Still Radio Antenna issues

BGoose · 05-22-2016, 06:17 AM

Hello, I tried to tie my radio antenna into the tv antenna via an F type connector and splitter as recommended on other post. The reception is still no different. Does anyone have any other ideas to try.
Rockwood 8329SS

uhduh camping · 05-22-2016, 06:51 AM

Did you activate the t.v. antenna switch? It is the wall plate that your t.v. is connected to. A light will come on when activated.

BGoose · 05-22-2016, 07:14 AM

Yes, I tried both ways with the antenna booster on and off???

BGoose · 05-22-2016, 07:16 AM

The only way that I am getting any better reception is when I plug in the new F Type connector that has about 4' of coax attached and just lay it in the area behind the radio.

uhduh camping · 05-22-2016, 07:31 AM

Are you sure you are putting F connector on the antenna coax? There is two splitters in my unit and I had to add a third. Had to make sure I was splitting the right coax. I did this by finding a clear t.v. channel and started pulling off coax until I lost t.v. picture.

BGoose · 05-22-2016, 08:21 AM

Yep, I did the same thing. I removed the cable until the tv lost the picture and then I touched the radio connection directly to the antenna cable.... That's what's so crazy about not having better radio reception and stumping me...I really don't know what else to try. The radio cable has stranded wire so I'm having to twist the wire together so that it make one bigger strand and i'm touching it to the center pin on antenna coax and no difference.

uhduh camping · 05-22-2016, 10:15 AM

Are you using one of these?
F-Type Jack to RCA male Plug Adapter | 27-5695 (275695) | Distributed By MCM

raspivey · 05-22-2016, 10:37 AM

Are you positive the radio antenna is connected to the radio? I've seen stranger things happen.

uhduh camping · 05-22-2016, 11:33 AM

The factory radio antenna in this unit is horrible. What we're trying to do is use the TV antenna to get radio reception. This is easily done with a F connector to RCA jack adapter. This is a plug and play setup, remove original radio antenna wire push it back out of the way not to be used again. Find t.v. anntenna coax you need to split that signal into two feeds one to tv as it was. A second signal goes to f connector to rca adapter that gets plugged into radio.

BGoose · 05-22-2016, 11:42 AM

Ok, I think I am just dumb in this section but here's what I have. I purchased a cable that plugs into the back of the radio and the other end would have plugged into something like a car antenna base. It looks like the F-type connector however it is way to large to work on any TV connection. Therefore, I cut that end off and installed a cable tv adapter on to the end. I install a spliter off of the antenna cable before coming into the booster. I attached the new radio cable to that spliter and nothing good is happening. Hopefully this was done incorrectly and someone can straighten me out. Here is what I purchased from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RP-100...ilpage_o00_s01

I appreciate everyone's feedback. Thanks!!

awellis3 · 05-22-2016, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGoose

Ok, I think I am just dumb in this section but here's what I have. I purchased a cable that plugs into the back of the radio and the other end would have plugged into something like a car antenna base. It looks like the F-type connector however it is way to large to work on any TV connection. Therefore, I cut that end off and installed a cable tv adapter on to the end. I install a spliter off of the antenna cable before coming into the booster. I attached the new radio cable to that spliter and nothing good is happening. Hopefully this was done incorrectly and someone can straighten me out.

Get the adaptor uhduh wrote about. You have too many variables in your set up (IMHO).

richp · 05-22-2016, 11:57 AM

Hi,

I have had great success in improving the miserable AM radio reception in my Silverback 33RL by clipping on a retractable shortwave antenna wire that I had laying around.

I had tried adding a ground plane to no good effect, and then played around with a small wire attached to the antenna stub (that's all it really is on mine) with an alligator clip. That seemed to help slightly, which gave me the cue to try the shortwave gizmo, which retracts into a small reel when not in use. I simply clamp it onto the antenna and let the wire extend down to the ground, then unclamp and reel it in when I break camp.

Might not work for everyone, but it sure did for me.

FWIW.

Rich Phillips

moligney · 05-22-2016, 02:41 PM

Tv antenna will never work good for AM. UHF,VHF (tv) and FM bands are way higher than AM. Older units used a car type antenna mounted on roof.

fil564 · 05-23-2016, 08:46 AM

I used the wire from MCM electronics and I have noticed a significant difference in my radio reception. Last year I was lucky to get 2 stations when it scanned and now I have over 10, I tried going through with the splitter behind the wall but found it was easier to add a splitter behind the tv and feed it to the radio.

ornery · 05-23-2016, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uhduh camping

Did you activate the t.v. antenna switch? It is the wall plate that your t.v. is connected to. A light will come on when activated.

Here is what I did on my 26VFKS. I had crappy radio reception. I like AM and FM radio. The problem with these fiber glass shell TT's is that the antennas are not grounded properly. SO I go on the roof, unscrewed the antenna ball joint. And wrapped a stripped ground wire around the antenna mounting screw. Then ran the other end of the wire to the roof mount AC unit and attached that end of the wire to a screw in the AC mounting frame. Replaced the ball joint screw and get pretty decent reception!
NOTE to FOREST RIVER! fix his problem! It is a design/engineering problem that you need to correct!

2016 26VFKS TT
2015 F250 Super duty.

uhduh camping · 05-23-2016, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ornery

Here is what I did on my 26VFKS. I had crappy radio reception. I like AM and FM radio. The problem with these fiber glass shell TT's is that the antennas are not grounded properly. SO I go on the roof, unscrewed the antenna ball joint. And wrapped a stripped ground wire around the antenna mounting screw. Then ran the other end of the wire to the roof mount AC unit and attached that end of the wire to a screw in the AC mounting frame. Replaced the ball joint screw and get pretty decent reception!
NOTE to FOREST RIVER! fix his problem! It is a design/engineering problem that you need to correct!

2016 26VFKS TT
2015 F250 Super duty.

This antenna, in question, is mounted on the side wall of a slide. Not saying grounding it is impossible, but this way was a little easier for me. This is also now using roof mounted antenna. Personally I have never used AM radio.

David 01 · 05-24-2016, 02:58 PM

The above poster is correct. You will not get AM reception using the TV antennae. However the FM should have increased tremendously. Make sure you are using a TV signal splitter and not a cable signal spiltter. If I recall my set up correctly, you will need 2 of them. Split the RV ant. and connect back to TV. then connect to second splitter to the original splitter. Connect second splitter to radio. Do not connect the original ant to anything. The empty connection is for the second TV. if needed. Again I think that is how I had to it. Because, the manufacturer ran the wrong antennae wire for my radio and decided to make a split someplace in the wall which didn't hold up. I mean really it is a travel trailer after all. If you don't have 2 TV's you can probably use 1 splitter just use the right one. It is a lot of wire to deal with but you can pick it up at your local radio shack with the tool to put the screw ends on. Are there any local Radio shacks left?

Good Luck!

You may also like: