio so I did not know, or care about reception. After installing a head unit in my daughters car she said the radio did not work. Did some research and found out power antenna meant that when connected to 12 volt it is a antenna booster. I connected the wire on her car to 12 volt ignition source and wa la all the AM and FM you could want.

Oh really! I will check that out tomorrow. I got my XITE removed from the dash but still connected & operational. However, the coach is inside a metal covered barn so it may not be a good test. If I remember tomorrow, I will toy with it.

[Magnatudes]

OK, today I checked the "Antenna On" lead coming out of the XITE. It is energized (12VDC) when power is applied to the XITE. Therefore, I conclude that this lead is for turning on a power antenna when the radio is turned on. It has nothing to do with improving AM reception as in turning on some sort of booster inside the XITE.

[bclemens]

It never was implied that it was to boost the XITE, it is to power the powered antenna. Not powered as in power up, but power boosted antenna. There should be a red light that lights up on the antenna that I posted.

[Magnatudes]

Correct, I assumed that was the case but markb422 offered a possibility that he had experienced in the past. So I promised to check it out today. As I suspected, this is to turn on a power antenna. My lead was not used and the antenna was wired to ignition/accessory circuit.

[bclemens]

I read that differently. I changed out the head unit in my sons Volkswagon and that harness had you using the 12V power antenna lead, because the original VW antenna is powered. There are two european antenna adaptors...one is just the antenna, one is powered and it connects to th 12V powered antenna lead on the radio harness.

[Streetglider1]

I purchased my 2018 Isata 3 last month and my fm reception on the xite dashboard stereo is awful. The coach stereo works great. Has anybody figured this out.

[bclemens]

It's the antenna that gets sort of buried in the A-pillar. If you can pull that out and let it breath, I think it will be better. On the 2019, we're hoping that the Winegard COnnecT handles all the FM antenna needs. Not sure where we are getting the dash wired to that yet however.

[Streetglider1]

Sorry, I don’t want to be a bother but is it in the drivers side or passenger side a-pillar?

[papazeus]

Hey Brian -I just took delivery of our 2019 Isata 3 last week. I was pleasantly surprised to see you included the Winegard Connect 2.0 on the unit. Thanks! However the FM reception - still is something to be desired. On my drive home from the dealer, I had trouble with the reception unfortunately. I will say - this was just my initial observation as I shall investigate the issue further. It looks as if the Connect was wired down through the refrigerator. Any suggestions on the reception would be appreciated. thanks

[bclemens]

The ConnecT will be used as the FM antenna for the Jensen radio. I don't think we have gotten around to tying it into the dash yet, but that was the original plan. Might need a Y-adaptor and still a european antenna adaptor.

[Streetglider1]

I removed the drivers side a-pillar cover and found what I believe was the antenna wire. It ran all the way up into the headliner and appeared to be attached to something up there so I didn’t want to pull on it to hard. Does anybody know if it’s just a wire or is there something on the end of it. I’m back at square one, still with no decent fm reception. An interesting note is that there was a gps antenna that sticks to the a-pillar with a magnet. It seemed as if the farther I got the radio antenna wire from the gps antenna the better the radio station came in. I wonder if the gps is causing interference?