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03-11-2016, 08:22 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Kitimat, British Columbia
Trailer: In the exploration phase for Escape trailers
Posts: 21
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radio option in escape
Hi, for anyone who has the radio in their escape how is the reception? We are debating whether to get the radio offered or whether to get our own. Also, does the radio connect to the TV somehow to play DVD's put in the radio that will play on the TV. Thanks for all your help.
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03-11-2016, 08:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Southern Alberta, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 1,734
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We have the ETI Jensen radio, it's not bad for reception. Yes just ask to have a video out cable installed. This is a nice feature as you can watch movies and have the sound played over the stereo.
Cheers
Doug
__________________
Cheers
Doug
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03-11-2016, 10:05 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Simi Valley, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA/03 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
Posts: 47
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We have the ETI Boss 6654B. FM reception was weak. I recently installed a $20 after market powered antenna (internal mount) that I picked up at my local auto parts store. This has helped quite a bit, but still doesn't seem to match the my truck or the family cars all the time. I will probably try another antenna when I get the chance. The Boss did come with a video plug out, but we haven't utilized it so far.
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03-11-2016, 10:20 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Did you get extra insulation? Could Reflectix be blocking the signal?
My $29 Sony AM/FM gets good reception ( I didn't say it sounds great ), but I don't have insulation.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-12-2016, 02:35 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Surrey, British Columbia
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21
Posts: 699
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We have the Boss radio and our reception at specific campsites is no where near as good as in our stick built trailer, but then the 12 inch rubber coated antenna on our Escape 21 is 1/3 the length as the 3 ft we previously had. I may have a better/longer antenna installed this spring. I'm hoping that will do it. And our current antenna is external so the Reflectix shouldn't be a factor.
Bob K
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03-12-2016, 03:04 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I don't know much about FM antennas, but the one I have for my home stereo is a piece of any old wire about 2' long. It's just jammed into a hole in the back of the audio system and works just fine.
That 12" rubber coated antenna probably has at least a couple feet of coiled wire inside and was actually designed for the purpose.
My understanding is that FM signals travel in a relatively straight line so if you are on the wrong side of a mountain reception suffers. AM signals bounce around, which is why I could sometimes listen to WLS Chicago with my crystal radio in Whitewood, Saskatchewan.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-12-2016, 12:22 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Simi Valley, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA/03 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
Posts: 47
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Reflectix Blocking the Signal?
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Did you get extra insulation? Could Reflectix be blocking the signal?
My $29 Sony AM/FM gets good reception ( I didn't say it sounds great ), but I don't have insulation.
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My guess is the Reflectix is at least part of the problem. Since I had only mounted the powered antenna with duct tape inside the cabinet next to the door, I have been moving it around, including outside. This powered indoor mount antenna likes being away from wall, me holding it, and being outside even better. Looks like I will keep looking for more solutions.
Here is a picture of the OEM antenna, all 7.5 inches long, mounted on the side of the trailer, forward of the door. Having replaced long metal antennas over the years in my daily driver, I am leary of mounting a heavy metal antenna on the side of the trailer. That's what my 03 truck camper has on its aluminum roof, and its reception seems okay.
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03-12-2016, 12:37 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Simi Valley, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA/03 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
Posts: 47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
I don't know much about FM antennas, but the one I have for my home stereo is a piece of any old wire about 2' long. It's just jammed into a hole in the back of the audio system and works just fine.
That 12" rubber coated antenna probably has at least a couple feet of coiled wire inside and was actually designed for the purpose.
My understanding is that FM signals travel in a relatively straight line so if you are on the wrong side of a mountain reception suffers. AM signals bounce around, which is why I could sometimes listen to WLS Chicago with my crystal radio in Whitewood, Saskatchewan.
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Same thing for our home stereo antenna in our 30+ year old system, except the wiring is probably 5 or 6 feet, made to be an FM antenna, and sits on top of the entertainment center. Works just fine. The boss likes the NPR classical station coming out of LA, 30 to 40 miles away with hills blocking line-of-site. reception.
Cliff
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03-12-2016, 01:08 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Transmitter is probably on top of one of those hills.
Transmitters here are on Mount Seymour.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-12-2016, 01:35 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
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I have the extra insulation and have seen the foil in nooks and crannies in the trailer. I would like to install a radio at some point, but I was planning to use an internal antenna. Now I guess I won't, due to the insulation. I'm glad I read this thread.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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03-12-2016, 01:38 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Mike,
I had good success with a window mounted antenna.....
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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03-12-2016, 02:47 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Surrey, British Columbia
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21
Posts: 699
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I read that for fibreglass installations you cannot just use a wire or car/truck antenna designed for metal surfaces. The difference is due to something like ground effect so fibreglass installations require a specific coil at the base for good reception. I was considering getting a Shakespeare 4350 AM/FM stereo antenna which also fold down for travel or for covering with a trailer cover, though its cable doesn't go through the base due to the joint. It looks good, has good reviews and is 3 ft long.
shakespeare 4350 antenna - Walmart.com
Reace said they could install it on the roof for about $45.
Bob K
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03-12-2016, 03:34 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobbito
I read that for fibreglass installations you cannot just use a wire or car/truck antenna designed for metal surfaces. The difference is due to something like ground effect so fibreglass installations require a specific coil at the base for good reception.
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Generally yes... or add a "ground plane" (area of metal, which can be foil, but should be connected to the ground side of the antenna connection) at the base.
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03-12-2016, 04:00 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
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It depends on the Car/Truck antenna. There are some that are designed to work without a ground plane, at least on FM. I installed any amplified version of a no ground plane antenna on my trailer & it works great. Unfortunately, I didn't keep the model/brand info, but it was off the rack at a chain auto parts store.
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03-12-2016, 06:48 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Tampa Bay Area, Florida
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA (Little Elsie) Extensively Personalized
Posts: 2,960
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While it doesn't solve the antenna problem, I have the Jensen which is not Bluetooth capable. I purchased a Bluetooth module from Amazon and when the reveption is bad, I stream music from my iPhone.
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