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View Poll Results: TV Antenna - Would you replace or remove it?
Replace it? 26 61.90%
Remove it? 16 38.10%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 07-16-2008, 06:03 AM   #1
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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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Old 07-16-2008, 07:10 AM   #2
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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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Old 07-16-2008, 07:24 AM   #3
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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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Old 07-16-2008, 09:03 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vhord View Post

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?

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.
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Old 07-16-2008, 10:00 AM   #5
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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....
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Old 07-16-2008, 10:31 AM   #6
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I would replace. I am getting a perfect digital signal from my old Braund Skyliner.
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Old 07-16-2008, 10:57 AM   #7
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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.
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Old 07-16-2008, 01:57 PM   #8
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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.
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Old 07-16-2008, 02:10 PM   #9
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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.

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Old 07-17-2008, 07:00 AM   #10
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So far it looks like it is going to be a "split decision".
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Old 07-17-2008, 07:39 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vhord View Post
So far it looks like it is going to be a "split decision".
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.
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Old 07-17-2008, 08:33 AM   #12
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What is the reception out there whre you are?
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.

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we are finding more and more are offering Cable for free or a small fee.
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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Old 07-17-2008, 09:21 AM   #13
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Wink 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.
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Old 07-17-2008, 09:29 AM   #14
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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
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Old 07-17-2008, 09:39 AM   #15
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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.

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Old 07-17-2008, 09:54 AM   #16
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Quote:
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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.
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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Old 07-17-2008, 10:01 AM   #17
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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.
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Old 07-17-2008, 10:15 AM   #18
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Chuck,

Thank you for that simplified explanation. Even I can understand that.
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Old 07-17-2008, 11:51 AM   #19
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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.
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Old 07-17-2008, 12:31 PM   #20
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My Batwing with pre-amp works great on all the UHF channels. I would replace.
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