Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Renovations => Topic started by: Dave and Nancy Abel on July 24, 2013, 08:44:03 pm

Title: OTA TV Antenna
Post by: Dave and Nancy Abel on July 24, 2013, 08:44:03 pm
There has been some discussion of the Jack Antenna in other current topics. The following link is to a website that will help determine which way to point Antenna to receive the local stations.
I installed our Antenna in May of 2012: King Controls Jack TV Antenna (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=15130.msg93238#msg93238)
I don't have a Signal meter so I use the following website to help determine which way to point Antenna to receive locals:
http://www.antennaweb.org/Address.aspx (http://www.antennaweb.org/Address.aspx)
You enter the Zip code and your street address.  The website will return a list of the local stations and a map showing the bearing (direction) to the transmitters. 
Here's a link to our current location and results:
http://www.antennaweb.org/Stations.aspx?Address=103+U.S.+2&City=Columbia+Falls&State=MT&ZIP=59912&Housing=S&Accuracy=8&Height=6&Obstructed=False&StationList=&Lat=48.368831&Lon=-114.178921 (http://www.antennaweb.org/Stations.aspx?Address=103+U.S.+2&City=Columbia+Falls&State=MT&ZIP=59912&Housing=S&Accuracy=8&Height=6&Obstructed=False&StationList=&Lat=48.368831&Lon=-114.178921)
It will also include a link, just above the map, to your Channel lineups:
http://www.titantv.com/Default.aspx?lineupid=083f8466-0c9c-4c7d-aaad-8ac1624dcc02 (http://www.titantv.com/Default.aspx?lineupid=083f8466-0c9c-4c7d-aaad-8ac1624dcc02)
Your able to use this TitanTV link to create Channel lineups/schedules for OTA, Cable and Satellite.  I have created several different lineups for some RV Park Cable connections that we often use.
I use these websites all the time and find them very useful.

Title: Re: OTA TV Antenna
Post by: Michael j on July 24, 2013, 09:14:22 pm
Thanks Dave or Nancy for the information. It allowed me to confirm that I had no good station to view.
Title: Re: OTA TV Antenna
Post by: Dave and Nancy Abel on July 24, 2013, 09:25:41 pm
Howdy Michael j,
  I'm a really big fan of the Jack antenna.  One of the best (and least expensive) upgrades for the coach.  Occasionally, I will receive stations when the website indicates no transmitters.  Often, will receive more stations than indicated.
Good Luck, Dave A
Title: Re: OTA TV Antenna
Post by: danieljeff545 on July 27, 2013, 02:47:54 pm
I just installed one this week. Reception is great here at home, we'll see on Monday when we head out how it is OTR.
Title: Re: OTA TV Antenna
Post by: PatC on July 27, 2013, 03:33:54 pm
Thanks Dave or Nancy for the information. It allowed me to confirm that I had no good station to view.
[/quote]
Are you sure?  If your google address is right, I'm up to 14 channels from 5 over-the-air stations may be received at this location that you should be able to see at a heading of 220 and 222 degrees to your southwest.
http://www.antennaweb.org/Stations.aspx?Address=4214+County+Road+1835&City=Livermore&State=CA&ZIP=94550&Housing=S&Accuracy=6&Height=6&Obstructed=False&StationList=&Lat=37.6718161&Lon=-121.6701848 (http://www.antennaweb.org/Stations.aspx?Address=4214+County+Road+1835&City=Livermore&State=CA&ZIP=94550&Housing=S&Accuracy=6&Height=6&Obstructed=False&StationList=&Lat=37.6718161&Lon=-121.6701848)
Title: Re: OTA TV Antenna
Post by: wa_desert_rat on July 27, 2013, 05:28:03 pm
I discovered that an 8" wire dangled from the antenna jack (center part of the connector) on the LED HDTV brought in more stations than my Wineguard. :P

Craig
Title: Re: OTA TV Antenna
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on July 27, 2013, 06:03:19 pm
I discovered that an 8" wire dangled from the antenna jack (center part of the connector) on the LED HDTV brought in more stations than my Wineguard. :P

Craig

Have had like experiences as Craig. Sometimes the bat has worked but most the time it doesn't bring much to the party.

Bought a refurbished a Dish Tailgater from PPL a couple of months ago and it works like magic. $269 plus around $10 to ship. Don't think it really was refurbished as came in the factory box with no "refurb" id anywhere on the box or unit. Probably sold that way to avoid conflict with other dealers. Only adds $5/mo to our Dish bill. Just set it outside and let the 211K receiver do it's thing for 5 minutes and away you go.

Tailgater by Dish Network - Portable HDTV Antenna - PPL Motor Homes (http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/tv-antennas/tailgater-dish-network-refurb.htm)

Our tripod with the Dish LNBs kept blowing over and each time broke the plastic LNB to the arm bracket. $20 for the little plastic part.

Pierce