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Lily&Me · 02-18-2021, 01:53 PM

This Interstate came with one of these on the roof.

The antenna seems to have disconnected, as there are no channels anywhere at any time unless connected to cable.

I have read the owners manual and talked with “tech support” at Wineguard, who recommended I get a screwdriver and remove the plate behind the TV where the cable goes in...to check that everything there was good.

Ummm, that’s a little beyond my skill set.

She seemed to be reading from a book, and was not helpful.

I then spoke by phone with my very tech-savvy son, who walked me thru a few things and his conclusion was the antenna has somehow disconnected.

The TV doesn’t seem to know the antenna is not communicating with it, tells me to scan for channels, etc.

Anyone know anything about these and have any suggestions?

The antenna is of course on my roof, and I cannot get to it even if I knew what to do once I could see it.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on what may be wrong/what to try.

Maggie

ITSNO60 · 02-18-2021, 02:25 PM

Does it have a separate power button somewhere for the antenna? Mine is in the wardrobe and took a while to realize that's what it was. It has a little green LED to indicate when it is powered on,

Lily&Me · 02-18-2021, 03:32 PM

Yes, you push it and a green light comes on.

Better language would probably be either the antenna has somehow disconnected or the television is not recognizing the antenna.

It doesn’t seem to be the latter, and one would think the TV would know if the antenna is not connected but my son says that is not necessarily so.

I have had this Interstate three years this summer, and the antenna worked fine initially but not now for maybe 1 1/2-2 years.

I haven’t missed it much, but so like the news and so have worked today to try to get it functioning...to no avail.

It seems logical that it could disconnect, given the movement of our rigs on the road, wind, the occasional slapping branch.

The question is....where, and how to reconnect.

I was hoping there was some trick I didn’t know, therefore posting to see if the collective wisdom of these forums had an answer.

Maggie

ITSNO60 · 02-18-2021, 04:10 PM

There is a test to see if the 12 volt power supply is working but it involves pulling the plate with the switch out of the wall and checking for 12 volts with a meter. If 12 volts is verified there the next step is verifying 12 volts at the antenna. This will tell if the power supply is working and if everything is connected. On mine the connection is in the ceiling and it would not pull out, I had to remove the whole antenna from the roof to get to the connector. In my case I was replacing the antenna that the previous owner had damaged, the connection was fine.

Lily&Me · 02-18-2021, 04:51 PM

Right, and the lady at the help desk was going to walk me thru that today.

Ummm, no. That would be unsafe to self and Lily.

I’ll have to get someone with these kinds of skills to look at it.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Maggie

Motown · 02-19-2021, 09:18 AM

FWIW, if that's the Winegard that looks like a white UFO on a pedestal, it's useless unless you are near the TV towers (which is not where most people camp). Airstream put one of those on our 2017 FC23FB and I don't know why they bothered. I'm planning on removing it and putting a LTE/Wifi booster in its place.

Flynavy · 02-19-2021, 10:07 AM

Here is something you can try. Get ahold of a cable long enough to run straight from the antenna to the back of the tv and see if it works. You might be able to run the cable through a window or door. If it works you have a problem with the cable itself. I found a rusted connection directly below the antenna from the inside where the cable was spliced years ago. when I replaced that connector all was good.

Good luck.

Lily&Me · 02-19-2021, 10:14 AM

Thanks for those suggestions, and yes it looks like a little UFO on my roof.

When I get home from this trip, my son is going to take a look at it for me, as he can get in there and do so safely...me, not so much.

I don’t think the problem is not being close enough to the tower, but I’ll keep trying to use it and if that is the case it will show itself.

Thanks!

Maggie

ITSNO60 · 02-19-2021, 11:08 AM

FWIW my sister and brother in law could never get their OTA antenna to work so they bought one of those little flat ones at Walmart that hangs on the wall and it works great. Their rig is fiberglass so in a metal rig a window may work better.

Also while we are on the subject, the free Winegard smartphone app is great for locating all the towers and stations near you and which direction they are in, how far they are and it even tells you what the programs are on the stations although not an hour by hour guide.

Lily&Me · 02-19-2021, 12:06 PM

I would love to know what little flat antenna at WalMart you are speaking of, so I can maybe pick one up?

Sounds worth a try, at any rate.

Thanks!

Maggie

ITSNO60 · 02-19-2021, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

I would love to know what little flat antenna at WalMart you are speaking of, so I can maybe pick one up?

Sounds worth a try, at any rate.

Thanks!

Maggie

I don't know exactly which one they got but it is this type: https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-1byo..._GUID___%7Cdtp

Lily&Me · 02-19-2021, 12:21 PM

You just connect it to the TV and that’s it?

Maggie

waninae39 · 02-19-2021, 12:39 PM

we use a king directional ant. much better than the stock omni model

Lily&Me · 02-19-2021, 12:46 PM

I’m not very electronically literate, so would really appreciate a link.

Might be a much better option than repairing this, which sounds like it may not actually be broken but ineffective.

Maggie

Streamracer · 02-19-2021, 01:52 PM

Best Buy, local rv shops, wally world all have the flat ones. I got the boosted one at Best Buy. When at home and the cable is out I get it and use it. Works well in trailer or house. Plugs into back of TV and the booster in the wall outlet.

Lily&Me · 02-19-2021, 01:56 PM

Thank you.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 02-20-2021, 07:37 AM

Made an early morning run to the local WalMart, picked up this little guy, hooked it up and 21 channels.

All the basics, PBS, etc., tho what I really wanted was NBC.

Under $20.

Thanks, folks!

susans69 · 02-24-2021, 10:38 AM

Check to see if your 12v booster is working.

Lily&Me · 02-24-2021, 11:01 AM

Thank you, Susan, I think it is working as the green light comes on?

I don’t know how to otherwise test it.

I suspect the problem is what others have said, that this particular antenna is just not very good unless you are close to a tower.

At any rate, the little $18 flat antenna from Walmart has worked great.

Maggie

duckdave · 02-25-2021, 12:33 PM

We are in Naples Florida getting some upgrades to our electrical from Solar Tech, by Michael and Lewster. We have just arrived and they are surveying the work that needs to be done...

Lew (on the roof with tape measure): I'm going to have to move this antenna back to make room for the solar panels.
Me: We aren't getting panels...
Lew: Oh. Well, do you want me to replace this antenna with something that would work?
Me: Uh, yes, PLEASE. It has never worked.

Turns out the stock "bat wing" antenna is an analog antenna original to our 07 Airstream Interstate. Our TV is a digital TV, so it needs a digital antenna, like the one Lilly and me added from Walmart.

Lew and Michael are replacing it with a King Directional Antenna, like waninae39 mentioned...At least I think that's the one. I post correction if needed

Lilly and me, it just might be your antenna is analog and your TV is digital. The fact that the flat panel antenna from Walmart worked supports that possibility, although it might be a wiring issue as well. BTW, at home we just dropped our cable and got those same WM digital antennas to prop up in the windows. We get 41 channels, about 5 of them are worth watching.