Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Flopping TV antenna

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Flopping TV antenna

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13244
Printed Date: 23 Jun 2025 at 12:32pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Flopping TV antenna

Posted By: poohbill
Subject: Flopping TV antenna
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2019 at 9:59pm

The television antenna on our 2016 179 has always rocked a little, bothersome in any wind. Today I checked the connection and found it held by two metric bolts with 10mm nuts; too small a diameter to fill the mounting holes and allowing significant flop. I replace them both with larger, 1/4” x 20 bolts which made the antenna solid.

The skinny bolts were clearly not what the manufacturer intended with their mold, looking to me like a mistaken manufacturing substitution.

Anyone else see this?

Bill

Replies:

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2019 at 10:48pm

Yup. That is on my to do list. On our last trip, we were out by the coast, and the rocking antenna (with the coastal breeze) just about drove me nutz. Short drive, I know, but that's what I got.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Oct 2019 at 7:53pm

That and likely, the rubber gasket that should be in the socket is probably missing. That also helps stabilize the antenna. If you look in my mods, I got rid of the bat wing antenna in favor of a flying saucer design that works at least as good, if not better, than the bat wing antenna.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2019 at 9:14am

I did the bolt replacement with locking nuts. Works more better.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: poohbill
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2019 at 12:11pm

My first clue that the installed bolts were not right was the washers and locking washer stacks installed at both the head and tail ends of each bolt.

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2019 at 4:58pm

SH - What antenna did you replace your batwing with, any issues?

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2019 at 8:55pm

This is the one I installed:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B010SP0IY4/ - https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B010SP0IY4/

Unfortunately, it is currently unavailable. I think it works a little better than the bat wing. One thing that is definitely better is that without the wings, it does not get caught on things as easily. Nor does it rattle in the wind. This one looks to be equivalent:

https://smile.amazon.com/Magnadyne-RVTV-W2-SEPARATE-F-CONNECTOR-CONNECTIONS/dp/B00USE3JF6/ - https://smile.amazon.com/Magnadyne-RVTV-W2-SEPARATE-F-CONNECTOR-CONNECTIONS/dp/B00USE3JF6/

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2019 at 8:15am

Thanks SH.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2019 at 4:02pm

Glad to help. I noticed that the links got messed up somehow so I fixed them.

I don't know if the wiring in the Magnadyne model is the same as the 1byone model I purchased. I found that I needed to purchase an extension for the FM radio connector. Also, I needed to change the switch plate because the bat wing antenna was powered differently than the 1byone model. The Magnadyne may be more like the bat wing when it comes to the power connection, at least from what I see on the page.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2019 at 4:47pm

thanks, downloaded the Magnadyne Install Manual to determine ease of adapting, seems fairly straight forward. I haven't been a fan of the distribution switch that came with my Pod. Constant issues with amplifier ON/Off switching. Not a big issue to adapt AM/FM ANT.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."