Forum Discussion

Nevadastars's avatar
Nevadastars
Explorer
Apr 14, 2017

AM/FM low mount antenna options

Well, I ripped off the lame flex antenna pulling our just purchased Wildcat fiver out of our metal cover. Seems the spring on the antenna was stronger than the OSB roof the mount was screwed into. I had planned on replacing it, but this just sped up the process.

Does anyone have any good recommendations for an antenna that is fairly low? Also, I will some how have to repair the coax end that got ripped off with the antenna. I attached a pic of the damage. Thanks for any suggestions.

  • Many cars with the stubby antennas have antenna amplifiers in the base of the stubby bit. Maybe you could find one of those from a junkyard and run 12v power for the amplifier up to it to get reasonable reception. It might need a metal ground plane to work effectively.

    For FM reception, your TV antenna will usually work pretty well since the FM broadcast band is right smack in the middle of the VHF television band, between channels six and seven if I recall properly.
  • Nevadastars wrote:

    Does anyone have any good recommendations for an antenna that is fairly low? Also, I will some how have to repair the coax end that got ripped off with the antenna.

    AM reception (not talking about amplitude modulation transmission) is usually not a problem. However, FM reception range is limited, higher quality but shorter range.

    One option for a fairly low (but not small antenna), yet with 4db gain, 360 all-around, (50 miles reception) is a round dipole.
    Omnidirectional FM Reception Antenna
    Just under $30, not so cheap, but solid and easy to install, and found it good to resist high winds.:)

    Comes with a 75 ohms female coaxial cable connector.
    Mounted mine on a telescopic fiber-glass painter's pole at the rear to extend the reception range.
  • My trailer had a wire laid flat in the rafters. It actually worked pretty well.

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,110 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 16, 2025