Bat Wing Issues

[rfg9585]

Out of the blue my BW is not picking up some local stations(ie CBS) that are < 30miles away. Its picking up others that my app show around the same distance. I went and bought a flat antenna and hooked it up instead and now all the stations are picked up.

To troubleshoot I took the flat antenna up top and hooked it up to my coax from the BW. All the channels worked thru the cable from up on roof. When I bypassed the flat antenna booster no channels showed. Weird thing is I also did not power the flat antennas booster when I got channels to appear thru the BW antenna cable.

Any thoughts on why my BW is not working as expected?

[fredbon]

Could this be your problem?https://www.fcc.gov/rescan

Fred

[rfg9585]

Nope, I scan and rescan many times.....

[Injuneer]

"some" local stations, or one (CBS)?
Sometimes there are band openings which happen that could affect your reception. Those openings happen more frequently in the VHF band than the UHF, and more often during the warmer months, but can happen during the winter as well. If the station to which you refer is WNCN 17 out of Raleigh, they are a VHF station, so perhaps that was the issue. The only other VHF station out of Raleigh is WTVD 11. All the rest are in the UHF band.
Also, sometimes a TV or radio station may be having transmitter or antenna issues. Try again later and see what happens.
Ultimately, it would seem that if you hooked a different antenna up to the same cable, your problem isn't the cable. The only real thing with a Wineguard Sensar that can go wrong is if it's an amplified model and the amp dies or the power inserter dies... or of course, if the antenna gets physically damaged.

[rfg9585]

Originally Posted by Injuneer

"some" local stations, or one (CBS)?
Sometimes there are band openings which happen that could affect your reception. Those openings happen more frequently in the VHF band than the UHF, and more often during the warmer months, but can happen during the winter as well. If the station to which you refer is WNCN 17 out of Raleigh, they are a VHF station, so perhaps that was the issue. The only other VHF station out of Raleigh is WTVD 11. All the rest are in the UHF band.
Also, sometimes a TV or radio station may be having transmitter or antenna issues. Try again later and see what happens.
Ultimately, it would seem that if you hooked a different antenna up to the same cable, your problem isn't the cable. The only real thing with a Wineguard Sensar that can go wrong is if it's an amplified model and the amp dies or the power inserter dies... or of course, if the antenna gets physically damaged.

How can I troubleshoot the amp or the power inserter dyeing? Not sure what the power inserter is?

I think it must be one or the other or both since I connected a diff antenna and it works. Although when using a diff antenna without going thru its amp it did not work. Even though the diff amp box was not plugged into power. Weird!!!

fyi - this is in the Fort Myers area......

[traveldawg]

Originally Posted by rfg9585

Out of the blue my BW is not picking up some local stations(ie CBS) that are < 30miles away. Its picking up others that my app show around the same distance. I went and bought a flat antenna and hooked it up instead and now all the stations are picked up.

To troubleshoot I took the flat antenna up top and hooked it up to my coax from the BW. All the channels worked thru the cable from up on roof. When I bypassed the flat antenna booster no channels showed. Weird thing is I also did not power the flat antennas booster when I got channels to appear thru the BW antenna cable.

Any thoughts on why my BW is not working as expected?

I think you should check again. But you should know what you are calling a "booster" isn't a booster - per se. The box inside the RV that switches between cable and antenna is mostly a switch. When switched to antenna it provides 12 volts DC to the OTA antenna. It's up to the antenna to then use that 12v to power an internal booster.

You should measure the center conductor of the coax going to the rooftop. When on antenna there should be 12vDC on the center conductor (center conductor to braid). On cable there should be no voltage.

I'd guess the first time you found that the flat antenna to the roof there was 12v going to that antenna (so its booster worked and you got stations). But when you bypassed the switch there was no more 12v, so no more 'boost' and the flat antenna came up without station reception.

[rfg9585]

I tested the center wire on the coax and it gives me a 4+ volt reading. Would this potentially be the issue, and if so how can I troubleshoot?

[mrboyer]

Reconnect to the power supply inside that many call a booster then check voltage.

[Unplanned Tourist]

Originally Posted by mrboyer

Reconnect to the power supply inside that many call a booster then check voltage.

Yep, check ground and power connections. There should be 12 volts between the inner and outer parts of the antenna coax cable with the switch on.

[rfg9585]

I checked again using the middle wire to the outside of the coax and it reads 4.5V. I checked the power coming into my switch box and its 13+V.

I checked the flat antenna that's working better and it reads ~4V.

Sounds like something is wrong beside the Vs coming thru the antenna, NO?

Thanks!

[RKins]

Sounds like the power injector is off. I remember reading that the booster is located behind or next to the co-pilot seat on that era Newmar. A little black button on a wall plate on the wall. Maybe somehow it got pushed?
https://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RV-7...029083185&th=1

I replaced mine with this device, you can see the strength of the signal as you orient the antenna.
https://winegard.com/industry/recrea...ensarpro-white

[rfg9585]

I have something similar but it doesn't have the little buttons.

[RKins]

Originally Posted by rfg9585

I have something similar but it doesn't have the little buttons. Attachment 353829

You found it, maybe it is not working. As you saw in the links they are cheap. I would vote for the Sensar so you can see the strength as you turn the antenna. BTW, in our coach there is an on/off switch in the cabinet above the door (we have a mid door model) - you might have a switch - looks like a normal RV 12v on/off switch (white).
Mine is 2nd from right top in this pic

[TXiceman]

After spending 3 months on the Texas Gulf Coast, our bat-wing was getting poor reception. I took the antenna off and opened up the upper electronics. I found corrosion on the board and connections. I just replaced it with a new antenna and all was right again.

Ken