Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: TV antenna on coach roof (Read 710 times) previous topic - next topic

TV antenna on coach roof

On my 91 GV there is a crank up TV antenna on the roof of the bedroom and it has flat looking blades on it. I am assuming this is the stock setup that came on the coach. If I upgrade my TV to digital will this antenna pick up over air stations or do I need something else? Having the ability go watch the evening news and see how depressing everything is might be nice from time to time! I prefer music and staying in my Happy, Happy, Happy little spot, But sometimes like to venture out and get a dose of the talking heads.
 
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #1 –

  Hello,
  I just replaced my old antenna with the Winegard Rayzar.
  The Rayzar picks up local channels and works fine with my digital TV--no converter
  box needed.
  It looks like this: Winegard Rayzar Air Amplified TV Antenna
          Hope that helps--Jim
Jim & Doreen
2003 U320

 "Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen"
― Louis L'Amour

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #2 –

We put a Kin Control on our arm.

 http://www.amazon.com/King-Controls-Sensar-Antenna-Replacement/dp/B003FO2O1G/ref=sr_1_1/192-9516361-9294822?ie=UTF8&qid=1415890888&sr=8-1&keywords=king+jack+antenna

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #3 –
We replaced the original antenna head on our coach with a "Jack".  Easy to install, works great with the original Winegard video distribution box, at our house it pulls in OTA channels as well or better than my 30' rooftop antenna.  Sold at most camping supply stores, Camping World, Amazon, etc.

KING Digital HDTV Antenna Replacement Head - KING OA-8000 - Over-the-Air
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Surely, no age has been more fraught with insecurity than our own present time."

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #4 –
There is no such thing as a "digital antenna".  The antennas sold as such are nothing more than a regular antenna with features that make it a directional antenna, thus improving the signal.  The downside of such antennas is that they must be pointed at the transmitter to perform properly.  If they are not, the received signal strength will be less than that provided by a normal omnidirectional antenna such as a Winegard batwing.

The reason directional antennas are useful for the new digital TV systems is that digital signals are either "on" or "off".  If the signal is low, you get no picture or one that breaks up so badly that it is unwatchable.  With the old analog TV system these weak channels may have been snowy, but could be watched.  A directional antenna mitigates this problem by increasing the signal strength IF THE ANTENNA IS POINTED AT THE TRANSMITTER.

That being said, I have replaced my Winegard mast and batwing with a Jack on its short mast.  While Winegard sells a device to connect to the batwing to improve signal reception by converting it to a directional antenna, I chose to go the Jack route for two reasons: looks, and no more mast rattling around on the roof. 

I have tested both the Jack and the Winegard Wingman directional adapter and found their performance to be virtually identical.

If you want to know more about the top rated antennas for digital reception, go to this website:

EV's Recommended & Top Rated DTV Indoor UHF/VHF Set Top Antenna Review Round-Up

Jim McNeece
2003 U320 40'
2017 Chevy Colorado Tow

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #5 –
As Jim said you do not need to change your antenna when you change your TV. You can wait to see how your existing antenna works with a new TV. If you are in a major city, you will be able to receive local station.

How are you watching TV now? You may already have a digital conversion tuner box.

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #6 –
ditto on the above two posts.

When our TV system went from analog to digital, all that happened antenna-wise is that some of the low VHF channels were taken away, and some of the high UHF channels went away years earlier.  So the main difference between the old analog antennas and the new digital ones, is that the digital ones are made to work on fewer channels, and perhaps optimized slightly in that regard.  The old batwing works very well for most.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #7 –
Howdy Ya'll

I agree, the "old" antenna usually works quite well with the new "digital" TV channels  with over the air (OTA).
You may remember the government was giving out converter boxes for a while to convert analog to digital for older TVs for over the air reception.
If the new TV has a digital tuner, it should receive the new off the air digital signals quite well, as long as you are in good reception range.
I get digital TV off the air over my rabbit ear antenna in the shop.

Regards,
Charles
W5CRY
1997 Dynasty - Sold

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #8 –
One thing you need to know is that the Winegard system (control panel on the side of the TV cabinet in the bedroom) boosts the TV signal and is pretty much necessary to get any signal for most locations.  It sends 12 volt power up the center conductor of the coax to the antenna.  If you turn the Winegard system on and there's no red light that means the fuse is blown in the switch box that is under the floor in the closet on the right side.  The fuse is only a 1/4 amp IIRC, and a "glass" tube Bussman style.  The only problem I have ever had is with the coax bulkhead connector that is mounted on an aluminum plate which is screwed and sealed to the roof; it rusted out on the inside where the center conductor makes contact.  Replacement require pull the aluminum plate and resealing when reinstalling.  Note that the fuse can easily be blown if you leave the Winegard system on and are on the roof connecting and disconnecting the coaxes and you short the center conductor to the ground - BTDT.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #9 –
Thank you everyone for the  info!
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #10 –
When I bought our U225 three years ago I could not make the old crank-up tv antenna work. I bought new LED HDTV sets for both front and back, hooked them up to the places that seemed logical and nada. Yet an 8" piece of wire plugged into the antenna jack on the TV set worked!

So I replace that crank-up with a "Jack". It no longer cranks up (but it turns) so forgetting to crank it down (I did that once on another RV) is not an issue. And it works great with the Wineguard amplifiers.

Before I installed that Jack antenna I could get no HDTV at my storage spot. Now I get seven. Of course, they're all religious. So I bought a Tailgater Satellite system (Dish). :P

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: TV antenna on coach roof

Reply #11 –
Stump, getting back to your original question...

I am assuming this is the stock setup that came on the coach. If I upgrade my TV to digital will this antenna pick up over air stations or do I need something else?

The simple answer is it will probably will work, and can probably be improved upon if you feel improvement is needed.  Try what you already have before buying any improvements. You can always drag a small digital TV into the coach and give it a try before actually upgrading what you already have, or use a digital to analog converter box with what you already have.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer