Antenna amplifiers

[vhaalen]

Anyone familiar with the amplifiers that mount on the Winegard Sensar antennas? Winegard makes one called "Wingman" and Kingdome makes one called the "Jack." A salesman at our local RV store said he'd heard that reception is increased by 100%. We live 75 miles north of Seattle transmitters and they are out of range with the plain Winegard Sensar.

John

[DaveFL]

New system of over air is the same as the old UHF and it is more line of sight transmission reception, altho some are still broadcasting on VHF which has higher range. At 75 miles you are definitely fringe, here at home with a rotor and amplifier I can get about 50 miles of flat ground, Orlando has there antennas on the other side of the hill and I can't get them anymore.
The increase of 100% would be if you are almost getting them, digital picture breaks up so an amp will possible put it in and you get 100%.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by vhaalen

Anyone familiar with the amplifiers that mount on the Winegard Sensar antennas? Winegard makes one called "Wingman" and Kingdome makes one called the "Jack." A salesman at our local RV store said he'd heard that reception is increased by 100%. We live 75 miles north of Seattle transmitters and they are out of range with the plain Winegard Sensar.

John

Hi John,

The wingman is not an actual amplifier as the term is normally use.
It is a passive device, that make the normally bidirectional Winegard bat wing antenna somewhat unidirectional. By doing so it adds a small amount of gain.

we have one on our winegard and it has very minimal effect. If you are not getting any reception at all, I doubt that the wingman is going to make enough difference to allow you to get usable reception. The best solution for you would be to figure a way to get a actual home style TV antenna up as high as possible. The other day, I saw a RV bat wing antenna up on a ~40 foot pole. If one goes to that trouble, they would be much better off with a real antenna.

Regards,

Ken

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by vhaalen

Anyone familiar with the amplifiers...

john, your trailer HAS a signal booster/amplifier built in...

push that LITTLE BUTTON by the cable/tv/12v connection for this function...

a little green led will light indicating it's ON (don't forget to turn it OFF when not in use)
__________

all ya wanna know about the batwing attachment thing is here...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f317...-hd-66084.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f450...nna-64233.html

cheers
2air'

[Jim J]

I just installed the Wingman device on my antenna, The UHF reception is improved but the VHF reception is the same.

[vhaalen]

I appreciate the input...thanks for taking the time.

John

[AirHeadsRus]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

john, your trailer HAS a signal booster/amplifier built in...

push that LITTLE BUTTON by the cable/tv/12v connection for this function...

a little green led will light indicating it's ON (don't forget to turn it OFF when not in use)
__________


cheers
2air'

Thanks 2air'
I worked a couple of hours yesterday hooking up a digital converter but could not get a signal. Got this AM and this was my first thread I read. Pushed my button, searched for channels and now have 17. I did not know I had a button to push.
Best regards,
Joe

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by AirHeadsRus

...Got this AM and this was my first thread I read.
Pushed my button, searched for channels and now have 17.
I did not know I had a button to push...

good to read the reminder was useful.

we've all got buttons to push,

and some days it's all about pushing each others buttons...




cheers
2air'

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by vhaalen

Anyone familiar with the amplifiers that mount on the Winegard Sensar antennas?
John

There are 2 versions of the Winegard Sensar, amplified and unamplified heads. Winegard also makes an amplified wall plate outlet. Since I had an unamplified batwing and I had to change out the outlet to coaxial anyway I went the combination amplified wall plate/ 12v outlet route that also switches from air or cable input. Most of the places I go camping are too far away from a good signal to use the Batwing.

[jdalrymple]

In the case of the winegard system, the wall plate and it's button are not the amplifier. The amp is in the head of the antenna. The wall plate simply injects DC power onto the coax headed to the antenna to power the amp up there. It also blocks the power from reaching the antenna jack of the connected TV.

In my experience, failures of the amp are normally just that, and not the wall plate power supply. If the light comes on on the wall plate and nothing improves it is safe to assume the wall plate is good and the amp in the antenna head is bad.

Glad this one is just a button problem!

Best Regards,

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

In the case of the winegard system, the wall plate and it's button are not the amplifier.
The amp is in the head of the antenna. ...

good info jd'

so IF pushing the button does nothing...

a new head may be needed?

((this could be the NEXT big bumper sticker wisdom ...))

cheers
2air'

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

In the case of the winegard system, the wall plate and it's button are not the amplifier. The amp is in the head of the antenna.

Just to be clear, you can get a Sensar with either an amplified or unamplified head. Weingard also sells a bunch or different wall plates both amplified and unamplified and with or without 12v outlets. You could use an amplified wall plate if you have an unamplified head.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

Just to be clear, you can get a Sensar with either an amplified or unamplified head. Weingard also sells a bunch or different wall plates both amplified and unamplified and with or without 12v outlets. You could use an amplified wall plate if you have an unamplified head.

yes yes yes...

which is why the early "push the button" suggestion...

makes no reference to the particulars, except for the button.

because a/s TYPICALLY uses the button/wall plate configuration (at least for the last 30+ years)...

and while w/g makes a full assortment of head/amp/wall plate options,

what REALLY MATTERS is which bits does a/s USE...

which is why those archaic a/s owners manuals come in so handy...

the OP has the following bits and pieces in his 07 classic...



this is a typical list for most of the modern streams,

but older units may have different parts as OEM or may have been MOD'd by previous owners...

cheers
2air'

[garry]

If you are receiving a signal that is dropping out or freezing up the Wingman (add on element for the Winegard) will help however, if you can't get any picture the Wingman will not help.

[jdalrymple]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. Because of the age the AS in the first post, I did assume this installation was the power supply/head mounted amp setup. I agree there are all manor of options out there.

2air, thanks. I need my button pushed now and then.

[Aage]

This (permanent, non-mobile) antenna claims 100 mile range.

Of course, as Mark Twain once said, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics, so Caveat Emptor, which means never let your cave get empty.

Seriously, from the OP's original post, I'm not sure he's talking about a 'tenna for his 'Stream, look at his stated home city!

Git them poles up there, buy the bestest deevice you can get your hands on, then AMPlify it, and don't fergit to use the fancy dollar-a-foot downlead! It DUZ all make a HOOJ difference...

[ck21084]

Sorry to hijack... but I have the old style antenna with the booster at the wall plate. Every time the bathroom fan is turned on i lose signal. I know this I due to interference. Does anyone know the cable from the antenna to the booster can easily be repleaced or should i just buy a new antenna?

[KJRitchie]

My Sensar antenna fits in a metal cradle on the roof of my 2008 Classic 25fb. Does anyone know if the Wingman addon will clear the metal cradle?

Kelvin

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

My Sensar antenna fits in a metal cradle on the roof of my 2008 Classic 25fb. Does anyone know if the Wingman addon will clear the metal cradle?

Kelvin

Mine does

[Airtandem]

Yes, it will, but also look at the NEW Wineguard antenna. It looks like "home plate" and is multidirectional and works well with HD. The replacement head costs about $50.00.
mike