Community Forums

Gary.Jones · 04-14-2016, 06:21 PM

John

Hope your mom got through the troubles and is doing well. Also, sorry you were not able to spend some time with the great group that made it to Quartzsite ..... The most unique thing about the Quartzsite "experience" is that it was all about spending time socializing with other Entegra owners. Great people..... Great experience.

And we are going to do it again this January, so see if you can put it in your long range plans. Best to you both! 73

Gary

NowGo · 07-26-2022, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gasman 2

Attachment 123639

The CB antenna is the front one. Ran the coax thru the front cap and down the A pillar.
Sorry the picture is not the best.
Richard

Thank you for this post Gasman2 and for the excellent photo. I would like to install 3 NMO angle mounts to the false awning on my Anthem, one CB, one VHF, and one cell booster antenna. With a prior coach I drilled holes in the side wall, sealed the holes, and ensured I had a drip loop on the coax. I don't want to do that with this "new to us" coach, and I really like your idea of mounting to the false awning. However, I am clueless as to where to drill the holes in the front cap. Your picture appears to show the holes being behind the top "fairing" portion of the cap ? If I am correct that seems like a great idea. I also don't know where the wires will actually enter the coach, in other words where do I pick them up inside the coach? Thanks

Gasman 2 · 07-26-2022, 01:10 PM

NowGo
Does you roof line and false awning look like the one on our 16?
Yes I did drill thru the back of the front cap where it went straight down. I drilled high enough above the roof so water could not enter and seal it.
I was able to fish the cables down through the A pillar by removing the trim.
You must have 2 meter equipment when you say vhf.
I think the 2 meter antenna will work fine but the CB not so good. I thought the false awning would provide a good ground plane but the SWR was still higher than I had hope.
One problem with the antenna on the roof it has to be short.
Hope that helps,
Richard

NowGo · 07-26-2022, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gasman 2

NowGo
Does you roof line and false awning look like the one on our 16?
Yes I did drill thru the back of the front cap where it went straight down. I drilled high enough above the roof so water could not enter and seal it.
I was able to fish the cables down through the A pillar by removing the trim.
You must have 2 meter equipment when you say vhf.
I think the 2 meter antenna will work fine but the CB not so good. I thought the false awning would provide a good ground plane but the SWR was still higher than I had hope.
One problem with the antenna on the roof it has to be short.
Hope that helps,
Richard

Gasman 2,

Thanks for the quick reply, much appreciated.

This helps, and I think it's time for me to get up there and have a good look, and also to look on the inside after removing whatever trim I can. The coach is new to me and I have not checked the SWR on the factory CB antenna, but from what I have been reading in the forum posts there have been issues with the ground plane (or lack thereof). I will check the SWR on the factory CB antenna first of all.

Gasman 2 · 07-26-2022, 05:32 PM

NowGo,
In 2016 Entegra stopped installing factory CB antennas I think because there was less demand for CBs in these coaches and operational issues do to lack of a good ground plane.
I play with the ideal of mounting the antenna on a mirror and using a longer center loaded antenna but I could never come up with a satisfactory way to mount it. The mirrors on the Entegras are not grounded to the body.
Found that out when I installed turn signals on the mirror.
Richard

brobox · 07-27-2022, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gasman 2

NowGo,
In 2016 Entegra stopped installing factory CB antennas I think because there was less demand for CBs in these coaches and operational issues do to lack of a good ground plane.
I play with the ideal of mounting the antenna on a mirror and using a longer center loaded antenna but I could never come up with a satisfactory way to mount it. The mirrors on the Entegras are not grounded to the body.
Found that out when I installed turn signals on the mirror.
Richard

Richard, I made a mount for the mirror on the Travel Supreme, even ran a ground wire to the frame for a ground plane. Still only line of sight as the antenna didn't stand high enough. I think that is when I gave up trying to mount a CB in a fiberglass coach.

RandyRich · 07-27-2022, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gasman 2

Entegra gave up to soon, the false awning on the driver's side makes a decent ground plane. I mounted a 2' antenna on the inside edge of the false awning and the SWR is less than 1.5 to 1.

Also mount a 2 meter antenna behind the CB antenna and the SWR is flat on it.

The CB antenna is about 20" above the awning hoping I don't tear it off.

I have pictures if anyone is interested.

Richard

I want to mount a No Ground Plan required Antenna on our Anthem and mounting to the false Girard Awning sounds like the perfect place. Did you mount it horizontally to avoid hitting anything? I am concerned the CB antenna is too long (2') and would clip a tree and break.

Gary.Jones · 07-27-2022, 02:59 PM

There is no way that you are going to get usable SWR on any antenna on our roofs.... You might come close doing what Chuck did on his coach and mount the CB antenna on a mirror or even on the rear hitch. However, even with a heavily center loaded CB antenna, it is going to be too tall to be mounted on the roof of our coach or you will be banging on every overpass that is 14' feet. I am also a ham radio operator (W5FI) and I thought that I needed a CB, but I now think that a CB is a waste of time, and frankly, it is so depressing to listen to any of the CB channels anymore that it will drive you nuts or lower your IQ if you try to listen to that crap. Many truckers have moved off to another illegal commercial band where all of that heterodyning doesn't occur. (AM).

More importantly, you just don't need CB any more. If you don't have it already, download the iPhone app WAZE and set it up to power your phone from the dash. Waze tells you everything that a CB will tell you, and actually tells you more than you can get on CB. If you combine what WAZE has to offer which is great road conditions, accidents, police, etc you really have only one other thing that you need, and that is a cell phone to call for help or assistance. Those two things give you everything that you could get from a CB. And you dont have to listen to that mindless crap on the CB.

As the saying goes, "CB is sooooo 1965..."

And Richard, you never told me you were a "ham".....

Gary

brobox · 07-27-2022, 03:29 PM

Gary,
I don't know if it is available for iphones, but the Samsung phones have a built in app "Quick Share" that with the touch of that app allows Waze to be mirrored on the overhead TV. What a convenience when it a traffic situation to see it at a glance on a large screen vs a 5 inch phone screen. It is one new feature that I really enjoy and use.

hdgoldie · 07-27-2022, 08:26 PM

We had a situation on this last trip where I would have loved to have had a CB. We were on an interstate (I-74 I think) outside Indianapolis. There was an accident up ahead and it shut down the freeway. Waze showed us the accident and that the freeway was closed but it did not show that it was not possible to re-enter the freeway. All indications were that we would be required to exit and then could re-enter on the other side. It appeared that the accident was at or just past the exit and that traffic was clear once past the exit. Not true. We found out later that there was several accidents involving tractor trailers. The freeway was closed for miles and we were shunted off the interstate and faced with deciding which direction to turn with no indication of a detour. A CB would have given us information not available on Waze, Google or our GPS. First time I’ve really missed it but then this is the first coach that we have had without one. Their range was never very good because we never found a decent way to mount an antenna but you don’t need much range most of the time. We really don’t need to know where LE is parked any more but I sure would have liked to have some suggestions on alternate routes.

brobox · 07-28-2022, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

Gary,
I don't know if it is available for iphones, but the Samsung phones have a built in app "Quick Share" that with the touch of that app allows Waze to be mirrored on the overhead TV. What a convenience when it a traffic situation to see it at a glance on a large screen vs a 5 inch phone screen. It is one new feature that I really enjoy and use.

Correction: the App is "Smart View" to mirror to Samsung TV's.

Gary.Jones · 07-28-2022, 01:48 PM

I'll look for something similar on iPhone, but it is far easier and it takes my much longer to move my eyes up to focus on the overhead screen than it does to simply slide my eyes horizontally and just a little down to see the WAZE display. I have mine held in a plastic phone holder that elevates the screen up to about my sternum height and its right to the left of the steering wheel and on a line to the mirrors. Able to see what I want to see on it and most of what is important is what is "spoken" by Waze (e.g., "automobile on berm ahead", "policeman in median spotted ahead", "debris on road reported ahead" etc. etc.) or visuals of red interstate ahead meaning it is full stopped or orange interstate meaning vehicles are moving but slowly. That is 95% of what I want to know.

And Goldie, I have found that following instructions on re-routing from truckers and other random unknown people/voices around an accident is pretty much like roulette at a casino...... as likely to win as to lose.

I usually quickly bring up my location of google maps and then sat view and simply figure it out for myself..... I'm better at it than random unknown voices on 11 meters.

Gary

hdgoldie · 07-29-2022, 06:10 PM

Gary, in this case we had less than 5 seconds to decide whether to turn left or right. Absolutely no warning from Waze or Google. The closure was that new. Google is my friend but I still would have liked a hint which turn would be best. As it was, we simply followed the majority of trucks until I could use Google to reroute us.

brobox · 07-30-2022, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdgoldie

Gary, in this case we had less than 5 seconds to decide whether to turn left or right. Absolutely no warning from Waze or Google. The closure was that new. Google is my friend but I still would have liked a hint which turn would be best. As it was, we simply followed the majority of trucks until I could use Google to reroute us.

Linda, after the failure of being able to mount a CB on the Entegra, and before Waze, following the trucks was my method of detouring a freeway closure. Granted it was a little scary, but I don't do sitting in traffic well. Usually the GPS rerouted once away from the freeway which took the nervous feeling away.