Antenna for viewing local TV channels

[Margaret R]

Two weeks ago we traded our 2004 Class A motorhome for a 2014 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP. The HD View 360 degree Mini-State Antenna System for local viewing does not work and is no longer being built. Any suggestions of what antenna to purchase with decent range ability?

[SCVJeff]

Originally Posted by Margaret R

Two weeks ago we traded our 2004 Class A motorhome for a 2014 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP. The HD View 360 degree Mini-State Antenna System for local viewing does not work and is no longer being built. Any suggestions of what antenna to purchase with decent range ability?

For RV service, nothing can beat a Winegard Sensor Batwing, period..
While there are some the will likely suggest a Jack, they simply do not perform as well as the Batwing, especially at VHF. True there arent allot of VHF stations around, they will be growing in the next few years. Each transmitter can easily hold 5 seperate channels, so that adds up

[Lt Dan]

Originally Posted by Margaret R

Two weeks ago we traded our 2004 Class A motorhome for a 2014 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP. The HD View 360 degree Mini-State Antenna System for local viewing does not work and is no longer being built. Any suggestions of what antenna to purchase with decent range ability?

While the Batwing and Jack antennas mentioned in the previous post are great antennas, they require cutting through the roof to mount. Your best bets to replace the HD360 antenna is either a Winegard Rayzar Automatic, a Winegard Roadstar omni directiona, or the new Triplevision omni directional that Tiffin is now installing on the new coaches. I replaced the HD360 in our Allegro RED with a Rayzar and it worked quite well.

[SCVJeff]

STAY AWAY FROM ANY OMNI DIRECTIOAL ANTENNA !!!!!

They do NOT work! They are susceptible to any multipath (reflection) produced by buildings, trees, buildings, etc. even inversion will bother them at times. Do a little homework and you will find many many threads concerning these antennas. BY FAR the hands down worst antenna on the market is any Omni antenna. They are installed in RVs simply because the manufacturers and most consumers simply don’t know any better.
Want an antenna with any chance of working? Start with anything but an Omni

[bobmac]

Your best bet - in my opinion - is the King "Jack" directional antenna. It is very small and widely used by many manufacturers including Winnebago. The older Winegard batwing is nowhere near as effective as it was designed when most stations broadcast in the VHF spectrum and required a larger antenna. With the advent of digital television, almost all stations have moved to the UHF spectrum which does not require as large an antenna. I installed mine in the hole for the batwing - King have a roof kit to use the same opening. It also does not need to be cranked up or down as it is only about 12" tall. That is a real plus. Good luck

[aether_one]

Originally Posted by SCVJeff

STAY AWAY FROM ANY OMNI DIRECTIOAL ANTENNA !!!!!

They do NOT work! They are susceptible to any multipath (reflection) produced by buildings, trees, buildings, etc. even inversion will bother them at times. Do a little homework and you will find many many threads concerning these antennas. BY FAR the hands down worst antenna on the market is any Omni antenna. They are installed in RVs simply because the manufacturers and most consumers simply don’t know any better.
Want an antenna with any chance of working? Start with anything but an Omni

Definitely agree with that. My last TT came with an omnidirectional antenna that was thew pits. Replaced it with the King Jack - major improvement but not as good as as a batwing.

[Solo_RV_Guy]

Originally Posted by bobmac

Your best bet - in my opinion - is the King "Jack" directional antenna. It is very small and widely used by many manufacturers including Winnebago. The older Winegard batwing is nowhere near as effective as it was designed when most stations broadcast in the VHF spectrum and required a larger antenna. With the advent of digital television, almost all stations have moved to the UHF spectrum which does not require as large an antenna. I installed mine in the hole for the batwing - King have a roof kit to use the same opening. It also does not need to be cranked up or down as it is only about 12" tall. That is a real plus. Good luck

The UHF spectrum has been repacked (or is in the process of doing so, depending on the exact location) due to the sale of 10 year licenses to mobile phone networks providers that used up most of the 600mHz band.


In the repack/relocation of TV stations some have/are moving to VHF or being consolidated on a single RF channel (they can put up to 10 standard def TV channels on 1 RF channel) in the UHF band.


Additional info - it was mostly T-Mobile that purchased these licenses, although some tower-time resellers, ATT, and a few others got licenses, too.

[NLOVNIT]

Originally Posted by SCVJeff

For RV service, nothing can beat a Winegard Sensor Batwing, period..

Have to agree here, even if you have to cut a hole in your roof to install it. I've been reading every post about other antennas on this forum & no others come close to the range of the Winegard Batwing - especially if you get the Wingman addition like we have.

Lori-

[SCVJeff]

Originally Posted by bobmac

Your best bet - in my opinion - is the King "Jack" directional antenna. It is very small and widely used by many manufacturers including Winnebago. The older Winegard batwing is nowhere near as effective as it was designed when most stations broadcast in the VHF spectrum and required a larger antenna. With the advent of digital television, almost all stations have moved to the UHF spectrum which does not require as large an antenna. I installed mine in the hole for the batwing - King have a roof kit to use the same opening. It also does not need to be cranked up or down as it is only about 12" tall. That is a real plus. Good luck

The Jack is nowhere near as good an antenna as the Batwing. I’ve done the testing with the right gear and can prove it. The ONLY thing the Jack has going for it is it’s size. Why is it that much smaller? Because it has no VHF elements in it. So what are you going to use with all the relocated stations back to VHF, a Jack that is 10db weaker in performance? It’s all about what you can stand to lose and how well you want your TV to perform. A simple wire works too, sometimes.. probably about the same as an Omni. It’s ALL about the antenna

If someone doesn’t post that shootout I did here sooner, I’ll do it when I’m not on an iPhone

[SCVJeff]

Back on a Pad. Here is the testing I did several years ago against the Batwing and the Jack. Yes its 9years old, But nothings changed with the Batwing. Its still the one to beat regardless of Make or Model, including Winegard

https://forums.goodsamclub.com/index...d/22423030.cfm

What has changed since this was done is the increased use of VHF. As a Broadcast TV engineer and ham, the most embarassing thing is the guy next to me seeing stations I don’t. Thats what started this research.

There are a few out there that think they’re smarter than the gear used to design these antennas in the first place and have attempted to challenge the results (not here).I ignore them because the numbers simply don’t lie.

[hardy1000]

Originally Posted by SCVJeff

For RV service, nothing can beat a Winegard Sensor Batwing, period..
While there are some the will likely suggest a Jack, they simply do not perform as well as the Batwing, especially at VHF. True there arent allot of VHF stations around, they will be growing in the next few years. Each transmitter can easily hold 5 seperate channels, so that adds up

X2

[Jim A]

In God we trust. All others bring data! And Jeff has it.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi Margaret! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Others have covered it!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[cry42]

I have been very pleased with the performance of our King Jack antenna.