View Poll Results: TV Antenna - Would you replace or remove it?
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Replace it?
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26 |
61.90% |
Remove it?
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16 |
38.10% |
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07-16-2008, 06:03 AM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 375
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TV Antenna - Would you replace or remove it?
I would like to ask you seasoned Streamers a question based on your usage.
If your television antenna was broken beyond repair and was leaking would you replace it with a new one now or remove it completely and patch the hole?
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07-16-2008, 07:10 AM
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#2
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 192
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I just removed mine and patched the hole. Cured a leak that I couldn't find. I'm addicted to tv and this is a way to get some relief....joe
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07-16-2008, 07:24 AM
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#3
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1 Rivet Member
North Richland Hills
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 9
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In Feb. 2009, the old channnels will go away, in favor of all digital. Therefore, the Wineguard wing antenna will no longer be needed. This is because the digital channels are higher frequency, and the antenna structure needed for good reception will be much smaller. Basically, you only need a UHF size antenna, and no longer need the bigger VHF wings.
So, if I were you, I'd call Wineguard and ask them what the product plans are, then replace the antenna with a newer "post 2/2009" sized antenna.
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07-16-2008, 09:03 AM
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#4
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Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vhord
If your television antenna was broken beyond repair and was leaking would you replace it with a new one now or remove it completely and patch the hole?
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uh.....both?
had to. new bat-wing wouldn't fit in the same spot as the old skyliner, so I had to install the new antenna in a different spot, off-center, so it wouldn't interfere w/ the a/c.
__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
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07-16-2008, 10:00 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1974 27' Overlander
1954 26' Romany Cruiser
1960 26' Overlander
Rockingham County
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,410
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Remove it and cap it. Have a portable antenna if we need a fix, typically we do not. Digital coming, do not need another gadget....
__________________
'74 Overlander (T-O-Bee)
'46 Spartan Manor (Rosie)
'54 Cruiser (Bogart)
'60 Overlander (Hoagy)
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax
WBCCI 1754 - AIR # 6281
www.balrgn.com
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07-16-2008, 10:31 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
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I would replace. I am getting a perfect digital signal from my old Braund Skyliner.
__________________
Vaughan
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07-16-2008, 10:57 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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I would replace it with a new Flat Winegard as you will need an external antenna after digital
These are my satellite and digital converter boxes mounted. Things work great.
One suggestion. I talked to a TV station engineer before I bought my box. He suggested getting one made by LG because they are using a better chip set. Circuit City is selling a Zenith converter made by LG.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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07-16-2008, 01:57 PM
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#8
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Replace. There is a practical side to this, I can watch either of two local tv stations that broadcast weather radar 24/7. It's saved our awning twice now.
Oh, and you'll probably find the aluminum skin under the antenna has corroded away to nothing, and that is where your leak is.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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07-16-2008, 02:10 PM
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#9
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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I vote replace as well. I restored the original Skyliner antenna that came with the trailer. Works perfectly with the digital stations around Atlanta. You don't need any special type of ant for digital, regardless of what the sales guy tells you at the RV place.
Jim
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07-17-2008, 07:00 AM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 375
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So far it looks like it is going to be a "split decision".
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07-17-2008, 07:39 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1974 27' Overlander
1954 26' Romany Cruiser
1960 26' Overlander
Rockingham County
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,410
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vhord
So far it looks like it is going to be a "split decision".
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What is the reception out there whre you are?
Our decision was pretty much based on this:
When Boondocking we are not willing to give up battery power to convert the DC and don't really want to run a generator to watch TV. No kids so no issue with unrest.
When at a campground in our area, we are lucky to get 2 or 3 stations with marginal reception and we are finding more and more are offering Cable for free or a small fee.
I like the look of the rig with out the antenna up there, just me, but it is a a more appealing look.
__________________
'74 Overlander (T-O-Bee)
'46 Spartan Manor (Rosie)
'54 Cruiser (Bogart)
'60 Overlander (Hoagy)
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax
WBCCI 1754 - AIR # 6281
www.balrgn.com
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07-17-2008, 08:33 AM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 375
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Quote:
Originally Posted by balrgn
What is the reception out there whre you are?
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I am not sure where we will be. I was actually fishing to see if most people actually were able to get use out of theirs. Most of the camping that I have been doing in the past with my popup has been in fairly remote areas. I am not too much into urban camping.
Quote:
Originally Posted by balrgn
we are finding more and more are offering Cable for free or a small fee.
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I do plan on installing a exterior cable hook up of some sort.
So I guess that I need to weigh usefulness compared to appearance, cost and maintenance.
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07-17-2008, 09:21 AM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
1975 31' Sovereign
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 494
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This antenna is over my head !
Ya know this thread has me really confused.
Not that that is hard to do anymore.
Whats actually going away VHF or UHF or both or just what?
Lets assume that it is after the Feb.2009 deadline. (personally I bet they delay that a while anyway). Is the 70's era antenna useless or not? For TV reception I'm speaking here, not for hanging panties out.
Is it good for FM radio reception? for AM radio reception?
Why as someone above stated would the aluminum be "rotted" away under the mounting flange? The flange is aluminum too is it not?
I do not recall ever reading about erosion around or under the antenna mounting flanges. But there's alot I don't know.
Wonder if the lifting mechanism is strong enough for say a small sat dish, or an aluminum Christmas tree or a ...well who knows something snazzy to draw the eye and the conversation in camp..?
How bout a small pennant staff like on a boat? I think a flag might be too stressful in a good wind.
__________________
__________________________
____ d'drummer ____
...aahh..rumm..pu..tum..tummm...
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07-17-2008, 09:29 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1974 27' Overlander
1954 26' Romany Cruiser
1960 26' Overlander
Rockingham County
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,410
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[quote=Distantdrummer;591231]Ya know this thread has me really confused.
Why as someone above stated would the aluminum be "rotted" away under the mounting flange? The flange is aluminum too is it not?
I do not recall ever reading about erosion around or under the antenna mounting flanges. But there's alot I don't know.
quote]
Check this web page out. The cast aluminum degraded, the AS skind did not.
Leak
__________________
'74 Overlander (T-O-Bee)
'46 Spartan Manor (Rosie)
'54 Cruiser (Bogart)
'60 Overlander (Hoagy)
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax
WBCCI 1754 - AIR # 6281
www.balrgn.com
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07-17-2008, 09:39 AM
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#15
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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Well, I can answer some of that for you.
First of all, the new digital TV signal will be in practically the same part of the spectrum as before. If you look at a freq allocation chart, DTV is listed in all the same areas of the spectrum as old analog TV. So neither VHF or UHF broadcasts are really going away. The type of signal will change from analog to digital.
My old antenna, the original Skyliner that came with the camper, works quite well for old style analog TV, new digital TV and FM radio (haven't tried AM radio on it).
Some folks have had problems with the aluminum underneath antenna mounts going south on them and "rotting" or corroding away. I got lucky and didn't have these problems so I chose to restore the antenna and keep it.
Hope that helps a bit.
Jim
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07-17-2008, 09:54 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Distantdrummer
Whats actually going away VHF or UHF or both or just what?
Lets assume that it is after the Feb.2009 deadline. (personally I bet they delay that a while anyway). Is the 70's era antenna useless or not? For TV reception I'm speaking here, not for hanging panties out.
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Mind you, this is for "over the air TV only. Sat and cable are not changing.
What's happening is that the format of the broadcast signal is changing from analog to digital. The tuner in your old TV is an analog tuner, and will not translate the over the air digital signal. In order to use your old TV for over the air, you will need a digital to analog converter box.
As far as your antenna, if it currently works for UHF signal, it will work for the new digital signal as well. The original antenna on our '65 Caravel works just fine with our new HDTV. It gets both analog and digital perfectly, and has for 1 1/2 years. Most stations in larger areas are already broadcasting digital as well as analog. It's here now. The problem is not the antenna, it is the tuner in your TV.
As far as a delay, don't bet anything you are fond of. It's going to happen next February. The FCC has already allocated the analog frequencies for other use. It's a done deal.
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07-17-2008, 10:01 AM
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#17
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Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
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the base of the skyliner is not cast aluminum; its pot-metal.
vhf/uhf is not the issue; the signals that TV stations send are "RF". its still "radio waves". its WHAT those waves of energy contain that will change.
the way it works now, on the most basic level, is really very similar to the old "tin can & string" toy you made as a kid.
The "new" method involves a computer on both ends of the system. At the transmitter, the picture and sound are converted into a series of zero's and ones. Those 0's and 1's are sent via radio waves. computer on the receiver picks up those 0's and 1's, and coverts them into a picture that shows up on your screen.
but again, what is sent across the air-waves is still a radio signal...still in the "vhf" band, and as such, your existing vhf antenna will pick up the signal. your tv won't know what to do with it, unless its a new "digital" tv...or unless you add a "computer" (converter box) that will make the translation for you.
__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
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07-17-2008, 10:15 AM
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#18
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 375
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Chuck,
Thank you for that simplified explanation. Even I can understand that.
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07-17-2008, 11:51 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Greeeneville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,301
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I recently removed the old broken Skyliner from my Caravel, and patched the hole. It WAS the source of my leaks, and the trailer looks more streamlined without the antenna.
__________________
Kevin with Baity the Lab/Pointer //------AIR # 7303------\\ WBCCI 17109 visit my restoration blog at:
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07-17-2008, 12:31 PM
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#20
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Moderator Emeritus
1972 31' Sovereign
High Springs
, Florida
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 2,311
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My Batwing with pre-amp works great on all the UHF channels. I would replace.
__________________
ARS WA8ZYT
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce!
Air # 283
WBCCI 1350
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