TV antenna booster

[cmckay8]

Anyone have any suggestions concerning a booster for a tv antenna ? Bought the Winegard extra "wing" adapter but still couldn't get results in most locations. Am considering an in-line booster or something to try to improve reception. Any suggestions as to make, model,etc.?
Tks; cmckay8

[paz]

cmckay8, welcome to iRV2.

You don't say what type of RV you have or what year it is. I have made some assumptions in my answers below, but you may want to modify your profile to add a signature with a description of your RV. Click "User CP" near the top of the page, click "Edit Signature" under "Settings & Options" in the left column, then type in a description of your RV, tow vehicle or towed vehicle, etc.

The Winegard batwing antenna already has a built-in booster. The booster needs 12V power. Are you sure the booster is turned on and that it is getting power?

Do you have a good connection at the antenna on the roof? It is not uncommon for this connection to become corroded from exposure to the weather after an RV gets a few years old.

Is the TV in your RV digital, or have you installed a digital converter? If not, you won't get any reception since the change to digital broadcasts. Also, if you have installed a converter and you have a selector switch, the converter should be installed after the switch. Otherwise, the converter will block the 12V power to the booster.

[winegard]

Before you start replacing things please give us a little bit more information.

1. Location? At least a ZIP code but a full address of where you are camping would be better if you want to private message it.

2. Describe the signal you are receiving. Are you receiving any channels? Which channels? What is the signal quality?

3. As paz said, is your TV digital or are you going through a converter box?

I need to know the location to find what you should be receiving, then what you are actually receiving and I can figure out what is going on.

Thanks!

[Wayne M]

If you have a digital tv, go to the menu and find signal strenght meter. You will have to be tuned to a channel you know has a signal. Turn the antenna until the signal strength increases. It's a pain to keep doing that for the different channels, but it does work.

The above about corrosion etc., are all good advice.

I find it very disheartening when I'm in an area and I get all kinds of "foreign" speaking stations, but I can't get the 4 network channels. I guess the FCC limits the power output of the 4 big ones so the little ones can compete. Go figure.

[wa8yxm]

Well. I assmue you have a Winegard Sensar (Batwing) antenna now.. Frankly I do not recommend using any additional booster on this type of antenna.. It has a booster already built in (When you turn on that red light you turn on the booster) and many of the boosters out there will NOT give you greater improvement

In fact some of 'em will make it worse.. If you can believe that

(Truthfully.. This is a field of study for me, has to do with something called "Signal to noise" ratio... Adding another booster (Which by the way you can get most anywhere that sells televisions such as Best Buy, or Radio Shack) WILL make the signal stronger. but it will also make the NOISE stronger and it will add more noise of it's own.. Some of the boosters are very noisy)

Question ... How long is the cable run from the antenna to the switch box to the television... Many rigs (IE: Mine) are made with el-cheapo lowest bidder RG-59.. Some of this stuff can dump half your signal in a run of 10 or 20 feet... Upgrading this to quality RG-6 (Where it might be 100-200 feet to dump half your signal) can make an improvement... The test is messy (replace the cable with Sat-TV cable (RG-6) on a temp basis by routing out windows or doors and overland) and if it makes a great improvement give whomever loaned you their RG-6 back their cable and do it right with new cable.

I am a big fan of low Loss cable.. Damon, sadly. Is a big fan of low COST cable.. Almost never the same thing.

[Bill Adams]

The quick and simple test that needs to be performed (assuming you have a Winegard Batwing antenna) is to go up on the roof and disconnect the coax cable where it enters the head of the antenna. With a digital voltage meter you should read 12+ volts in the coax cable with the power supply on and little or no voltage with it turned off. Your power supply could be a small box with a push button and light or it could be tied to the Video Control Center where you will find an on/off button and light.

[cmckay8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by winegard Before you start replacing things please give us a little bit more information. 1. Location? At least a ZIP code but a full address of where you are camping would be better if you want to private message it. 2. Describe the signal you are receiving. Are you receiving any channels? Which channels? What is the signal quality? 3. As paz said, is your TV digital or are you going through a converter box? I need to know the location to find what you should be receiving, then what you are actually receiving and I can figure out what is going on. Thanks!

Tks. for the reply. My "RV" is actually a TT; 24' HI-LO. The TV is a new 19" digital Toshiba. Worked fine before digital conversion. Have most reception trouble at St. Joseph State Park near Port St. Joe Fl. Have checked all the connections and power to the built in booster on the wall. Didn't know if an additional in line would help or not. Cable run is less than 20'. Am using the upgraded 75 ohm cable too. Last trip to St. Joe couldn't get any channels to pop even when using the auto channel search. HALP.
cmckay8

[Ray,IN]

You have received all the advice there is to offer. If none of the above works it can't be fixed.

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmckay8 Tks. for the reply. My "RV" is actually a TT; 24' HI-LO. The TV is a new 19" digital Toshiba. Worked fine before digital conversion. Have most reception trouble at St. Joseph State Park near Port St. Joe Fl. Have checked all the connections and power to the built in booster on the wall. Didn't know if an additional in line would help or not. Cable run is less than 20'. Am using the upgraded 75 ohm cable too. Last trip to St. Joe couldn't get any channels to pop even when using the auto channel search. HALP. cmckay8

When you do a new channel scan (and you must) do you see it list both analog and digital channels? Does your remote have a "dot" or a "dash" that would allow you to enter channel 2.1, 4.2, etc.?
Assuming it is digital, are you receiving ANY digital channels (X.x and not just channel 2 or 4)?
If you are certain that it is a digital TV, have you checked to see if there are 2 separate inputs for over-the-air connections?

[Barbara S.]

My antenna is relatively new and installed at the same time as my Wingman and my new Winegard pass-thru converter. Sometimes I can get a great picture, but mostly I get a lot of stuff I don't want to watch with no ABC, CBS, or NBC. I am now in Livingston, TX at the Escapees Headquarters. They list their possible channels but also have a message "You are on the outskirts of the viewing area. Reception is limited." Right now I am trying to watch the weather. I have picture for a few minutes, then "no signal". This goes on most of the time. Sometimes the picture is better in the day, sometimes better at night. I have moved the antenna to all angles and rescanned at each new setting until I found the best I could get. I HATE the digital conversion!

[SCVJeff]

I'll take issue with those suggesting additional amplifiers off the antenna. You simply cannot make something out of nothing. If the antenna has no signal to work with, then all the amplifier gain in the world won't fix your problem. The only thing the built-in amp is really doing of compensating for line and switchbox losses, plus a little gain on whatever signal the antenna is providing it.

[wa8yxm]

Jeff... I think you should re-read my post.. (I said adding additional amplifires can actually make it worse in case you wonder)

To the O/P. When it comes to television and with UHF (Most Digital is UHF) this is even more true than with VHF.. HEIGHT IS MIGHT

The higher you can make your antenna.. the better it will work.... HOWEVER.. there is always a flip side

Lowest Bidder RG-59 the cable loss may offset the height advantage.. If this happens you need better cable.

But.. HEIGHT IS MIGHT

I have proven it. Big time.

[SCVJeff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm Jeff... I think you should re-read my post.. (I said adding additional amplifires can actually make it worse in case you wonder) To the O/P. When it comes to television and with UHF (Most Digital is UHF) this is even more true than with VHF.. HEIGHT IS MIGHT The higher you can make your antenna.. the better it will work.... HOWEVER.. there is always a flip side Lowest Bidder RG-59 the cable loss may offset the height advantage.. If this happens you need better cable. But.. HEIGHT IS MIGHT I have proven it. Big time.

It wasn't your post that I thought I saw someone suggesting, or backing that up. That's what I get for working 16 hours, driving 200miles, flying home, then trying to focus on forums...

[Baby Bear]

cmckay8: I installed a Toshiba flat screen and believe me you must run through the setup procedure every time you change locations. Most important function is the input selection cable/antenna. Also watch the sound settings as you will get the station but no sound.
A great TV but temperemental!