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0rion's avatar
0rion
Explorer
Nov 13, 2013

any other options to increase tv reception?

I added the winegard wingman over the summer hoping it would help me draw better signal where I camp in the fall. It made virtually no difference. I'm in the middle of nowhere so I'm not sure there's anything I can actually do about it. Columbus is between 50-60 miles away and it would be great to get the stations out of there because the weather/news is what I'm really after. Athens is about 25 miles southeast and I have gotten 3 channels from there before (barely) but this last trip I didn't get a single channel from either place. After the wingman do I have any other options?

35 Replies

  • I use a second amplifier, R.S.#15-2550, connected to the coaxial coming off the W.G. amplifier power plate. The output coaxial, off 2nd amplifier, should go directly to the television. Using switching box will degrade the signal.

    The W.G. Sensor Pro will improve your chances too.

    If you are camped in a valley, or in the woods, you may have to make many signal searches to find a bouncing signal. The Sensor Pro can help here, but I am fine with my system. Also; doing a search after dark can find many more usable signals than a daytime search. Some stations can be watched at night but may disappear after sun-rise.

    My range is up to 120 miles (day) to 160 miles (night) for digital TV. I have picked up some Canadian analog stations from 240 miles away, but they are now finally going to digital too.
  • Went to ACE Hardware and picked up a $50 TV antenna....rectangular with two arrays and a 5' piece of steel pipe 1" dia.

    Have a flag pole buddy mount installed on my rear ladder up high. I place the pipe with antenna attached in the flag pole buddy and then connect the coax from antenna to the cable input on rear of rig. Antenna is aimed in direction of transponder towers

    I then set the distribution center for the TVs to 'cable' the TV input to 'antenna' and scan for channels.

    I am able to pick up stations 50+ miles away.....where the Winegard will only pick up channels 35 miles

    I stow the antenna attached to pipe in underbelly.....it just fits across the bay
    I only use it when can't get TV with Winegard antenna
  • Nothing really that you can do other than to get the antenna higher and larger. I persoanlly think all the highend antennas are a bit of a rip off. Everything has to work out perfect for them to make any difference. You might want to "rig" something. Take a piece of cable and strip it all back and extend your antenna cable and see if you can get it up in a tree or something. If not spread it out as far as you can. Hight and span are what really matters.
  • you might check out a Mohu leaf ultimate hdtv flat portable antenna. Comes with an easy to add inline booster. we discovered this when purchased for stick/brick home to use with a tv not connected to DISH.
    Got stations 30 miles away with great reception. Not yet tested in rv.

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