Mystery Antenna

[gajpurdy]

I have a 2005 National Tropi-Cal MH. We boucht it last year with so many ongoing discoveries. It has two antennas, up front on top. One is a side mounted 3 ft Firestick II with a coil of wires under the dash. I did a continuity check on it and the wire bundle belonged to the Firestick. We assume it is for a CB or something. The center over the windshield one is the mystery. It is spring based and is 32 inches long. I did a continuity check pulling the antenna plug out of the back of the dash radio with this antenna. No results. I also plugged the dash radio antenna back in the radio and disconnected the antenna, phillips screw at base, and the radio played on. The caulk at the antenna base was painted with the coach color, so I know it was installed at the factory. Questions are what is this antenna for and where o where is the antenna for the radio. Or am I nuts. Thanks!

[GaryKD]

Hi gajpurdy,
Welcome to iRV2. The Firestik is for a CB radio. Gut feel says the mystery antenna is the factory install CB antenna.

[ga traveler]

If you live in town and are close to the radio station, the lead will act as a weak antennea. If you have a strong station selected, It will not drop out. Try again but this time select a real weak station and see if it drops out when you disconnect the ant.

[Good man]

gajpurdy,
IF... IF... IF there is NO coax cable connected to... It MAY be a factory installed antenna being used as a "feeler" to warn you of overhead clearance. If you hear that antenna scraping while negotiating an overhead obstacle... Back away slowly and carefully.
Just one possibility.
Jim

[dons2346]

Originally Posted by Good man

gajpurdy,
IF... IF... IF there is NO coax cable connected to... It MAY be a factory installed antenna being used as a "feeler" to warn you of overhead clearance.
Jim

National would never waste money on something like that.

It was a factory installed Chicken Band antenna.