Terrible Reception

[lewster]

I've placed 3 Jacks on '15 air streams


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[lewster]

Sorry, phone has a mind of its own!!!!

I've placed 3 Jacks on new Airstreams. The existing hole for the flying saucer antenna needs to be enlarged to 2" and continued thru to the inner skin. No big deal really.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[Gsmblue]

Thanks Lewster.

Maybe when you are back in Hood River you can show me how!

I am such a wuss when it comes to cutting holes in this thing....

[moosetags]

Let me see if I am understanding this correctly.

The King Jack Antenna is not omni-directional. If I want to install one on my 2015 Flying Cloud, I would need to build a device to be able to turn the antenna from inside the trailer.

Am I reading the information correctly, or did I miss something?

Brian

[lewster]

No, the roof mount model comes with an 11" mast and a base, along with an axle that runs thru the 2" hole in the roof.

There is a base plate that mounts to the ceiling with the locking rotational knob and the signal meter and amplifier.

Simply connect to the existing coax that has 12VDC running thru it via the existing wall box.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[lewster]

There is also a mast mount model as shown above if you have the old Wineguard crank-up mechanism.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[FishinHatteras]

May I ask for someone to provide the part #, or a link to the Amazon Web page that has the correct one I should order please? Too many choices on the Amazon page.
I have the old Winegard crank up on my 2010 28', and boy would I like to replace that monstrous thing with this new item. From what I gather, I do NOT have to worry about the antenna amplifier, but can simply swap the old with the new. Chief makes it sound too simple to NOT make this upgrade. Watching a pixelated picture is awfully annoying. Chief or Lewster, please? Many thanks!
Gavin

[switz]

We have the standard Winegard Sensor crankup antenna Airstream installed on our 2014 Classic.

Can the existing WineGard head:
(Winegard Sensar RV TV Antenna)

be replaced by a King Jack HDTV antenna head
(KING Jack HDTV Antenna |)

and gain any better reception?

[AWCHIEF]

With ant in up position

[AWCHIEF]

In some locations I have doubled the number of stations I can receive after I swapped to the King Jack.

[daveswenson]

Has anyone tried the new Winegard Rayzar yet?

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

With ant in up position

Attachment 235378

Not sure what happened to the post. Should of posted a photo showing the antenna in the up position. Now I can not find it in my photo library. Also the recepeption is very good not terrible as my title came up.

[SeeMore]

For those confused, there are two models of the King Jack. One is the mast head which can be attached to the existing Winegard lift mechanism. It rotates using the same interior dial. The second model (8200) is a stationary exterior unit which requires the roof penetration to be enlarged to 2". The King Jack post extends through the roof and gets attached to a new knob in the new ceiling box which also houses the signal detector. You turn the knob and watch the signal strength bars illuminate to find the best direction. Once done, you then program your tv as before.

[Silverbee]

Originally Posted by lewster

Sorry, phone has a mind of its own!!!!

I've placed 3 Jacks on new Airstreams. The existing hole for the flying saucer antenna needs to be enlarged to 2" and continued thru to the inner skin. No big deal really.




Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

Lew:
Can you explain your method for properly enlarging the existing hole in the interior ceiling? Thank you.

[RVDreamer]

Originally Posted by Msmoto

My plans, after reading up on the King Jack antenna are to install it myself. Having done multiple other mods to the Serenity, I see no issue with this one.

As to the suggestion about pointing the antenna properly, the one supplied with the 2015 Airstreams has no adjustment being "omnidirectional " or as the saying goes, "a jack of all trades, master of none". And this is with the booster on. Booster off = nothing on my set.


Ms Tommie Lauer
Greensboro, NC
2015 Serenity 30 RB / 2008 Dodge Cummins 4 X 4
WBCCI #4165 AIR #31871

If you decide to update, please document your installation procedure , either with video or pictures. I know I would be interested in seeing how it goes and I am sure there are others.
My one concern was how well this was going to work now that there is a larger compartment in the roof for the ducted air.
So far I haven't had much trouble with the omni-directional antenna as it seems to be pulling in a lot stations in the areas that I have camped.
One thing for sure, a message to the original poster, " Do make sure to turn on the booster behind the main TV, it makes a big difference".

[RVDreamer]

Originally Posted by daveswenson

Has anyone tried the new Winegard Rayzar yet?

Hey, that looks great! It sounds like this might eliminate the need to cut a hole through to the interior of the new 2015s.

Thanks for the info. Now we just need to find out if it works well.

[Msmoto]

This will be completed within the month, hopefully. But, as one of those who purchased a 2015 Airstream long before the Classic was even announced, I am busy trying to catch up on interior mods so i have more "Classic" features, specifically window valences ....... so, these are first, the antenna second.

I will do some photos of the install once I begin. I think as Lew has suggested it is fairly straight forward, as long as one understands how to use a hole saw on aluminum....very carefully.

[Pat Cassity]

I really appreciate all of the information about the King Jack but it really didn't answer my original question. Does anyone make a portable type of antenna that can be attached to the satellite connection on the outside of the Airstream? I watch very little television but would like to have it when needed. I have no desire to have a hole cut in top of my Airstream.

[RVDreamer]

Originally Posted by Msmoto

This will be completed within the month, hopefully. But, as one of those who purchased a 2015 Airstream long before the Classic was even announced, I am busy trying to catch up on interior mods so i have more "Classic" features, specifically window valences ....... so, these are first, the antenna second.

I will do some photos of the install once I begin. I think as Lew has suggested it is fairly straight forward, as long as one understands how to use a hole saw on aluminum....very carefully.

You might look into that Winegard Rayzar automatic antenna. It looks to have better reception specs than the King Jack antenna and it would not require a hole into the interior. The antenna is contained in a small dome and electronically rotates and finds the best orientations for signal reception.
Looks like a simple install. In fact, if 3m VHB tape was used, I doubt that any holes would need to be drilled or sealed.

[RVDreamer]

Originally Posted by Pat Cassity

I really appreciate all of the information about the King Jack but it really didn't answer my original question. Does anyone make a portable type of antenna that can be attached to the satellite connection on the outside of the Airstream? I watch very little television but would like to have it when needed. I have no desire to have a hole cut in top of my Airstream.

I don't think you could use the satellite connection because it routes to the Blu-ray player compartment, with the idea that you will use a satellite receiver there and then connect to the tv's via HDMI cables.

You also would not have a power amplifier on the line. If you connected to the cable input, it might work but again you would not have a signal amplifier on that line.

There are numerous antennas you could hook up via coax on the outside but I am just not sure it would work with those inputs.

When you were getting poor reception with the omni-directional antenna, did you have the signal amplifier turned on? It makes a huge difference. The button to turn it on is behind the main tv, right next to the cable connection, it has a green led lit when it is on.