Arrgghh! Ripped my antenna off!

[SeventyGTX]

I knew I should have checked it before I backed it into the cover we had built for our motor home. I saw that it had a spring base, so figured it would bend back and forth. Well, I pulled it out of our cover this morning and ripped it off the roof. Evidently the spring was stronger than the screws mounting it into the OSB/rubber roof.

Anyone have a suggestion on a good low profile AM/FM antenna as a replacement? I never really cared for that thing sticking up 2ft taller than an already tall coach anyway. Here is where it pulled out.........very cheesy mount job, IMHO and the spring was STIFF, so didn't flex much and just ripped the screws out.....

[High Desert]

Agree with you SeventyGTX - never liked the additional height of the whip antenna. I'm looking for something, similar to auto antennas, that I can replace the one on my MH with, as it is already bent going in and out of the RV Door.

[SeventyGTX]

I may just get another one like it and fold it down and leave it like that. Hopefully it will still have decent reception.

[onetonford]

Mine is the same way on the back top when I put it in the carport it bends at the spring and after it clears the I beam it pops back up between the rafters but so far hasn't seemed to affect it.

[Iwannacamp]

My old trailer did the same...I eternabonded over the hole and put an interior ribbon type antenna from eBay for $5 and lived with it. The original wire was made on the antenna and I guess stapled to the wall and was unable to pull a new wire through. Gave up and did the interior.

[Mike and Rose]

I know King makes one for about $150. Camping World sells them and probably most RV dealerships. I broke off the antenna on my Class C by hitting electrical wires oops! Thankfully no one got hurt and the wires did fall. We are taking delivery of our new RV on Monday and it has a low profile antenna but not sure of the make or model that is installed.

[bob caldwell]

Mine has been horizontal since 2010 and works perfect.....am or fm

[Lloydg]

Upgraded to the King Jack a few years ago and have no regrets. Camping World has it on sale for $120 right now on line.

[bob caldwell]

King Jack is for tv.....

[Lloydg]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

King Jack is for tv.....

Oops! My mistake.

[IHDRIDER00]

What Bob said. Lay it down. Works fine.

[SeventyGTX]

Originally Posted by IHDRIDER00

What Bob said. Lay it down. Works fine.

That's what I plan to do. The big problem is trying to figure out how to repair the female end of the cable that got ripped off.

[KyDan]

My previous rig had a whip antenna for radio.
When I backed into my shed it bent down so the tip was pointed forward.
When I pulled out it would occasionally stick the tip up under a rafter
which could yank it off!!
Mine just got a dog leg bend but I can see how it might well have gotten
pulled off.

As others have said, replace and lay it down OR just pull the cable inside
and put it inside in a cabinet. I imagine the reception would still be
acceptable inside and no more worries about it getting snagged.

I once had an old car where the antenna wire center lead was soldered
to a 6" piece of plain copper wire.
That little 6" piece would pick up radio stations just as well as the factory
antennas in my other vehicles. Really!

[bob caldwell]

We also just used a metal coat hanger as an antenna

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

We also just used a metal coat hanger as an antenna

Yep!!

[RV_Fan44]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

We also just used a metal coat hanger as an antenna

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by SeventyGTX

That's what I plan to do. The big problem is trying to figure out how to repair the female end of the cable that got ripped off.

You can buy the fitting and the tool to crimp at Radio shack to repair the female end. Later RJD

[SeventyGTX]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

You can buy the fitting and the tool to crimp at Radio shack to repair the female end. Later RJD

Unfortunately, the Radio Shack in our small town closed last year with no other electronics store for at least 60 miles. I have been looking on the internet, including Amazon, but can only find coaxial repair kits.

[wildcatter]

Originally Posted by SeventyGTX

Unfortunately, the Radio Shack in our small town closed last year with no other electronics store for at least 60 miles. I have been looking on the internet, including Amazon, but can only find coaxial repair kits.

Coax cable is the same thing as the cable used for the antenna, just a different size. I work in the cable industry, you probably wouldn't believe how many issues are caused by broken insulation on your cables, they work off RF just like your radio, the only difference is one is across the air being picked up by an antenna and the other is run across coax from end to end.

[SeventyGTX]

Originally Posted by wildcatter

Coax cable is the same thing as the cable used for the antenna, just a different size. I work in the cable industry, you probably wouldn't believe how many issues are caused by broken insulation on your cables, they work off RF just like your radio, the only difference is one is across the air being picked up by an antenna and the other is run across coax from end to end.

Wildcatter, would you have any idea where I can get a cable end like the one pictured? Maybe a repair kit of some type? The coax kits leave one small wire in the center, where this is a female RCA(?) type plug.....