RV Antenna Upgrade

[T3/T4 Hybrid]

With the recent RV trip to the state park, which didn't have a cable connection. I found that my TV stock antenna doesn't pick much up, well actually it was nothing at all. It didn't bother me to much but the DW and Kids were not that happy with this so with some upcoming state park trips in the near future I was wondering what would be a good upgrade antenna for my unit.


Im not sure what the stock antenna is on my unit other than its white and has a crank to raise it. If there is a simple add on piece I need then I'm all on board for that too


Thanks.

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by T3/T4 Hybrid

With the recent RV trip to the state park, which didn't have a cable connection. I found that my TV stock antenna doesn't pick much up, well actually it was nothing at all. It didn't bother me to much but the DW and Kids were not that happy with this so with some upcoming state park trips in the near future I was wondering what would be a good upgrade antenna for my unit.


Im not sure what the stock antenna is on my unit other than its white and has a crank to raise it. If there is a simple add on piece I need then I'm all on board for that too


Thanks.

Did you turn on the amplifier? If you did not, you won't receive much at all. The switch for the amp should be on the tv outlet in the bedroom. It's usually a push button or little slide switch. When the amp is on, there should a red or green led lit up on the same panel.

Also, when you arrive somewhere, you may have to go into the TV's menu and search for stations. Digital TV's are much fussier that way.

[chuckster57]

If the booster is on and your still not getting much, try this:
http://www.winegard.com/sensar

You can change just the head unit.

[Desert185]

If you have a Winegard batwing antenna you can easily add this booster antenna to it. Made a tremendous difference in what I can receive.

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RV-WI.../dp/B001U2DPUE

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Desert185

If you have a Winegard batwing antenna you can easily add this booster antenna to it. Made a tremendous difference in what I can receive.

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RV-WI.../dp/B001U2DPUE

This.... ?/|\

[hankaye]

T3/T4 Hybrid, Howdy;

You might also want to check each and every coax connection to be sure
that they are firmly snug. I had to remove the antenna base to get to the
one that connects it to the splitter/ant. pwr. outlet. Amazing what you can
find with all the connections nice and snug.
Then if it doesn't suck the signals out of the air go get something like the
link provided suggests.

hankaye

[T3/T4 Hybrid]

Originally Posted by SteveC7010

Did you turn on the amplifier? If you did not, you won't receive much at all. The switch for the amp should be on the tv outlet in the bedroom. It's usually a push button or little slide switch. When the amp is on, there should a red or green led lit up on the same panel.

Also, when you arrive somewhere, you may have to go into the TV's menu and search for stations. Digital TV's are much fussier that way.

I have not seen a booster switch but I will look for one. I tried the digital search but nothing came up.

[T3/T4 Hybrid]

Originally Posted by Desert185

If you have a Winegard batwing antenna you can easily add this booster antenna to it. Made a tremendous difference in what I can receive.

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RV-WI.../dp/B001U2DPUE

I think this will do exactly what I'm needing and at only $30 it would worth it too!

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by T3/T4 Hybrid

I have not seen a booster switch but I will look for one. I tried the digital search but nothing came up.

If the amp is not on, no signal gets through to the television. The amp has to be on before you run the search. No signal at the tv means that the search won't find anything.

Like I said, in an awful lot of Keystones, the amp is in the antenna outlet in the bedroom. But it could be at any tv antenna outlet including the main entertainment center. It will look similar to this, but could have more than one F connector. The 12vdc outlet is the key, because the amp needs 12vdc to operate. All the other tv connections in the trailer won't have that outlet. You can see the black push button and the led indicator just to the right of F connector.

[B-O-B'03]

Originally Posted by Desert185

If you have a Winegard batwing antenna you can easily add this booster antenna to it. Made a tremendous difference in what I can receive.

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RV-WI.../dp/B001U2DPUE

+1

I added it to mine and it made a pretty big difference, even here at the house.

Well worth the $30 or so that I paid for it.

-Brian

[michael_h]

I couldn't use the winegard bat wing as it hits my a/c in the travel position so I bought a Jack antenna . . . it helped sometimes, but we have found many of the campgrounds we visit just aren't signal friendly

[Grbill]

Originally Posted by Desert185

If you have a Winegard batwing antenna you can easily add this booster antenna to it. Made a tremendous difference in what I can receive.

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RV-WI.../dp/B001U2DPUE

Be sure to keep the box for return if it doesn't work. I tried this and the result was no more channels and I had to point the antenna for each station, your results may vary.

[JRTJH]

If, as you stated, you aren't sure if you have a boost amplifier, but the cable works and OTA TV doesn't, then before you go spending money on anything you don't need, realize that the OTA TV will not work until you push that "little button and turn on the amplifier.

Chances are there's absolutely nothing wrong with your system, just find the boost amplifier and turn it on, do a channel search on the TV and see if it works. If it doesn't, then start looking for other issues, but based on what you've said, this looks like a simple case of "operator error". Turn on the amplifier and I think you'll have OTA TV...

Good Luck,

[T3/T4 Hybrid]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

If, as you stated, you aren't sure if you have a boost amplifier, but the cable works and OTA TV doesn't, then before you go spending money on anything you don't need, realize that the OTA TV will not work until you push that "little button and turn on the amplifier.

Chances are there's absolutely nothing wrong with your system, just find the boost amplifier and turn it on, do a channel search on the TV and see if it works. If it doesn't, then start looking for other issues, but based on what you've said, this looks like a simple case of "operator error". Turn on the amplifier and I think you'll have OTA TV...

Good Luck,

I agree 100% this could be an operator error thing. But with the information I now have; I'm equipped with knowledge on what Im looking for and how to go about fixing it if that is needed. It will be a few weeks before I get time to check it out.

[theeyres]

Originally Posted by T3/T4 Hybrid

I have not seen a booster switch but I will look for one. I tried the digital search but nothing came up.

All RV tv's have the booster switch. Is is always on the plate where the antenna is connected at the wall or ceiling. All of mine have been a black button. Push it in and a little red light comes on. On newer TV's you also have to go into the menu and change Setup to antenna, then do a search. When you connect cable you have to push the black button so it is out and change the Setup to cable, and do a search. Skip any of those steps and it won't work.

[chuckster57]

Not ALL RV's...Sunseeker class c motor homes use a splitter box and the signal amplifier is in that box.

What defines an RV TV vs. a household TV. I have two televisions in my fiver and neither one have a booster switch.

I know what you meant to say. LOL

[jkohler70]

In my driveway, turning on the amplifier will actually cause me to lose 2 channels. It seems that if you are really close to the tower, the amplifier will over-boost the signal.

[T3/T4 Hybrid]

Okay I checked things this weekend and its an antenna issue. I turned on the booster and still got a big nothing . I switched the TV to the antenna mode and did a search with no channels also. Im going to change out the analog antenna to a newer model batwing with the digital setup. Hopefully that will take care of things and I will not have to worry on raising or lowering the unit anymore.

[filmtex]

I know this seems obvious, but was the antenna ACTUALLY pointed at the tower/towers? antennaweb.org will give you the compass headings for local stations. Digital TV is much more directional. Again, pardon me if I'm just being Capt. Obvious.

[byrdr1]

Originally Posted by Desert185

If you have a Winegard batwing antenna you can easily add this booster antenna to it. Made a tremendous difference in what I can receive.

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RV-WI.../dp/B001U2DPUE

I have this added to my antenna and it does make a difference. Just an FYI.
randy