Local TV reception

[RonNBama]

Would a "regular" tv antenna, maybe placed on a telescoping pole to get it 10-12 ft in the air provide a better local-channel reception than the basic Winegard "wing" atop my RV? I assume that I would have to add a signal booster to the outside antenna and that my wife would only let me do the Beverly Hillbilly setup in remote camping sites.

[RonNBama]

Would a "regular" tv antenna, maybe placed on a telescoping pole to get it 10-12 ft in the air provide a better local-channel reception than the basic Winegard "wing" atop my RV? I assume that I would have to add a signal booster to the outside antenna and that my wife would only let me do the Beverly Hillbilly setup in remote camping sites.

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RonNBama:
Would a "regular" tv antenna, maybe placed on a telescoping pole to get it 10-12 ft in the air provide a better local-channel reception than the basic Winegard "wing" atop my RV? I assume that I would have to add a signal booster to the outside antenna and that my wife would only let me do the Beverly Hillbilly setup in remote camping sites. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The Wineguard Batwing in good order with the built in signal booster turned on usually outperforms even fringe area "regular" antennas on a 20 foot mast.

The roofline of your Motor Home is already over 11 feet and when you raise the batwing it adds another 3 or 4 so that it is at about 15 feet so a regular antenna 5 feet lower does not have an edge over it.

Get your batwing tuned up and you should be much better off.

[John Harrelson]

I agree with Neil ...

I tried a big 5 element beam antenna with a signal booster and with a rotor motor to aim it ... it worked great.... but....

while I was goofing around with the two antennas, I discovered that if I left the "BatWing" antenna down , almost touching the RV roof, that it worked just as good and brought in a clear and sharp picture just like the Big 5 element antenna did..

No, I don't know why, but it did...

So I took the big antenna back to the house and used the RV's BatWing antenna in the lowest position without it touching the RV roof.

Of course, after I stopped traveling so much, I opted for the Cable television in the RV park..

So try moving the BatWing up and down and see if it helps bring in a clearer picture..

Best wishes,
John

[RonNBama]

I have noticed that the batwing sometimes picks up just as well in the down position too. I don't have an in-between option, mine is either all the way up or sitting in the rack.

Thanks for the antenna advise. Saved me a trip or two to Radio Shack for sure.

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RonNBama:
I have noticed that the batwing sometimes picks up just as well in the down position too. I don't have an in-between option, mine is either all the way up or sitting in the rack.

Thanks for the antenna advise. Saved me a trip or two to Radio Shack for sure. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

On the 10 year old antenna it could be a sign that the antenna head has an internal crack in it or the downlead/connectors needs service or replacing.

On my 95 Vectra my Sensor I antenna outperformed my home antenna which had a new booster, downlead and matching transformer on it and delevered very good reception. On my current coach the Batwing has a seemingly minor crack in the head and delivers relativly poor reception. I will start by replacing the cracked head and old downlead and then consider the amplifier.

[Dsouthw524]

If you have and replace the Winegard antenna you will have the amplifier built in! Normally you will find a switch inside the RV that must be turned on to activate the amplifier.