Shark Fin antenna relocation/addition

[JWRowe]

Has anyone relocated or added a two wire shark fin antenna due to interference from slide-in camper overhead?

I have looked at the available threads but they are not helpful for this question. Looking for any information from someone that actually moved an existing shark fin or added one in a clear area or perhaps placed on the top of their camper. If so, how did you handle the extended/changed wiring?

Thanks in advance,
John

 

[Bill Stockard]

Has anyone relocated or added a two wire shark fin antenna due to interference from slide-in camper overhead?

I have looked at the available threads but they are not helpful for this question. Looking for any information from someone that actually moved an existing shark fin or added one in a clear area or perhaps placed on the top of their camper. If so, how did you handle the extended/changed wiring?

Thanks in advance,
John

Check this thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/247544-XM-Remote-Antenna

Bill

 

[JWRowe]

Good morning Bill,

Thanks for the post and the link. This helps some. I am leaning toward attempting to install on the top of the camper itself. One thing I still need to check on is what the type of wiring I am looking at. Is it coaxial, regular wiring or other used in the harness. Adding length tends to degrade the signal so care is needed in this respect.

There is an antenna puck available from Mopar that has a very long lead. It is actually part of the dealer test kit they must purchase to use in place of the original radio only antenna puck. It is a standard Sirius magnetic puck with the logo on it and with the correct radio plug rather than the small standard item found on replacement units at the local stores. It is used to replace the installed sat radio harness to see if that is the problem when attempting to track down radio gremlins. Does not do anything for the GPS. If friendly with the Mopar parts counter folks it costs about $80 (of course) from them.

I am familiar with the rambodybuilder pdf and that is helpful up to a point. Nice to have the part numbers though.

Again, thanks.
John

 

[Bill Stockard]

Good morning Bill,

Thanks for the post and the link. This helps some. I am leaning toward attempting to install on the top of the camper itself. One thing I still need to check on is what the type of wiring I am looking at. Is it coaxial, regular wiring or other used in the harness. Adding length tends to degrade the signal so care is needed in this respect.

There is an antenna puck available from Mopar that has a very long lead. It is actually part of the dealer test kit they must purchase to use in place of the original radio only antenna puck. It is a standard Sirius magnetic puck with the logo on it and with the correct radio plug rather than the small standard item found on replacement units at the local stores. It is used to replace the installed sat radio harness to see if that is the problem when attempting to track down radio gremlins. Does not do anything for the GPS. If friendly with the Mopar parts counter folks it costs about $80 (of course) from them.

I am familiar with the rambodybuilder pdf and that is helpful up to a point. Nice to have the part numbers though.

Again, thanks.
John

If I upgraded trucks, I'd have the same problem since the overhead on my Lance would block the signals. I guessing with the antenna mounted on top of your camper, it would require another disconnect fitting in the coax line(s) unless you removed it from the top of the camper every time you unloaded your camper. TDR member Boomer II moved his to the truck's hood. I've heard of others mounting their antenna on the front bumper; however, the roof of the camper should give the best reception.

Bill

 

[JWRowe]

Top of camper is my choice. I would obtain a separate unit to mount. I will probably have to obtain the factory jumper harnesses to use. I have not found any other option.

Regards,
John

 

[whoopsumbass]

If anyone has actually added a remote antenna I would like to get the details for a 2014 Ram 3500 that has shark fin on roof, navigation, and xm....I saw PDF from an earlier post but given I am a novice it still has gaps in exactly the steps to do the modification. I would prefer to leave existing stuff alone, and just add in the remote for when my truck camper is mounted on the RAM.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have added a second antenna for an overhead camper. Just mounted it on the hood-the customer wanted to keep the cost down. Any high end stereo shop should be able to hook you up