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07-15-2019, 10:14 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,851
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TV antenna options
We just spent a month out in our new RV and I am not happy with TV reception.
We have a Keystone Fuzion and I have already tightened all of the coax connections I can find, most were loose. We have a total of 3 TVs.
The current antenna appears to be a CA-2500 omni directional with an amplifier.
I see lots of great options for directional antennas, however they are all of require a crank up style or being able to mount though the roof for a "crank". Where the current antenna is located installing a crank is not an option.
In our recent travels I had the following experiences. In town Spokane, a few miles outside of Spokane and Yakima we received serval channels. Just outside of Wenatchee we received a few channels. Harstine island we were 20 miles from Olympia, 25 miles from Tacoma and about 35 miles from Seattle and the TV only "found" 4 channels and non would even put an image up for a full second. Not a single channel at Hoodsport or Sekiu.
I have 3 thoughts on antennas;
1. I assume any omni-directional antenna is going to perform the same. Is that true?
2. Ordering an antenna like this, which is intended for home use. I would just put it on a mast and attach it to my ladder when needed. It is roughly 1/6 of the price of option 3, just not nearly as convenient.
3. I have looked at the Winegard Rayzar and IF it works I am not opposed to getting one but I have two huge concerns. The first is if does not really work better then an omni-directional it is a lot of money. The other concern is all of the reports of failures.
Any thoughts?
__________________
Boondockers
2014 Volvo 630 Tandem 2016 Chevy 3500 DRW, crew cab
2016 Fuzion 325T, 675ah AGM, MSH 3012 inverter, 1400w Solar
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07-15-2019, 10:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,805
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Omni-Directional
Fixed position......and sits too low
We have a Winegard Batwing crankup and when it didn't pull in channels or limited channels I would hoist up the single array TV antenna I bought at ACE Hardware.
Mounted on 5' Pole...set up on flagpole ladder mounts so it was roughly 4' above top of 5th wheel which is 13' tall
Connected coax cable to 'cable' input on exterior of trailer.
It would typically receive 4-5 channels when RV Antenna didn't
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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07-16-2019, 06:07 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: North Central Vermont
Posts: 1,485
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Unless you are going for long distance reception, I recommend the Antennas Direct Clearstream 2V. It has a VHF element for high VHF channels 7-13 which the antenna above does not have and has been well rated by professionals and stores well.
__________________
2015 F350 XLT PSD CCSB SRW, Andersen Ultimate hitch
'12 Cougar High Country 299RKS, Mor/Ryde Pinbox
1/77 Armor Bn, 5th Mech, I Corps
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07-16-2019, 06:19 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: MidWest
Posts: 1,062
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Winegard Rayzer has worked well for us! Yes, I installed an early version and it failed and was replaced under warranty. I understand they had issues with the antenna motor. The replacement has worked well for several years now.
__________________
Ken & Anita[FONT=Lucida Console] 2011 Newmar Essex,4522,Cummins 500 ISM,2013 CRV,RVI2 Brake with TPMS
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07-16-2019, 08:24 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Plymouth, MN
Posts: 233
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A brief history lesson. During the transition phase when TV stations were broadcasting both analog and digital, there was hardly any VHF spectrum available so almost all stations broadcasted their digital signal on the UHF band. The TV antenna makers jumped on the band wagon and started marketing UHF only antennas as "High Definition" TV antennas. BUT, once the analog was shut down, many stations reverted back to VHF. Today about 25% of TV broadcasts in the US are on the VHF band. If you are close to the broadcast towers a UHF antenna can receive the VHF channels. When you move a fair distance away, it will become impossible to receive the VHF channels.
About the only RV antenna that is made to receive both VHF and UHF is the Winegard Sensar IV.
__________________
Tom
2005 Born Free 24' Rear Bath - Towing 2016 Mini Cooper convertible
Minneapolis, MN
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07-16-2019, 01:25 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 245
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Omni directional have weaker signak strength than a Yagi type. Look at Amazon for reviews and pricing. Uae an external pole to mount and run the cable in. The other RV types simply will not stack up to this solution.
Best Regards
Dutch Master
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07-16-2019, 02:50 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SkiSmuggs
Unless you are going for long distance reception, I recommend the Antennas Direct Clearstream 2V. It has a VHF element for high VHF channels 7-13 which the antenna above does not have and has been well rated by professionals and stores well.
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I just ran into the same issue with my new camper with an omni directional. I purchased the Clearstream 2V based on the advice of The Antenna Man. I did go from having 2 channels to about 6 with the Clearstream 2V but I used to get around 19 channels with my old rv with factory crank up antenna. I am probably going to add a pre amp that The Antenna Man also recommended to see if that helps.
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07-16-2019, 05:32 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,851
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Thank you for the input. I am sure the Rayzar works well in general, however for the price I am not sure it is going to make as large of a difference as I need.
We are frequently in remote areas and need the best gain possible. Unless I am missing something, it appears that going with a more "traditional" directional antenna would be our best bet. The one I linked above is able to be pointed using a remote control.
__________________
Boondockers
2014 Volvo 630 Tandem 2016 Chevy 3500 DRW, crew cab
2016 Fuzion 325T, 675ah AGM, MSH 3012 inverter, 1400w Solar
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07-16-2019, 05:47 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,329
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The antenna you linked to is rated by a couple antenna reviewers as poor.
Let’s face it , if your in trees or mountains or hills 30-40 miles is going to be about the best you can do. Best tv antenna are large and mounted high up .. like 30’ in the air. The winegard batwing is the best rv antenna but very directional . Omni antennas I heard someone say once are equally bad in all directions otherwise a large home array on a tall pole is your best bet [emoji106]
__________________
2023 Coachmen Encore 325SS
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07-16-2019, 06:09 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,331
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I tried the Winegard Razar Automatic and it worked well. I also had the Winegard Sensar Batwing with the Wingman and it worked better. In my case it was easier to manipulate the Batwing than to fine tune the auto only because of where Newmar put the control box. If I were in your shoes, I’d have no hesitation using the current model Automatic.
__________________
Tom
2016 Newmar Bay Star Sport 3004
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport Willys
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