No AM Reception on New Trailer

[dclark1946]

I am working out issues on our new trailer. On the initial camp out I tried out the new entertainment system and everything seemed to be OK except no AM reception when you tuned through the whole band. Tried that again when we got home in the DFW area still nothing at all on the AM band. The trailer has a new to me Continuus fixed External HDTV RV antenna model CA1500 which I suspect is the issue since it lists both video and FM frequency bands but no AM band capability . Continuus also makes a similar looking CA2500 model which lists a wider TV band, FM and AM frequencies. The CA2500 is listed with 4 RF Jacks but the CA1500 model lists only 2 RF jacks. The receiver is a Jensen AWM 968 Mobil Audio System with what appears to have only one automotive type antenna jack. My first thought was to switch to the CA2500 model but not sure about 4RF Jacks if the AM is by itself or combined with the FM like it is in an automotive radio antenna.

At the moment, it appears the KZ wrote off AM reception by using a lower cost antenna. Our older KZ had a small whip antenna feeding a Jensen Automotive radio/DVD player and that worked well for both AM and FM.

Anyone familiar with the Continuus RV antenns?

[wa8yxm]

Some of the automotove type Radio antennas have a nice spring base.. you can simply pull them over and they make a "Clip" (CB shops have it) that holds the end of the antenna to keep it down.. Saves wear and tear on that screw.

[dclark1946]

myredracer wrote:

dclark1946 wrote:

My thought was to initially either change to the other model TV antenna that supports AM but requires another coax line to be run above the ceiling (no idea how big a problem that will be) or add a conventional whip antenna to fix the AM reception issue.

Running wiring/cables through a ceiling and inside interior walls is pretty straightforward. I've also done it in the same model of Spree with romex, coax, HDMI & low voltage wiring from the front to the rear of our Spree and can tell you exactly how and where to run it. Let me know if I can help you.

Thanks for the offer on routing cables in the space between the ceiling and the roof. It seems to me it would be tricky to get the cable through the insulation that I think is installed after the wiring is routed. I guess you could attach two new coax cables to the existing coax and pull the original coax out.

I will PM you to discuss some more.

[myredracer]

dclark1946 wrote:

My thought was to initially either change to the other model TV antenna that supports AM but requires another coax line to be run above the ceiling (no idea how big a problem that will be) or add a conventional whip antenna to fix the AM reception issue.

Running wiring/cables through a ceiling and inside interior walls is pretty straightforward. I've also done it in the same model of Spree with romex, coax, HDMI & low voltage wiring from the front to the rear of our Spree and can tell you exactly how and where to run it. Let me know if I can help you.

[dclark1946]

Lynnmor wrote:
You really need to forget about that brand of antenna. As you know, the antenna is omnidirectional, and will give poor performance with the TV as well. It was installed because it was the cheapest thing that could be found and it looked like a real antenna.

Yep I am aware that the installed TV antenna is marginal and not comparable to the Winegard Sensar antenna. The factory and my dealer declined to install the Winegard antenna so I will need to find another RV service center to change that out. My thought was to initially either change to the other model TV antenna that supports AM but requires another coax line to be run above the ceiling (no idea how big a problem that will be) or add a conventional whip antenna to fix the AM reception issue. I think the whip antenna install may be simpler because it can be installed on the roof right over the receiver and the coax line be brought down in a non functional cabinet.

[Lynnmor]

You really need to forget about that brand of antenna. As you know, the antenna is omnidirectional, and will give poor performance with the TV as well. It was installed because it was the cheapest thing that could be found and it looked like a real antenna.

[dclark1946]

wa8yxm wrote:

dclark1946 wrote:
Our trailer is fiberglass with all aluminum frame same as our previous trailer. The receiver has a Motorola antenna jack fed from the external TV antenna with an RF splitter or perhaps diplexer feeding the radio antenna jack.

That tells me everything I need to know. The TV antenna is tuned to VHF/HUF not to Am broadcast. It is a very poor choce for AM Broadcast

IF you like AM radio, Get the longest Automotive antenna you can lay your hands on and install it. The longer the better..

For FM. it may work, or you can switch back.

Exactly. The antenna manufacturer offers another model that does have AM capability. It requires a second coax cable carrying only the AM signal to the TV,FM, distribution box where the AM signal is combined with the FM signal. This combined signal is then fed to the radio receiver. The RV manufacturer chose not to use that model leaving us with no AM capability. I am not sure how difficult it is to pull another coax cable from the TV antenna to the distribution box if we switch to the other model TV antenna.

[dclark1946]

John & Angela wrote:
Soooo, You know for sure there are AM broad casters in your area? The last one in our area shut down about 8 years ago. Just sayin, maybe check with another radio.

We have many AM stations in the DFW area and in less populated areas where we camp. I don't listen to those very often. However in some of the National Park camp grounds where we stay AM stations are the only link to the outside world. No TV,FM,cell phone or Internet.

[dclark1946]

Joe Way wrote:

dclark1946 wrote:


Joe,
That antenna looks pretty interesting. Do you know if the description that it swivels 180 deg. means it will lay down on the roof?

Well...it looks exactly like the one on our current RV, which does lay flat. Looking closely at the detailed photos, I feel quite comfortable in saying it does lay flat.

You are right. I called the the RV store yesterday and the guy checked and confirmed that there is a Phillips screw at the base that you losen and it will lay down flat. Exactly what I will need if I go with a separate radio antenna. Excellent find.

[wa8yxm]

dclark1946 wrote:
Our trailer is fiberglass with all aluminum frame same as our previous trailer. The receiver has a Motorola antenna jack fed from the external TV antenna with an RF splitter or perhaps diplexer feeding the radio antenna jack.

That tells me everything I need to know. The TV antenna is tuned to VHF/HUF not to Am broadcast. It is a very poor choce for AM Broadcast

IF you like AM radio, Get the longest Automotive antenna you can lay your hands on and install it. The longer the better..

For FM. it may work, or you can switch back.

[Joe_Way]

dclark1946 wrote:


Joe,
That antenna looks pretty interesting. Do you know if the description that it swivels 180 deg. means it will lay down on the roof?

Well...it looks exactly like the one on our current RV, which does lay flat. Looking closely at the detailed photos, I feel quite comfortable in saying it does lay flat.

[John___Angela]

Soooo, You know for sure there are AM broad casters in your area? The last one in our area shut down about 8 years ago. Just sayin, maybe check with another radio.

[dclark1946]

Joe Way wrote:
Most car radio antennas have a clamp arrangement that bears against the underside of the fender. Most RVs need an antenna with a mounting flange. Here's one on eBay.

The RVs we have owned all had radios built like car radios, with no internal antenna.

Joe,
That antenna looks pretty interesting. Do you know if the description that it swivels 180 deg. means it will lay down on the roof?

[dclark1946]

wa8yxm wrote:
Ok, since I do not know your trailer.. What is it made of (Siding?)

AM radios will not work well inside a metal can.. (ALso known as a Farady Cage) it is possible to make them work but you need an OUTSIDE antenna to do it.

Ideally about 75 meters of wire, wrap twice around radio, ground one end, toss the other up over trees..

In practice even 30-50 feet will work or less. Just get it OUTSIDE teh trailer

There are also several portable High Performance AM radio antennas you can couple to the radio, Some can be "Remoted" (put outside the trailer) for improved performance.. I suggest a Google Search.

Our trailer is fiberglass with all aluminum frame same as our previous trailer. The receiver has a Motorola antenna jack fed from the external TV antenna with an RF splitter or perhaps diplexer feeding the radio antenna jack. I think a more elegant solution to the wire in the trees is an external rv whip antenna feeding the receiver directly (the way our old trailer did it) rather than the current TV antenna on this new trailer.

[wa8yxm]

Ok, since I do not know your trailer.. What is it made of (Siding?)

AM radios will not work well inside a metal can.. (ALso known as a Farady Cage) it is possible to make them work but you need an OUTSIDE antenna to do it.

Ideally about 75 meters of wire, wrap twice around radio, ground one end, toss the other up over trees..

In practice even 30-50 feet will work or less. Just get it OUTSIDE teh trailer

There are also several portable High Performance AM radio antennas you can couple to the radio, Some can be "Remoted" (put outside the trailer) for improved performance.. I suggest a Google Search.