RV antenna

[Ebermank]

Morning to all.

Curious what everyone's thoughts are on types of RV antennas.
Not interested in a big dish, just want better over the air reception. Have a bat wing on roof.

Does anyone have experience with the King Jack antenna ?

K/J

[chuckster57]

King jack is an excellent choice and improvement over the bat wing.

[travelin texans]

All I've ever had was the batwing so can't speak personally for the King Jack, but freinds that have it & would gladly switch back to the batwing.
My last 5er had the Winegard antenna to which I added the little piece to, think it was called Wingman, & that made a big difference, got 50-60 channels about everywhere we parked. But this also made the antenna directional meaning you had to aim it towards the best signal, Winegard has an app & along with the tv signal meter you can do this very easily.

[chuckster57]

The only caveat to all this is depending on how far you are from the towers and the terrain, nothing but satellite will work.

There is a campground that puts us within 40 miles of Sacramento, but it’s tucked behind a mountain so I don’t get very much. Hey me home on flat ground and I get Sacramento and a whole bunch more.

[Frederick]

I had a King Jack installed after bat wing gear broke we like very much good reception no cranking

[dblanch57]

At home I get plenty of channels on the mounted antenna. However, where we normally go camping it is in a valley about 45 miles from Milwaukee and 50 miles from Madison. So I took three pieces of PVC pipe and some pin clips and created a 16 foot antenna pole that I bungee to the spare tire. I picked up a household antenna from wally world that has a 100 mile range and added a signal amplifier right at the TV. Coax go in the cable hookup and I can get channels from both cities, just have to use an app to aim the antenna.

[Logan X]

I’m just going to throw this out there and I apologize if everyone knows this already. I just recently learned (how embarrassing) that the over the air antenna has a booster you need to turn on in order to get more channels. When I first got the trailer I just thought the antenna wasn’t very good so I never used it. My attention was drawn to the booster via the forum and I was amazed at how well it worked. It’s a little button on the 12v socket near my TV. There is a little LED indicator when it is on.

[travelin texans]

I’m just going to throw this out there and I apologize if everyone knows this already. I just recently learned (how embarrassing) that the over the air antenna has a booster you need to turn on in order to get more channels. When I first got the trailer I just thought the antenna wasn’t very good so I never used it. My attention was drawn to the booster via the forum and I was amazed at how well it worked. It’s a little button on the 12v socket near my TV. There is a little LED indicator when it is on.
A couple other tidbits also.
That booster MUST be ON to use the antenna & MUST be OFF if connected to park cable or satellite.
When changing from antenna to cable or changing locations you WILL need to scan the channels each time.

[LHaven]

My 2019 Cougar is the first trailer I've dealt with that had an "omni" antenna (the Winegard Roadster), and I have to say I'm not a huge fan.

On the positive side, you don't have to aim it, so you never have the chicken/egg problem of determining in what direction the broadcast towers are so that you can first find a working digital channel, which you can then use to fine-tine with the TV's signal meter (forcing you to scan twice). Also, you never have to worry about forgetting to put the antenna down before getting on the road.

On the negative side, you simply cannot aim it for best reception, period, and its sensitivity isn't even close to that of a unidirectional antenna.

At my residence, my RV parking spot is unfortunately on the opposite side of the house from the city, meaning the house eclipses much of the TV signal. With the batwing on my old rig, I could tune directionally and get all the channels anyway (in fact, I could get channels my house couldn't get). With the Roadster, I get maybe only 20% of the channels, and even some of those pixelate out. Since I occasionally use my rig to accommodate houseguests, it's a bit of a concern. I'm toying with the idea of running a hard cable out to the power pedestal to carry my house antenna feed, but I don't look forward to all the digging and conduit work just to get TV.

[Old Mustanger]

On previous trailers we always had the Winegard with the Wingman add on, now have the KingJack. As a comparison sitting on a site where we used to receive at least 30 channels, we received about 5 with the Kingjack (yes I had the booster on and tried several antenna positions). POS in my opinion and I would love to replace it with the batwing but there is not enough space for one where the Kingjack is located. :( I have received satisfactory reception at places when we are very close to a city but it's no good in fringe areas where the batwing would pick up stations.

[Rich1945]

A couple other tidbits also.
That booster MUST be ON to use the antenna & MUST be OFF if connected to park cable or satellite.
When changing from antenna to cable or changing locations you WILL need to scan the channels each time.

on my cougar 29RLI 2016 model the only way to get outside cable to work is hook directly to the tv. I have tried every connection possible to no avail. any ideas??

[LHaven]

The two obvious questions: 1. Have you located your antenna booster switch? 2. Are you sure it's off?

It's trivial for someone with a "toner" or VOM to trace out the connection to your "park cable" port and determine whether or not it is operational.

[travelin texans]

If you have the new TV system without the booster then someone else will have to chime in, don't have any idea how it works.
From our experience with most park cable systems across the country the antenna had as many channels & better quality picture.

[ChuckS]

The new system “KeyTV” actually does boost the OTA antenna signal. However... it is not the “booster” ...

It merely sends 12vdc to the amplified OTA antenna to power the antenna gain amplifier.

If a coax is inserted into the “cable connection” on the KeyTV box it will override ... or is supposed to... the OTA antenna

It’s a good idea because the KeyTV has separate coax runs for each TV set outlet. Whether the quality of the RG6 used and F connectors used is good would potentially be an issue.

It since each run is color coded trying to trace an issue should be easier

[ChuckS]

All this said the King Jack digital antenna is a directional gain antenna. With new design components incorporated it should out perform the old batwing style antennas ... should have better noise rejection and be less prone to certain types of man made in reference

[Rich1945]

The two obvious questions: 1. Have you located your antenna booster switch? 2. Are you sure it's off?

It's trivial for someone with a "toner" or VOM to trace out the connection to your "park cable" port and determine whether or not it is operational.

1 yes
2 yes

[LHaven]

OK, if you have a booster switch you don't have a KeyTV. I would throw a toner on the park cable jack after disconnecting every other inside jack for the TV, and see where tone comes out. Of course, I realize not everybody has a toner, in which case one would have to ohm out the port with a VOM.

[donsantell]

I have a 2018 3501rl Alpine and I too couldnt get the cable to work. But then I hooked it up to the Satelite coax rather than the cable and it now works. I suspect they are labeled incorrectly

[RWRiley]

At home I get plenty of channels on the mounted antenna. However, where we normally go camping it is in a valley about 45 miles from Milwaukee and 50 miles from Madison. So I took three pieces of PVC pipe and some pin clips and created a 16 foot antenna pole that I bungee to the spare tire. I picked up a household antenna from wally world that has a 100 mile range and added a signal amplifier right at the TV. Coax go in the cable hookup and I can get channels from both cities, just have to use an app to aim the antenna.

I love this idea. I have KeyTV, and it is horrible for local reception...evidently nobody at Keystone tested KeyTV out in real life situations.

If I get what you are saying....I can put up a regular Home Off-air antenna (off the bumper or spare tire or something to get it up in the air), and use the cable input on the side of the trailer to carry the signal into the TV, even though it's not really cable. I have an extra outlet next to the TV that I can use to power the amplifier. I bet this would work wonderfully, although it might look a little strange.

I guess my only question would be if KeyTV would do something strange to the signal. I'm not sure how it handles different inputs and amplified signals.

[SkiSmuggs]

The Winegard bat wing with the Wingman addition is the best RV antenna available. The Wingman helps pick up the high VHF stations (7-13).

[JRTJH]

Some of the newer "stationary, 360 degree" antennas are just plain JUNK.

Some of the newer "stationary, 360 degree" antennas have an excellent capability to electronically enhance reception and, IF THERE IS RECEPTION, they are just as good as the older Winegard "crankup" antenna systems. In some cases, maybe even better.......

That said, ALL (did I say EVERY ONE) of them, that is mounted on a "short, permanent standoff" is PHYSICALLY limited if mounted on an RV roof.

TV reception is dismal (if even capable) when there is an air conditioner or an RV roof between the antenna and the broadcast tower. Many (maybe even most) "short stalk, permanent mount" antennas are in the shadow of either the air conditioner or mounted "low on the sloped roof" of fifth wheels. When the RV is parked and oriented so that "something on the roof" blocks the line of sight to the broadcast tower, the only way the antenna can receive that signal is from an echo (if you're lucky) of the signal as it bounces off something nearby. That signal is going to be weak and distorted, so even the best "permanent mount antenna" is going to not work well....

That's where the "crank up antenna" is clearly a better option. You can get it "up above the A/C and the roof slope" and actually "see the broadcast tower" without interference.....

In many situations, the convenience of a "permanent mount antenna" is as good as a "crank up antenna" and with improved electronic processing, can give a clearer, stronger signal. BUT..... when mounted close to the roof, behind the A/C or lower than the motorhome parked in the next campsite, then you're fighting an uphill battle to get any reception....

It's not the antenna's limitations, it's the "location's limitations"......

[Chi-town]

I have a 2018 Sprinter mid bunk 40ft long and somehow my antenna came off. I can't remember what the existing antenna looks like. Sprinter no longer sell the original head or antenna, and now I have to put a new antenna and new base on. Ebay nor Amazon have a replacement. I would hate to remove the base just to put another base and antenna on it. If anyone knows please respond. Thanks![ATTACH]22935[/ATTACH

[JRTJH]

I have a 2018 Sprinter mid bunk 40ft long and somehow my antenna came off. I can't remember what the existing antenna looks like. Sprinter no longer sell the original head or antenna, and now I have to put a new antenna and new base on. Ebay nor Amazon have a replacement. I would hate to remove the base just to put another base and antenna on it. If anyone knows please respond. Thanks!

A photo of the base (or what's left on the roof) would be helpful for identifying what's there. Keystone may have changed the brand or model halfway through a production run, so your antenna may not be the same as the trailer that came off the line before yours or even the one that was built after yours.

[wobly]

I have a 2018 Sprinter mid bunk 40ft long and somehow my antenna came off. I can't remember what the existing antenna looks like. Sprinter no longer sell the original head or antenna, and now I have to put a new antenna and new base on. Ebay nor Amazon have a replacement. I would hate to remove the base just to put another base and antenna on it. If anyone knows please respond. Thanks!

I would see this as an opportunity to install a better antenna than what was originally installed.

Here is an option... https://furrion.com/collections/antennas/products/omnidirectional-rooftop-antenna

[NotyetMHCowner]

I could not possibly agree with you more, JRTJH. I think they came up with the little short junky antennas to help people not forget to lower them and such, but "line of sight" is everything when dealing with antennas.

[RWRiley]

I have an antenna hooked to the TV in my house as backup for when the cable goes out. It's indoors, right next to my TV, not near a window, surrounded by a bunch of other electronic components , and it gets more channels than my KeyTV parked in the street in front of my house.

I have one on order for the TT ($25), we'll see how well it works.

[RWRiley]

I have an antenna hooked to the TV in my house as backup for when the cable goes out. It's indoors, right next to my TV, not near a window, surrounded by a bunch of other electronic components , and it gets more channels than my KeyTV parked in the street in front of my house.

I have one on order for the TT ($25), we'll see how well it works.

The above antenna got backordered, so I cancelled it.

But, I still did a little comparison. The KeyTV gets 7 channels when parked in front of my house. I took my $10 RCA non-amplified antenna and put it in a little cubby hole behind the TV completely out of site, and I got 21 channels - all watchable.

I'm not sure how an el-cheapo antenna buried behind my TV with no amplifier can outperform a roof mounted amplified antenna - but it does.

[Whitewolf]

Ebermank-

I have the batwing with the Wingman installed. Wingman seemed to help quite a bit. I also installed this. https://winegard.com/products/accessories/signal-meters and that seems to help some more.

Rich1945-

I have 3 inputs for cable and none are marked. Why 3? Haven't the foggiest idea. Anyway, once I found the correct input, I always use that one. One thing I discovered is I have to go the TV and go to settings and tell the TV where the signal is coming from. Antenna, Cable or Cable Box, depending on where we are and what they have. Have you tried this?

[RWRiley]

So - we headed out to a campground 10 miles south of where I did my little comparison, and when I scanned with the KeyTV it got 24 channels compared to 14 for my old antenna. 10 mins later I couldn't get any reception, so I scanned again and got 0 channels. So I switched to my old un-amplified antenna and could still get and watch 14 channels. I just don't get it. Does KeyTV quit working after dark ?