Community Forums

winningteam · 01-30-2023, 05:02 PM

Has anyone added an antenna booster to your existing TV antenna o help pick up more stations and limit the amount of reporting at each stop required. Note:another satellite I’m talking OTA

**Spdracr39** · 01-30-2023, 05:51 PM

I was under the impression that most OEM rv antennas came with a booster. Are you sure you don't have one? It will be located in the plate where antenna cable enter the coach and splits to the tv's. It should also have a button to turn it off and on so you can use cable tv on the same circuit.

winningteam · 01-30-2023, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spdracr39

I was under the impression that most OEM rv antennas came with a booster. Are you sure you don't have one? It will be located in the plate where antenna cable enter the coach and splits to the tv's. It should also have a button to turn it off and on so you can use cable tv on the same circuit.

We have the entire entertainment area torn apart so we will look. I guess I didnt even realize they existed back in 2004. LOL

**NLOVNIT** · 01-30-2023, 07:01 PM

All my RV's had booster buttons for OTA signals. Like Ted mentioned, in/near your AV area, there should be a plate with a button on it, which when pressed, will light up a tiny green or red bulb. To increase OTA channels being pulled in for 3 of my RV's, I had installed a Wingman to the crank up antennas. The Wingman definitely pulled in more channels than the OEM antenna alone.

Jim A · 01-30-2023, 08:26 PM

Most RV antennas indeed have a booster, but it is built into the antenna head up on the roof. And this includes back in 2004, and probably well before that. What you find inside the coach with the LED light is the power inserter for the booster and an A/B coax switch. Most are designed to provide 12 volts to the antenna head and routes the antenna signal to the TV when the LED is lit. If the light is off, the unit routes the cable signal the TV instead, in addition to turning off the power to the antenna head.

Nothing inside the coach is boosting the signal in any way. (The exception might be the Winegard signal strength meter. It may give more boost to the signal if you crank up the gain, but even then I believe it is only giving more power to the booster in the antenna head.)

The Wingman provides a better signal in the UHF frequency range, which is where most digital TV stations are broadcasting. The batwing itself is best for the VHF range. The combination of batwing and Wingman (which is what the Sensar IV is) is probably the best OTA antenna you can get for the RV. But it is directional and needs to be rotated properly, and it needs 12 volt power for the booster!

Jim A · 01-30-2023, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winningteam

We have the entire entertainment area torn apart so we will look. I guess I didnt even realize they existed back in 2004. LOL

You will find a lot of things, but you won't find a booster. Look higher! (See my other note.) Please note I have an '04 coach as well.

Tom_M · 01-31-2023, 05:17 AM

Winegard has a device called the SensarPro. It is a multi-function unit. You can adjust the amount of gain or attenuation. If you are located close to a transmitter you may get better reception if you attenuate the signal. It will display a number that indicates signal strength. As you rotate your antenna you can pinpoint the direction that gives you the maximum signal. It replaces your existing wall plate. Here's a link to one available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RFL-...86&sr=8-1&th=1

TXiceman · 01-31-2023, 09:35 AM

By adding more boost to an already boosted signal will result in more noise and not much better reception on digital signals.

As noted, every RV I have owned since 1984 has had antenna boosters. Just look for the booster in the entertainment ceneter area.

Ken

Toby Dog · 02-02-2023, 04:46 AM

I have a $40 dollar Wal*Mart antenna I set in a chair outside pointed in the best direction. I hook a coax cable to the cable input in the wet bay and usually at least double our channels. I just have to search OTA and cable channels when we change locations.
Our roof antenna is one of those button antennas. We are in a huge metro right now and it struggles by itself.

TandW · 02-02-2023, 05:07 AM

With a main TV, a bedroom TV, and a basement TV aboard it might be beneficial to have a distribution amplifier rather than a simple 4-way splitter.

CWSWine · 02-02-2023, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom_M

Winegard has a device called the SensarPro. It is a multi-function unit. You can adjust the amount of gain or attenuation. If you are located close to a transmitter you may get better reception if you attenuate the signal. It will display a number that indicates signal strength. As you rotate your antenna you can pinpoint the direction that gives you the maximum signal. It replaces your existing wall plate. Here's a link to one available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RFL-...86&sr=8-1&th=1

I had it in my previous coach and works great and helps you aim the antenna. When first installed we gain several stations over what we were getting.