Kevin & Ros Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 I am new to the forum. We are long time campers, but recently retired and purchased a Miramar 34.2 to begin doing extended trips. I do not want to add a satellite dish at this time. Any experience or advice on the aftermarket products to amplify the tv signals and capture more of the UHF would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirakawa Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 What do you have now? Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie. Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die. Albert King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Winegard Sensar IV is a well proven antenna. Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark and Dale Bruss Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Add the Wingman and that will improve the UHF for a very reasonable cost. Please click for Emails instead of PM Mark & DaleJoey - 2016 Bounder 33C Tige - 2006 40' Travel SupremeSparky III - 2021 Mustang Mach-e, off the the Road since 2019 Useful HDT Truck, Trailer, and Full-timing Info atwww.dmbruss.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 First, welcome to the Escapee forums! We are very happy to have you join us here and we will do all we are able to be helpful. That said, I really think that you would get many more responses to your request for information if you were to post it in the General Forum as many of those who follow the forums do not bother to read this one. Part of the answer to your question depends upon just what antenna your RV has now. Most RVs come with the bat-wing antenna from Winegard and it has a preamplifier and generally works well but you must turn that amplifier on for it to work. Most of them look like a wall plate that has a connection for the coaxial cable to the TV and also a small switch and light. If the amplifier is on the light will be lighted..... See the picture below: Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 The Sensar IV already has the Wingman attached. Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark and Dale Bruss Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Kevin & Ros didn't say they had a Sensar IV. If they have a previous version, then the Wingman is a good option. Please click for Emails instead of PM Mark & DaleJoey - 2016 Bounder 33C Tige - 2006 40' Travel SupremeSparky III - 2021 Mustang Mach-e, off the the Road since 2019 Useful HDT Truck, Trailer, and Full-timing Info atwww.dmbruss.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin & Ros Posted June 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Thanks for the feedback. Kirk, I had meant to put this in the General Forums, but lost track of which section I was reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin & Ros Posted June 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Followup: the amplifier is on (double checked - it is not in a very visible location), but the antenna is basic. The Wingman will be an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Keep in mind that with the change to digital TV, the frequency of the signal is much higher than for the old analog signal and as such it does not travel nearly as far and it can be deflected by trees and buildings. Current TV signals are far more difficult to get at a distance from the transmitter towers than were the analog ones. As great as this change was for the customers in close proximity to the TV towers, it has been a big negative for those in rural areas who wish to use over air TV. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 The Wingman will make the antenna more directional, so aiming is much more sensitive. With the Sensar IV panel and amplifier, it makes for easier antenna aiming provided you cen easily see the panel . Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighwayRanger Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Anyone have any experience with the new Winegard Rayzar digital tv antenna? I like its compact size and no external moving parts. They are available now at CW, etc.. Just wonder about the functionality. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/rayzar-automatic-amplified-hd-tv-antenna/82088 Roy Fulltiming since 2015, with my beautiful bride, Lori. 2015 GMC 3500HD Denali DRW CC LB TrailerSaver TS3 Hitch 2016 DRV Mobile Suites 38RSB3, MorRyde IS, MorRyde Pin Box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Gell Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 Highway Ranger, I am concerned that A/C units on the roof could block the TV signal from getting to any low mounted antenna like that one you linked. It seems it could be an issue on many RV's. If I knew that was not an issue, I might try one. There are not enough reviews to get a good idea how well they work. Kevin and Ros, I am also looking for a replacement OTA antenna. When we bought our trailer last year, I replaced the the top section of the Winegard "batwing" with a King directional antenna. That worked quite well until I snagged it, in it's folded down position, on tree limbs. A lightweight aluminum bracket that connected the new antenna head to the original Winegard double mast ripped apart. Our trailer is 13 feet 4 inches tall and I scraped low hanging limbs in some campgrounds that I probably should not have been in. If I could keep the antenna where it was, without shading my new solar panels, I would repair that King or buy a new one. I have some specific issues that may make my situation different than yours. I have been considering putting a remote control directional OTA TV antenna on a pole or a Flag Pole Buddy. I am not sure how well that would work and have not found anyone else that has tried it. Jim 2001 Volvo 770, Detroit 60 Series, Gen 2 Autoshift Passenger assist elevator to enter cab - for when we need it, or sell it? '05 Travel Supreme Select 40 RLQSO 5th wheel 2016 smart car We started full timing on December 1st 2014 Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness - Mark Twain Not all that wander are lost - J. R. R. Tolkien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronbo Posted June 27, 2015 Report Share Posted June 27, 2015 This one works great. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/rayzar-air-retrofit-hd-tv-antenna-white/78817 Jim they also make the entire crank up unit, not just the replacement head. I have the same junky one as you and thinking of getting the entire crank up unit to replace it. Ron C. 2013 Dynamax Trilogy 3850 D3 2000 Kenworth T2000 Optimus Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin & Ros Posted June 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2015 Thanks for all of the information and ideas. I was looking at the King replacement head that Jim mentions, but will investigate the Rayzor. Currently we are limited to some trips of shorter periods. We want to make some of these upgrades to making longer forays more comfortable. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Gell Posted June 28, 2015 Report Share Posted June 28, 2015 Kevin, If I were you, I think I would try the Rayzar that Ron linked to rather than a King. It may be better built and gets signals from two directions. Jim 2001 Volvo 770, Detroit 60 Series, Gen 2 Autoshift Passenger assist elevator to enter cab - for when we need it, or sell it? '05 Travel Supreme Select 40 RLQSO 5th wheel 2016 smart car We started full timing on December 1st 2014 Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness - Mark Twain Not all that wander are lost - J. R. R. Tolkien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress07 Posted June 28, 2015 Report Share Posted June 28, 2015 I have the one Ronbo references above and it works quite well, better HD picture than I get at home on cable. It's a 20 minute job to replace the batwing, you can use the existing boom or the shorter one that comes with new one. It seems to pull in signals better than the Jack I had before. Retired Air Force 2003 Newmar Dutch Star Model # 4006 Sparton Chassis Cummins 350 ISC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RV_ Posted June 28, 2015 Report Share Posted June 28, 2015 Guys, I am just finishing up my research on the local channels OTA as we are both cutting the cable and doing some customizing of our new to us fiver. First we got a very nice Antenna and the DVR that requires no subscription and gives us all the features including a TV guide from Channel Master. We are soon to be in a new house and will discontinue our cable service at that point next month. We finally dried up enough to be able to move the trailer out of the way and had our 30 Amp plug installed on the side of our steel workshop where we will be parked. I got a new 40" LED TV for the trailer and we use the 24" LED from our house spare bedroom in the RV bedroom. It has a shelf that is hard to get around but I have a Vesa wall mount for it that I used to have my 23" computer monitor on before I got the new all in one computer in 2013. I thought I would need the new add on UHF for my Winegard Sensar 2003 version. It pulls in 22 digital and HD channels here and no pixilation or artifacts on them. But as soon as my Channel Master and injector amplifier are installed on a mast for the new house I'll post with the results of what we are getting on the RV as they sit next to each other at the moment, and will later when we build the RV pad. But we get all the PBS and local channels and their shred outs with the old Sensar now. Remember if the antenna collects the signal, but it is weak and noisy, all an amp does is amplify the noise along with the signal. RV/Derekhttp://www.rvroadie.com Email on the bottom of my website page.Retired AF 1971-1998 When you see a worthy man, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy man, look inside yourself. - Confucius “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ... Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin & Ros Posted July 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 I installed the King last week.At a nearby campground, I was picking up 15 channels with clarity despite numerous thunderstorms. A friend camping in the next site could only pull in 3 channels and the storms pixelated the image. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarDreamers.us Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 We have had excellent experience with a Roku box. We ditched the cable over a year ago. Just kept the HS internet. Now we just have the Roku and a HD antenna. It works for me. Safe Travels! SKP #89742 - Lifetime membership - Member of the SKP Class of 2007Good Sam Club - Lifetime MemberDataStorm #5423Passport America - Lifetime MemberSons Of The American Revolution (SAR) - Lifetime MemberAmerican Legion - USAF - Lifetime MemberRotary Club Member - 30 years Escapee CARE Supporter National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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