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gowansg · 09-29-2009, 02:48 PM

What are people doing to replace there old TV antennas? I'm assuming the old ones can not be made useable.

Gary Gowans 4048
New Bern, NC

DaveFL · 09-29-2009, 02:54 PM

Why? Same signal will work on new sets or with converter box on old sets.
There is a part that can be added to the wing to make it a better uhf antenna, but when signals are available the old antenna works fine.

frlcad5 · 09-29-2009, 02:59 PM

If you have one of the batwing antennas you can purchase and additional antenna from Camping World or the like that just snaps on the base of the batwing. No wires or connections. The signal is coupled to the amplifier in your antenna. It seems to work fine and allows you to recieve stations in a weeker or distant location.

Xbob2 · 09-29-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frlcad5

If you have one of the batwing antennas you can purchase and additional antenna from Camping World or the like that just snaps on the base of the batwing. No wires or connections. The signal is coupled to the amplifier in your antenna. It seems to work fine and allows you to recieve stations in a weeker or distant location.

Links? Pictures?

silverleeper · 09-29-2009, 03:20 PM

Digital and analog TV broadcasts use the same frequencies and antennas. Digital TV is more fussy about signal quality than the older analog signals. So if you get marginal analog reception, figure on getting a new antenna for digital. Be careful, You may spend a lot of money on a new "better" antenna and end up with the same reception.

The idea that there are special HDTV antennas is just marketing hype.

**jcanavera** · 09-29-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xbob2

Links? Pictures?

Upgrade your Sensar Antenna with Wingman for Optimum DTV Performance - Winegard

**jcanavera** · 09-29-2009, 03:58 PM

As noted by Lee, digital TV for the most part is being broadcast on the UHF frequencies. UHF does not propagate over distances as well as VHF which means the the broadcasters have to use higher power, and you as a receiver of those signals need to have a decent UHF antenna. The batwing antenna from Winegard that is on the newer trailers can receive UHF signals. Winegard makes a snap on unit that can enhance UHF signals.

The bottom line is that unless you can get that antenna up high enough you may have problems in receiving signals in areas where VHF reception was available. I was up in Door County Wisconsin this summer and UHF reception is bad. Very few of us could get reliable signals. In the year's past we always got VHF, albeit not crystal clear.

Understand that claims of 100% strength improvement by the antenna manufacturers may still not allow you to get a strong enough signal to allow viewing.

Jack

silverback · 09-29-2009, 09:18 PM

I plan on trying my plain old 2006 Winegard Sensar at the Balloon Fiesta Rally this weekend. It will be coupled to our new (replaced the original Sony) Samsung HDTV. If it is marginal I will pop for the Winegard Wingman. I'm betting it is fine. For starters we will be line of site to the transmitters on Sandia Crest in Albuquerque. In fact I bet the old antenna on our 81 Excella Motorhome will work just fine with an HDTV too. Won't have that test completed until Thanksgiving.

-Ken

Jim Foster · 09-29-2009, 09:28 PM

The original antenna on our '65 Caravel does just fine with digital. As stated before, any antenna that will pick up UHF should do OK with digital. The previous owner of our '83 Excella installed the latest, greatest Winegard which has no provision for the addition used on the "batwing" and does fine as well.

arodriguez60 · 09-29-2009, 09:42 PM

Ken you won't have any problems at the balloon fiesta. I get great reception here in Espanola. I did put the wingman on mine and do get better reception at Heron but make no real differance in Espanola.

J R Vaughan · 09-30-2009, 06:42 AM

Your present antenna should work fine...When TV stations converted to Digital, they moved to HIGHER frequencies...(UHF) the frequencies are still receivable by most TV antennas without change...However many (if not all) digital stations also REDUCED power !! This creates a double whammy...Digital reception is kind of like an FM radio...It works or not...No in between... Analog allowed you to get an almost good picture and still watch it (If you could see it thru the snow)
The Weingard batwing add on allows your Batwing antenna to be MORE directional at UHF frequencies...Thus, capture a picture that would otherwise not be viewable..
Kind of like changing the focus on a flashlight (like a Mag light)...It concentrates the beam (reception) but does not increase there amount of "light"...Its a worthwile addition if you have a Batwing...Otherwise, use what you have...
Hope this helps...

Chuck · 09-30-2009, 07:24 AM

I was just at a rally where someone with a new trailer had one of these "wingman" attachments. It came with the trailer. Someone noticed it up there, and asked about it. Seems that most of us (without the wingman) were only able to pick up 2 stations, but the wingman-equipped trailer was able to pull in 7. so...seems that it must actually "work".

my problem is that I don't have the required 10" of clearance between the sensar head and my center vent.

frustrating thing is that if I had known several years ago, when I installed this thing, that this change was coming, I could have installed the head a few inches further forward. there's nothing in the way. I'm not cutting new holes in the roof, now.
I wonder if I could shorten the masts. If I recall, they're just a couple of hollow square tubes. It probably only needs to come forward a couple of inches.

Mikethefixit · 09-30-2009, 07:40 AM

When tv went digital they moved to higher frequency's. Your old ant should do just fine,hey a coat hanger will work. But with the higher frequency's the signal becomes more line-of -sight and is subject to being shut out by building and tree's and yes even the Airstream. I am not really sure if the Power for each station have remained the same,but the distance from the station and what obstructions are in the way will change how your tv receives the signals.
I know I used to get stations 50 miles away but not anymore.

Nuvite-F · 09-30-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

When TV stations converted to Digital, they moved to HIGHER frequencies...(UHF) the frequencies are still receivable by most TV antennas without change...

There seems to be universal agreement among members of the public that all digital TV broadcasts are in the UHF band, but just to set the record straight, that's not true.

The high VHF channels (7 - 13, 174 - 216 MHz)) are still in use for digital TV, and for that matter the low VHF channels (2 - 6, 54 - 88 MHz) are still assigned for television, although little if any used.

Channels 2 - 83, stretching from 54 to 890 MHz (with big gaps for other services) were originally assigned for television.

Back in the 80s the uppermost UHF channels 70 - 83 were reallocated for cellular phone use.

With the digital TV transition in 2009, UHF channels 52 - 69 were reallocated for other purposes, so TV channels now extend from 2 to 51.

Obviously your old TV antenna that covered (frequency) channels 2 - 83 still covers the current (frequency) channels 2 - 51.

(Unfortunately you know longer know what frequency "channel 7" is broadcasting on, since they kept their old channel number for brand identity reasons, even though they moved to another frequency.)

There's a Wikipedia article that explains all this in detail. North American broadcast television frequencies - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jim Foster · 09-30-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck

my problem is that I don't have the required 10" of clearance between the sensar head and my center vent.

frustrating thing is that if I had known several years ago, when I installed this thing, that this change was coming, I could have installed the head a few inches further forward. there's nothing in the way. I'm not cutting new holes in the roof, now.
I wonder if I could shorten the masts. If I recall, they're just a couple of hollow square tubes. It probably only needs to come forward a couple of inches.

The Winegard on our '83 Excella was installed in front of, and folds down over the Fantastic Fan cover. They installed a bracked for it to lay in which holds it just above the vent cover rather than laying on the roof. Such a bracket would solve your problem. In order to open the vent more than an inch or so, we must raise the antenna. Oh well, so be it. Works just fine.

SilverRanger · 09-30-2009, 08:49 AM

I found this in a previous thread. Apparently, a rep. from Winegard addresses the vent clearance issue in post # 12.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f450...man-48742.html

"You can remove up to the second director if you wish without losing too much signal. We do not recommend taking off the second director or you will really affect the ability of the Wingman to help direct the UHF signal.

Andy Crowner
Winegard Company"

Chuck · 09-30-2009, 08:57 AM

yeah, I saw the same thing posted on their own website. The situation is very similar to the pics in that thread, although, I think I have even less room. don't think removing just 1 of those thingies would be enough, and even if it was, it would kind of defeat the purpose of the the whole thing, imo.

winegard · 10-06-2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Why? Same signal will work on new sets or with converter box on old sets. There is a part that can be added to the wing to make it a better uhf antenna, but when signals are available the old antenna works fine.

This is correct. The digital signal can be received by the same antennas that picked up analog signal, they do not care. Many of the stations have moved to UHF (14-51), however 98% of markets have at least one major VHF channel so both are still needed.

The Winegard Wingman will help you receive those UHF channels which are just out of range or have a low signal. If you are receiving signal at 100%, obviously the Wingman won't make a difference.

Quote:

TV is more fussy about signal quality than the older analog signals. So if you get marginal analog reception, figure on getting a new antenna for digital.

The new digital signal works similar to your cellphone signal. If you have enough bars, you can talk clearly and hear clearly. If you do not, you have nothing. The new signal is just like that, instead of fuzz, it's nothing.

Quote:

You can remove up to the second director if you wish without losing too much signal. We do not recommend taking off the second director or you will really affect the ability of the Wingman to help direct the UHF signal.

Quote:

and even if it was, it would kind of defeat the purpose of the the whole thing, imo.

You can remove the front tip of the Wingman without significantly lowering the performance gain on the antenna. If your purpose is to increase the performance of your antenna and receive channels you were unable to before, this is definitely not defeating the purpose.

vswingfield · 10-06-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winegard

This is correct. The digital signal can be received by the same antennas that picked up analog signal, they do not care. Many of the stations have moved to UHF (14-51), however 98% of markets have at least one major VHF channel so both are still needed.

The Winegard Wingman will help you receive those UHF channels which are just out of range or have a low signal. If you are receiving signal at 100%, obviously the Wingman won't make a difference.

The new digital signal works similar to your cellphone signal. If you have enough bars, you can talk clearly and hear clearly. If you do not, you have nothing. The new signal is just like that, instead of fuzz, it's nothing.

You can remove the front tip of the Wingman without significantly lowering the performance gain on the antenna. If your purpose is to increase the performance of your antenna and receive channels you were unable to before, this is definitely not defeating the purpose.

Thanks Andy,

It is good to hear from an authoritative source. It's hard to believe the amount of confusion the switch to HDTV has generated. Even with numerous posts from members who switched to HD some time ago stating that everything works just fine on existing antennas, confusion remains.

It is good that you are addressing the need to boost the UHF section of your products and offer advice on adapting to special circumstances.

Gene · 10-06-2009, 10:20 AM

When did Airstream start installing the newer higher gain Winegard antennas?

It is true the digital signals have to be tuned better and disappear quickly if you move too many degrees from the center. If signals are coming from different directions, it's less likely you'll get both. The trade off is clearer pictures, especially in HDTV, if you can get them.

Gene