TV Antenna lead

[fdx753]

I have 1973 Argosy20. I removed the mount of a Barker antenna(antenna missing) and replaced it with a Winegard sensor. The winegard amplifier will not work with the old Barker flat wire. Now, I need to pull some coaxial cable from the antenna to the amplifer. Does anyone have any ideas on the easiest way to accomplish this? I have thought of removing ceiling panels and tracing the old flat wire back the roof connection, but that seems like a large project. I have also thought of running the lead from the roof connection and entering the roof through the air condition then between the roof and interior ceiling down to the amplifier. I have also thougt of running the lead from the antenna through the refrigerator vent then to the amplifier. This option will require that I drill through the rib. I am worried about strucural damage by doing that. I would appreciate any ideas any of you may have. Thanks a lot.
Brian

[airstreamcaravel]

Would it be possible to secure the new 75ohm coaxial to the flat
300 ohm stuff and use the 300 ohm flat to pull the 75 thru the exsisting route? Kinda like fish tape in a wall!

DMC

[fdx753]

Thanks for your reply. I tried that and the flat wire was hanging up. If I can find another alternative to routing the coax, I will leave the flat wire in the wall.
Brian

[airstreamcaravel]

Can't you use the exsisting Flat stuff ..with the appropriate 300 to 75 ohm converter ... It should work unless the is a break in the
flat 300 ohm stuff.

DMC

[fdx753]

I tried that too. But, I could not get a light from the amplifier indcating a good connection. I might try to find another 300 to 75 connector, the one I used was from Radio Shack.
Brian

[airstreamcaravel]

Darn! Im no help at all !

Doesn't the indicator lite show that there is power to the amp?

It has a strength indictor also?

Got me! Anyone else want to try?

DMC

[fdx753]

The indicator light illuminates until I connect the 300/75 connector. Winegard's directions say it will not work with a connector or any kind of splice, they are right. I have hooked up the antenna to the amplifier with the antenna from the roof through the door, it works as advertised. I am afraid my only option is to go through the wall somehow. DMC, do not be too upset, it was a great attempt!! Anybody else want to try, Please!?
Brian

[airstreamcaravel]

I HATE THE idea of having to use a can opener on your baby. What about running the coax in through the one stop service center? Where your electric and city water enters?

DMC
via wireless pocket pc

[thenewkid64]

You are suffering a conundrum. Easy will work (drilling holes in skin/ribs/vent) but it really is not what you want to do. Hard is more involved (pullling the main center sheet and routing wire as designed). If you have access to a service manual I know it has the necessary instructions on how to deinstall and reinstall the center sheet(mine does).

Since you are only having to go from the original hole to the where it goes thru a horizintal rib (this is more than likely where the pulling is hanging up) you should not have to pull the whole thing. IMHO the right way is the best. Someone put a new antenna on my MH and instead of doing as I have suggested they just measured to where there was a roof locker and punched thru both inner and outer skins, fed the wire and gooped it up. So when I replace the antenna (It leaks) I will be doing it the right way.

I know someone here has pulled the center sheet due to a wiring problem, they can attest to the ease/difficulty of the task.

[fdx753]

Bret,
I believe your suggestion is the best answer. I found a phone number at the Airstream site for requests for service manuals. Of course it is late Fri. afternoon and there is no one there. I will try next week. Thanks for your input!
Brian

[thenewkid64]

I can read between the lines and hear you iching to get it done so here are the instructions from my 77 Argosy MH Manual:

1. Remove celing lights.

2. Remove vent screens.

3. Remove tv antenna handle (loosen allen screw from shaft) Note: yours may be diffrent because you replaced it, so I will assume you know how to take the handle off.

4. Remove door header at galley and bathroom. ( I think the instructions assume you are going to pull the whole thing down. Remember this is a MH with a mid door and a bathroom that is under the multi dome, you may not have these.

5. Remove the inside AC Shroud if so eqquipped.

6. Because of bathroom panels and vent pipes the manual recomends not to remove the multi dome completley so don't worry about the rear of the trailer.

7. Using a number 30 drill, drill out enoug rivets to allow the curbside to drop down.

8. By pulling down on the center of the multi dome it can be removed from the trim strip. I have to assume this means pulling down in the center from the exposed front edge in the lounge.

9. Install by reversing the instructions. Using a AD43BS colored pop rivet. I recomend getting an appliance paint that is close and paint the rivets before use. You may want to touch them up after installation with a smalll paint brush. This is only if you want to retain the "original" look.


You should be able to get away with pulling the dome only as far back as the AC. Just be careful not to crease it and you will do fine.

Let us know how it works out.

[fdx753]

Brett,
Thanks for your input. Following through what you described I did it! First I had to remove the ceiling light(front), then vent screen, interior A/C shroud and drop pan down. From there I drilled out the appropriate rivets to the overhead. By grasping the holes left by light, vent screen, I was able to bend center ceiling inward to release it from it's track. I was able to prevent any bends in the ceiling by supporting it with duct tape. Then came the hard part, the old flat cable was there, along with all the other wires. I found the reason I could not pull the new with the old. Airstream, in construction, had bundled all the wires with duct tape. I assume to keep them out of the way until the ceiling and walls were installed. Also where the antenna wire went through the vertical rib, a plastic grommet was used to prevent any abrasions to the insulation. Needless to say, I was impressed with the care of construction. After releasing the old flat wire from the tape, it was just a matter of attaching the new coax to the old wire and pull. I pushed the new wire through its designated hole and proceeded to put everything back together. It was quite a project, but I feel a whole lot better about doing it the right way rather than taking a shortcut to something that looks like one. You gave me the confidence and where to start. I appreciate it very much. Thanks again for your input.

Brian

[thenewkid64]

Glad I was able to help. Isn't the forum great?

[Fallman]

It seems that I don't have continuity between the outside coaxial cable connection and the front tv station connector. The outside shore connection is behind the outside sheeting, but appears to be inside the wheel well. This is on a 1985 Sovereign. I sure don't want to rip the inside bathroom out to get to this. Is there any other way? Help!

[thenewkid64]

Do you have a button on the wall plate for the cable connection? If it is on (light is lit) the cable will be disconnected from the plate. If the light is off the cable should work. If not the wire may have a corroded connection. I would bet it is on the outside end.