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Becky B. · 05-27-2009, 06:54 PM

I have had everything go wrong with the radio antenna that I possibly could. First, although I had it propped out of my way while polishing, I nicked it with the polisher & it went flying. Put a small dent & scratch in the section that it's mounted and cracked off. I actually had a spare one in my basement.

This afternoon, I looked for advise on how to change it out. I found that you can get at it through the speaker in the trailer. I found the wire immediately. I cut the old antenna off, but couldn't find any sort of connection for a new one. Off to Radio Shack. They had nothing. I thought maybe I could splice it to the old one. No go. Went to Best Buy & found an extention for an antenna. Hooked it up to the end by the radio & duct taped it up good. Pulled on the end by the antenna to feed the new part through. Well, I found the connection. Way up in the endcap it was connected. Short of taking the entire endcap apart, how in the world can I get the wire through the wall, behind the endcap & to the back of the radio? Anyone? My husband was beginning to take the endcap apart, but I told him the Forum people would know a better way. Please, don't let me down!

overlander63 · 05-27-2009, 07:12 PM

Becky, it "was connected?" does that mean the two halves pulled apart?
MAYBE you can run a vinyl hose (like a vinyl water line) up into the wall, stick the antenna wire inside the hose, and shove the hose into the wall. When it gets where you can grab it, pull the old antenna wire out through the hose, and slide the new antenna wire up into the hose. Use silicone slip-spray on the antenna and inside the hose.
Plan B would be to relocate the radio near where the antenna is mounted, it may be less trouble...

Becky B. · 05-27-2009, 07:30 PM

Yes, the two halves pulled apart. I couldn't tell there were two halves (not that I could have reached the connection). I don't have any old wire in the wall. I have the wire from the stereo that goes up into the endcap oblivion. I might have to make a hole in the inside of the endcap cabinet & maybe use your idea with the hose to run the new wire up to the endcap section from the wall.

easyride · 05-27-2009, 07:40 PM

What about a concealed antenna,just laying behind the stereo.Then you could leave your new antenna mounted as a dummy.Dave

Becky B. · 05-27-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easyride

What about a concealed antenna,just laying behind the stereo.Then you could leave your new antenna mounted as a dummy.Dave

I would do that as a last resort, but the radio worked really well with the antenna. I'm so ticked at myself!

Minno · 05-27-2009, 08:28 PM

How about using a stiff wire, like from a wire coat hanger, as a probe? Poke it though one hole, and try to fish it in the direction you need to go to. If you can get the coat hanger through the space, and find the end of it, then you can tape the antenna wire to it. Tape it really well - use black electrical tape instead of duct tape. You may need to fish a coat hanger from both ends. Use a pair of pliers to make small hooks in the ends of each hanger, and try to snag one with the other and pull it the rest of the way. I've done this many times fishing wires through my house walls. Patience is a virtue in this...

Chris

Becky B. · 05-28-2009, 05:09 AM

The area the wire has to travel is probably 4 feet. It comes out a hole that is the size of a quarter, along with speaker wires. Does anyone think it's feasible to take the speaker wire off & pull it through with that? Does anyone know if there is a connection in the speaker wire somewhere in the back of the endcap? I wouldn't want the same thing to happen with the speaker wire.

DEITZ645 · 05-28-2009, 05:34 AM

Becky,
Do you know any electricians that might let you borrow a Steel Fish Tape? They come in handy while trying to fish wires through walls and are better and longer than wire hangers. They can be had at the big box stores or most hardware stores.

If you need a replacement antenna, Out Of Doors Mart has them and the parts...

Radio Antenna 077069-01-000 [44-UP21] - $18.95 : ODMRV , Out-of-Doors Mart

DEITZ645 · 05-28-2009, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

The area the wire has to travel is probably 4 feet. It comes out a hole that is the size of a quarter, along with speaker wires. Does anyone think it's feasible to take the speaker wire off & pull it through with that? Does anyone know if there is a connection in the speaker wire somewhere in the back of the endcap? I wouldn't want the same thing to happen with the speaker wire.

Becky,
If you try pulling the antenna wire through with the speaker wires make sure you also tape some string to the antenna and speaker wire so you can pull the speaker wire back through with the string. The only thing I worry about is that the speaker wires may have been tie wrapped to the skin or a rib which will make it impossible to pull the antenna wire back to the radio via the speaker wires.

Becky B. · 05-28-2009, 08:06 AM

I took a few pictures of the situation. (no, the long dent is from the window protector, not the antenna--that's the small one to the right). The wires coming out of the hole are from the antenna (thick one) and the speaker wires (thin green & black) The antenna wire has to go from the hole to the back of the radio--all behind wall & endcap. I thought about taking out a section of the wall to the left of the window. I'd only have to remove a couple of rivets & some screws. I'm at work right now, so maybe tonight I'll get at it.

Becky B. · 05-29-2009, 06:18 AM

Ok, so here's what I did. I drilled a hole inside the cabinet so I didn't have to fish for such a long way with the coathanger. I then removed the window frame & rivets by the speaker hole where the wires go up to the endcap. I could feel with my finger into the hole. I fed the coathanger from the hole I drilled & actually got ahold of if through the quarter sized hole! I pulled it down & attached the antenna wire to it & a string just in case the wire came off. It all came through the other end! Yeah! I put everything back together & have a connection under the speaker, just in case this ever happens again!

Melody Ranch · 05-29-2009, 07:16 AM

Slick!

Aage · 05-29-2009, 10:27 AM

Way to go, Becky!

Becky B. · 08-10-2009, 01:02 PM

Okay, so it's not even 3 months since I put this new antenna on. It's already rusty! I bought it off of ebay last year (needed another part off of it), so it's too late to return it. Talked to the guy I bought it from & told him it was a piece of junk! He directed me to the manufacturer. Well, I'm not going through all that trouble for a $15 antenna. I guess I'll give one of the regular Airstream guys a call & order an original parts one for twice or three times the price, unless someone has a better suggestion!

Zeppelinium · 08-10-2009, 01:28 PM

Becky,

Too late now, but you can remove the shelf/box from the end cap pretty easily, just a few rivets. Then you'd find a lot of room behind the end cap to feel around and help maneuver the wire.

Just a note about the antennae. My '72 Overlander, and most 70s Airstreams, have a TV outlet on the street side wall just forward of the fridge (or whatever cabinets are installed on that side). In that outlet, which includes a 12V source, there is an old-style balun splitter that feeds a coax that goes to the overhead box in the end cap. That was the original FM radio feed. So you're likely to find two coax behind that box--one directly from your whip antenna location, and one from the TV outlet.

BTW, if anyone finds an antenna similar to this one http://www.airforums.com/forums/show...15&postcount=1 I'd sure like to know.

Zep

Dakota's Dad · 08-10-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

Okay, so it's not even 3 months since I put this new antenna on. It's already rusty! I bought it off of ebay last year (needed another part off of it), so it's too late to return it. Talked to the guy I bought it from & told him it was a piece of junk! He directed me to the manufacturer. Well, I'm not going through all that trouble for a $15 antenna. I guess I'll give one of the regular Airstream guys a call & order an original parts one for twice or three times the price, unless someone has a better suggestion!

antenna...

overlander64 · 08-10-2009, 01:40 PM

Greetings Becky!

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

Okay, so it's not even 3 months since I put this new antenna on. It's already rusty! I bought it off of ebay last year (needed another part off of it), so it's too late to return it. Talked to the guy I bought it from & told him it was a piece of junk! He directed me to the manufacturer. Well, I'm not going through all that trouble for a $15 antenna. I guess I'll give one of the regular Airstream guys a call & order an original parts one for twice or three times the price, unless someone has a better suggestion!

The genuine Airstream part may not be as expensive as you fear. Out Of Doors Mart has the antenna listed in their on-line catalog for $18.95.

Good luck with your project!

Kevin

Ganglin · 08-10-2009, 02:17 PM

You might want to rub it down in 2 or 3 coats of Liquid Glass when you install it and change out the mounting screws to stainless....

Becky B. · 08-10-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander64

Greetings Becky!

The genuine Airstream part may not be as expensive as you fear. Out Of Doors Mart has the antenna listed in their on-line catalog for $18.95.

Good luck with your project!

Kevin

That looks exactly like the antenna I put on. The manufacturer is online at www.metraonline.com They might have the whip antenna that Zep is looking for. I'm just wondering if Airstream itself carries an antenna that is manufacturered by someone other than Metra. I can't make out the name on the package of Out of Doors mart. I just don't want to go through the work of taking the old (not really old) one off & putting a new one on to have it rust in 3 months again!