2 minor maintenance issues

[GKLarson]

As an "all thumbs guy" I'm back seeking more help from the many much handier folks here ...........

Radio in my '06 T1950 gets lousy reception even w/ antenna deployed. Wife reports that there's a big tangle of wires behind the radio that get in way & pushed around when she tries to store things there. Assume that's the 1st place I should look to try & find the problem. Thinking perhaps the antenna lead's been loosened/disconnected ? Anything else I should look for to explain & fix the bad reception ?

Issue #2 While pulling into a very tight campsite driver's side wheels went over a hump tilting top of trailer opposite way into tree & damaged Dometic awning torsion assembly left hand cap end, part # 3108017.009. Wrote to Dometic & their terse reply was "that part is no longer available" Any idea on a source for a replacement ? I've bent it back so awning rolls up & down but my "cobb job" fix looks a bit unsightly.

Thanx for any help/advice

[GKLarson]

Well, I pulled the radio out & all the wires especially the antenna are very well-connected so guess it's another issue causing lousy reception

[Steve Collins]

Glenn, the antenna up on the roof should be the old style with a spring loaded base. There is a mechanical connection just below that, kind of like two halves of a ball. One is part of the base and the other is the bottom of the antenna assembly. They are held together with a single screw.

Both are made out of cast metal which is then chrome plated. The whole thing is very susceptible to corrosion and/or oxidation. Carefully loosen and remove the screw. The antenna should come away from the base. Clean everything real well so that you have bright metal contacting bright metal. Then coat everything with a light coating of dielectric grease and reassemble.

Also, the antenna connection into the radio is subject to oxidation. Remove and reinsert it several times to "wipe" it clean.

[GKLarson]

Steve
Just saw your reply
Immediately set up step ladder to get @ antenna & it's as you say
When I removed the screw holding 2 halves of "ball" together I see lots of discolorization/corrosion/oxidation. Also removed that vertical screw that was revealed under "ball" to expose the male end of antenna lead. It looks shiney & uncoroded but I'l put some dielectric grease there also, reassmble & report back ..............
In meantime thanx

[GKLarson]

OK Steel-wooled, then dielecric greased both halves of "ball" assembly on roof & screw holding them together. Also steel-wooled, & repeatedly removed & reinserted antenna connection to radio
Local reception sounds good, but when I test it against the reception received from radio in my truck parked just in front of trailer on more remote station, results are discouraging. Truck radio sounds crystal clear, while trailer radio has lotsa background static.
Is this a fair test ? Truck radio is a high cost/ no choice, factory installed JBL unit whereas trailer radio seems lesser quality
Sure would be nice to listen to Prairie Home Companion from comfort of our Sunline this Winter while boondocking rather than sitting in truck

[Sunline Fan]

Originally Posted by Steve Collins

Glenn, the antenna up on the roof should be the old style with a spring loaded base. There is a mechanical connection just below that, kind of like two halves of a ball. One is part of the base and the other is the bottom of the antenna assembly. They are held together with a single screw.

Both are made out of cast metal which is then chrome plated. The whole thing is very susceptible to corrosion and/or oxidation. Carefully loosen and remove the screw. The antenna should come away from the base. Clean everything real well so that you have bright metal contacting bright metal. Then coat everything with a light coating of dielectric grease and reassemble.

Also, the antenna connection into the radio is subject to oxidation. Remove and reinsert it several times to "wipe" it clean.

Excellent advice, Steve. When Sunline moved these antennae from the off door side sidewall to the roof around 1995, they became much less frequently cleaned and much more easily forgotten.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by GKLarson

... Is this a fair test ? Truck radio is a high cost/ no choice, factory installed JBL unit whereas trailer radio seems lesser quality ...

Yes, I think it is a fair test and I think your observation is correct, sadly.

[Steve Collins]

Originally Posted by Gene

Yes, I think it is a fair test and I think your observation is correct, sadly.

When the original radio from our '99 crapped out, I looked around a little at other RV specific units, hoping for a bargain. Lucky for me, that free radio out of an '02 Grand Cherokee came along. Much better sound and reception.

[Gene]

I had a '00 Jeep GC and that was one nice sounding radio. I don't know if the '02 was the same brand but I expect it probably was.

(BTW: Nice to see you back Steve. )