Community Forums

Half Dimes · 04-19-2009, 02:19 PM

Has anyone had any experience with the Winegard Wingman? Link: http://www.adventurerv.net/winegard-...t-p-11516.html

Our experience thus far has been spotty receiving DTV signals. Often times I can get an analog signal but not a station's digital signal. I know some stations have been transmitting DTV at a lower power than their analog signal. I've also found out that aiming the antenna for DTV has to be very precise. Since I guess most DTV will be on the UHF band, this add-on seems to make sense. However, reviews on the Camping World site have been mixed.

Anybody here have any direct experience?

Jim Stewart · 04-19-2009, 02:56 PM

I have it, and it seems to help quite a bit. I guess it depends on where you are in relation to the transmitters. Worth the price and really easy to install, really easy!

robbstein · 04-19-2009, 02:59 PM

We got ours at the Perry FMCA Convention last month and I installed it about 2 weeks ago. As mentioned above, it is really easy to install. Seems to work well since I wasn't getting any digital stations at all until I put it on.

GaryKD · 04-19-2009, 03:07 PM

I do not have this,,,,,,,,yet. Those I have spoken to all report many more channels after the product was installed. I received no negative comments.

SamB · 04-19-2009, 04:32 PM

Make sure you have a wingmen ant. are it want workwith other brands.

SamB

Wayne M · 04-19-2009, 05:33 PM

I'm waiting!

The present line-up of television frequencies are temporary. On June 12th, cities (localities) will be assigned a frequency either in the VHF or UHF Spectrum. For fixed locations you will need to know what spectrum your local stations are broadcasting on. Then a good antenna can be selected.

For those of us that travel, we will need a good combination VHF/UHF antenna. Hey! Isn't that what the batwing is right now? I don't have problems receiving DTV signals.

In the following link I am providing, please read the Reception Tips. I love antenna theory. I have, back in my day, use a coat hanger as a television antenna. The results - weill without it I saw nothing, and with it I saw a picture, good or bad. I've made a CB antenna by skinning back the shield 109 inches, leaving the phoenelic insulator wrapped around the center wire, and stringing it straight up in a tree with an Standing Wave Ration of less than 2:1. An antenna is nothing more than metal cut to specific lengths depending on the frequency wave. The lower the frequency the longer the length.

In my opinion there is no such thing as a Digital TV Antenna, there are just Antennas, some better then others, some worse.

Antennas and Digital Television

John-D · 04-19-2009, 05:51 PM

I almost bought one yesterday but.. There are three things I need from the RV store and the one I priced (has nothing to do with TV) scared me all the way out of the door before I could recall the other two.

In another forum a member did,,, Well, he has the ability to do an independent lab test. His conclusion (And mine having reviewed his data) Is that it makes a very clear improvement, a marginal signal that pixilates and drops out, suddenly becomes 100%, Stations that were not there, show up.

There is, however, a trade off, it is the same trade off you make with a flashlight

Imaging, if you will, a flashlight with the reflector and lense removed, you have just the bulb (Basically a battery operated electric candle) See how far away you can read with it on a dark night.

NOTE: MAG-Lights makes one that converts from candle to flashlight, or Stream-Light, or both

Now put the lense/reflector assembly back on and see how far you can read

This is exactly how a "Beam" antenna works. The Wingman is what is called a 'Director' assembly.. Has the same effect of "Focusing" the antenna in the direction it's pointing as does the reflector on the flashlight

Wayne M · 04-19-2009, 06:39 PM

Take a look at the "Winegard® MetroStar® Omnidirectional Antenna Model MS-2002)

Radio Shack sells them but I have seen the cheaper via other web sites.

hamdave · 04-21-2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

I'm waiting!

The present line-up of television frequencies are temporary. On June 12th, cities (localities) will be assigned a frequency either in the VHF or UHF Spectrum. For fixed locations you will need to know what spectrum your local stations are broadcasting on. Then a good antenna can be selected.

For those of us that travel, we will need a good combination VHF/UHF antenna. Hey! Isn't that what the batwing is right now? I don't have problems receiving DTV signals.

In the following link I am providing, please read the Reception Tips. I love antenna theory. I have, back in my day, use a coat hanger as a television antenna. The results - weill without it I saw nothing, and with it I saw a picture, good or bad. I've made a CB antenna by skinning back the shield 109 inches, leaving the phoenelic insulator wrapped around the center wire, and stringing it straight up in a tree with an Standing Wave Ration of less than 2:1. An antenna is nothing more than metal cut to specific lengths depending on the frequency wave. The lower the frequency the longer the length.

In my opinion there is no such thing as a Digital TV Antenna, there are just Antennas, some better then others, some worse.

Antennas and Digital Television

Wayne, you are CORRECT !!

Lt46 · 04-23-2009, 07:15 AM

I'm quite pleased with mine. If you have the batwing antenna this add-on is a no brainer. It couldn't be easier to install.
Now for its performance... I've been using a Zenith 901 DTV converter and it has a signal strength meter built in. For TV reception, using the meter I could aim the batwing for best picture. At best, the 10 DTV broadcasts I was receiving measured 6-8 on the meter's scale (w/ 10 being 100%.)
After installing the Wingman I'm now receiving 18 DTV broadcasts and seeing meter readings of 10 for 6 channels.
In short, the stations closest to me have gone from 6-8 on the scale to 10's. Stations a bit farther away went from 5-7 on the meter's scale, to 7-9's and stations not previously seen are showing up, but pixilate frequently.
All in all, a good deal!

Half Dimes · 04-25-2009, 12:08 PM

Thanks for all the good input. I bought a Wingman last night and installed it this morning. I did a before and after reception test without moving the antenna. We live in a fringe area as far as television reception is concerned. However, after adding the Wingman, I was able to pull in three new digital signals and a much improved UHF analog signal from another station but no noticable VHF difference. This product seems worth the cost. Most difficult part of installation was climbing a ladder to get on the roof.

**NLOVNIT** · 10-14-2009, 08:09 PM

Dave installed ours this weekend, extremely easy to do. We were at a state park in MI with absolutely NO signals for channels prior to installation of the Wingman. After, we got 1 full channel. I'd say that's a 100% increase in reception. Worth the money!

Lori-

aljo1992 · 10-20-2009, 09:02 AM

I installed one this weekend. It seemed to stabilize the stations. However I think I might have a bad head on my antenna, does anyone know how to check them out I am getting 12volts to the antenna so I know my amp is working.
thanks for all the good info on this site.

Bill Adams · 10-20-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aljo1992

I installed one this weekend. It seemed to stabilize the stations. However I think I might have a bad head on my antenna, does anyone know how to check them out I am getting 12volts to the antenna so I know my amp is working.
thanks for all the good info on this site.

The amp is actually in the head of the Sensar antenna. The thing inside the coach is simply the power supply that allows the 12V to get to the roof. If you have 12V to the roof and you are not seeing as many channels as you should or as your neighbor is getting then you should try pointing the Wingman in all 4-6 different directions and do the channel scan again to see if you get more. If you have a signal strength meter on your TV you can also use this to check if you are getting a good signal. If all else fails the only way that I am aware of to test the antenna is to put a new one on!