Poor FM reception

awellis3 · 07-10-2013, 01:16 PM

Our 2604WS came with a great audio system and works well except for radio reception. No Wx band, few FM stations. We took a portable with us on our last trip and pulled in stations right and left. Example: Listening to 88.9FM loud and clear on the portable inside the trailer. The onboard radio was nothing but fuzz on that frequency.
Anyone have a clue? Bad antenna? Loose antenna cable?

Teach

pwb01 · 07-12-2013, 09:23 AM

You could have a bad antenna connection. I have the Genesis radio in my unit which does not pull in good reception at all for AM, FM or weather. I've seen a thread here someplace suggesting an adaptor to plug your radio into the TV antenna for better and directional FM reception. (FM frequency range is same as old TV audio).

Overall, I'm not happy with the Genesis at all for many reasons but that's another thread.

My solution is I use Sirius Satellite radio 99.9% of the time and never have reception problems even in the mountains far from any commercial radio. I subscribe to "Mostly Music" package for $9/month for 6 months a year.

The .1% left is searching for an AM station for local weather sometimes because the NOAA weather channels don't come in on the Genesis.

rbrumm · 07-12-2013, 10:25 AM

I have the genesis also. I love it compared to the old concertone! I get bad fm reception with the lights on. Other threads indicate it could be the LED lighting of you have it and lights are on.

awellis3 · 07-13-2013, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwb01

You could have a bad antenna connection. I have the Genesis radio in my unit which does not pull in good reception at all for AM, FM or weather. I've seen a thread here someplace suggesting an adaptor to plug your radio into the TV antenna for better and directional FM reception. (FM frequency range is same as old TV audio).

Overall, I'm not happy with the Genesis at all for many reasons but that's another thread.

My solution is I use Sirius Satellite radio 99.9% of the time and never have reception problems even in the mountains far from any commercial radio. I subscribe to "Mostly Music" package for $9/month for 6 months a year.

The .1% left is searching for an AM station for local weather sometimes because the NOAA weather channels don't come in on the Genesis.

We, too, have satellite radio and want the Genesis radio to work for the things you stated (local Wx). We also enjoy NPR first thing in the a.m., and XM doesn't carry "The Morning Edition."
I'm sorry to hear that that radio isn't worth a toot. I'll search for the radio/TV antenna thread and start a new thread on the Genesis here and at RV.net.

Thanks,
Teach

awellis3 · 07-13-2013, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbrumm

I have the genesis also. I love it compared to the old concertone! I get bad fm reception with the lights on. Other threads indicate it could be the LED lighting of you have it and lights are on.

Sounds weird but I'll check it out.

Teach

**ependydad** · 07-13-2013, 08:14 AM

Look for a post by RodeoGeorge. He detailed it in his mods thread, I believe.

RodeoGeorge · 07-13-2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awellis3

Our 2604WS came with a great audio system and works well except for radio reception. No Wx band, few FM stations. We took a portable with us on our last trip and pulled in stations right and left. Example: Listening to 88.9FM loud and clear on the portable inside the trailer. The onboard radio was nothing but fuzz on that frequency.
Anyone have a clue? Bad antenna? Loose antenna cable?

Teach

I received a "Notification" (not a PM) inquiring how to improve the radio reception. I attempted to add a reply to the "conversation", and it all disappeared telling me that I couldn't include a LINK in my reply.

I think the Notification was signed tiredTeacher, but I did not note the User Name.

Teach, if that was you, here is what I attempted to tell you.

This is a link to a Thread that contains the instructions on how to use the Winegard Bat Wing antenna for your Stereo. It makes a world of difference on FM and Weather.

Post #17 and #19 in this thread:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...s-36212-2.html

RodeoGeorge

pwb01 · 07-14-2013, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awellis3

We, too, have satellite radio and want the Genesis radio to work for the things you stated (local Wx). We also enjoy NPR first thing in the a.m., and XM doesn't carry "The Morning Edition."
I'm sorry to hear that that radio isn't worth a toot. I'll search for the radio/TV antenna thread and start a new thread on the Genesis here and at RV.net.

Thanks,
Teach

Sirius/XM with NPR: Car Talk, Prairie Home Companion, On the Media, Wait Wait, then Radio Classics with old radio shows, Music channels, Comedy, News channels, and on and on. Come to think of it, Who needs FM when camping anyway. It's hit and miss and we always get Sirius/XM. I do wish NPR had Morning Edition and All Things Considered though.

awellis3 · 07-15-2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwb01

Sirius/XM ... Come to think of it, Who needs FM when camping anyway.

We have S/XM hooked up and running. As to wanting NPR live at 0600, it's part of our morning routine. We get our weather forecasts from the local PBS stations also.
p.s. We sold our Sunline this past May. The TajWeHaul is off to Florida.

Teach

RodeoGeorge · 07-15-2013, 08:41 AM

OBTW, anyone wanting to tie the Roof Antenna into their Genesis, the require adapter cable is not available at Radio Shack.

You can get the cable from MCM.

Motorola to F Connector 36'' Cable | 10TV110 | Distributed By MCM

RodeoGeorge

pwb01 · 07-22-2013, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodeoGeorge

OBTW, anyone wanting to tie the Roof Antenna into their Genesis, the require adapter cable is not available at Radio Shack.

You can get the cable from MCM.

Motorola to F Connector 36'' Cable | 10TV110 | Distributed By MCM

RodeoGeorge

This past weekend I tried to listen to an AM ststion 60 miles away on my Genesis. I ended picking up an inexpensive portable and setting it on the table to get a weather report. Tonight I ordered the cable, we'll see if that makes the Genesis usable.

RodeoGeorge · 07-22-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwb01

This past weekend I tried to listen to an AM ststion 60 miles away on my Genesis. I ended picking up an inexpensive portable and setting it on the table to get a weather report. Tonight I ordered the cable, we'll see if that makes the Genesis usable.

Gee, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Roof Antenna mod for the Genesis System only improves the FM and Weather stations. I have not idea where the AM antenna is.

Having said that, I did not try the AM stations before and after doing the mod, and would appreciate your observations regarding the AM reception.

You "should" have good NOAA Weather reception after the mod, and can get weather information through NOAA.

RodeoGeorge

pwb01 · 07-23-2013, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodeoGeorge

Having said that, I did not try the AM stations before and after doing the mod, and would appreciate your observations regarding the AM reception.

RodeoGeorge

I'll let you know. Like a car radio, I only have one antenna connection where it seems AM & FM share the one antenna. Can't be very effecient. In some cases the AM antenna is a winding around the main antenna wire or power cord. Now FM frequencies are within the range of old TV antennas. The old channel 6 audio is near 88FM, then there's quite a gap to channel 7 which is near NOAA freq's. Therefore the tv antenna can't be very effecient for AM but if I get NOAA and FM radio I wont need AM.

awellis3 · 07-26-2013, 07:59 AM

Okey-dokey, mod done and FM and NOAA are coming in 5 by 5. The AM band is now MIA. However, I'll trade AM for NOAA, hands down.
The real test will come next weekend in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. West Virginia University has a string of stations simulcasting NPR content. We have always been in range of one of these (until we bought "Rocky" and the infamous Genesis 3.0) camping in the Va. mountains.
Thanks RG.

Teach

pwb01 · 07-28-2013, 05:44 PM

Works well. I installed downstream from the booster. AM seems to be okay too.

pwb01 · 08-04-2013, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwb01

Works well. I installed downstream from the booster. AM seems to be okay too.

Tested this past weekend. Got 4 NOAA stations where I got none before. AM not so good but whatever. BEST $10 MOD!

CRZ · 08-13-2013, 11:16 AM

Just wondering if you can make your own by just attaching a F connector to a old car antenna?

pwb01 · 08-13-2013, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRZ

Just wondering if you can make your own by just attaching a F connector to a old car antenna?

An F connector is made to attach to cable wire which has a center wire and braided wire surrounding the inner insulation. If an old car antenna wire is the same diameter and wire structure, I don't see why not.

RodeoGeorge · 08-13-2013, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRZ

Just wondering if you can make your own by just attaching a F connector to a old car antenna?

There will be an impedance mismatch, as the F connectors are designed for either 50 or 75 Ohm cable, and the cable used for an automotive antenna does not have a specific impedance.

This will not result in a loss that exceeds the gain that you will realize from using the roof antenna with amplifier however, and will still result in much improved reception.

RodeoGeorge

bgarbo · 08-13-2013, 02:43 PM

I also have the genesis unit in our 2012 tt. Cant hardly get local stations. Lots of static. Thought our tec. was way past that. I plug in my phone, Samsung s3, to the genesis and listen to Iheart radio which gives me all the local stations plus anything else I care to listen to. Problem solved, kinda. Anyway its a free app. and i'm sure ther are a lot more out there.

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