Stiffening Area Around TV Antenna

[Al and Missy]

The top of my trailer around the TV antenna oilcans pretty badly. If the antenna is up, the crank handle and baseplate move when I walk around in the trailer with the jacks up. I read where someone installing a new shore power connector used some expanding foam to stiffen the mounting area around the connector. Any reason not do do this around the base of the TV antenna? Any better ideas? I e-mailed JC and they said not to worry about it, but I do.

Al

[cwf]

I am one who used the canned foam. However, I injected, allowed to cure, then hole sawed it. The antenna system would hate you for installing that stuff and got stuck to the components.

However.

If you remove the shaft and can seal the hole where the parts rotate with something like a stub of PVC pipe or tubing, you should be able to clear the space by removing. So what if it pulls a little more "foam"?

[lewster]

Al,

I've been removing a lot of the crank-up TV antennas on Airstreams to make room for more solar panels. There is an excellent replacement unit called the 'JACK' from King Controls. It is an amplified, digital antenna on an 11" base that rotates to get best signal and has a built-in signal strength meter as well.

They take up far less roof space than the old style crank-up and perform better as well. Check them out: KING Jack HDTV antenna with SureLock signal meter | King

[dznf0g]

Should OP be sure to use "low expansion" foam?

[Al and Missy]

Thanks, Lew and Channing.

I think I'll start with foaming what I've got. I was thinking about using some PVC or something wrapped with wax paper to control the intrusion into the shaft area.

Lew, I've heard about the Jack antenna and have considered it. I just put the "Wingman" UHF accessory on my existing antenna, but I'm also considering Solar. If I do the solar I may have to swap the antenna. I'm thinking about 250 watts or so.

Al