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FIRE_UP's avatar
FIRE_UP
Explorer
Sep 28, 2013

Over 60 channels with a "Batwing" antenna, wow!

Gents,
A while ago, many of you read of my saga with an ill-performing Batwing antenna on our Motor home. Long story short, in assuming my Batwing was bad due to no channels received at all, I changed to the "Jack" antenna replacement head. Well, the Jack antenna has an LED on the bottom of it to tell you if, 12V is being received in the antenna for boosting the signal. I found out, I had a series of problems in the total system.

1. My 12VDC was not being sent to the antenna, ANY ANTENNA I had up there.
2. The multi-switch box had bad components that stopped that 12V from being sent to the antenna.
3. Once the M/S box was repaired, I still had no 12VDC to the antenna due to the fact that we have an analog TV and it requires a "Digital Converter Box" to aid in receiving channels and, based on its position in the line-up, it prevents that 12V from being sent to the antenna.

Well, when all was said and done, and with the help of some very nice and qualified members here, I have repaired, modified and added all the necessary equipment to make our Batwing perform like it should. Since one preliminary test showed the new Jack antenna was a "0" improvement over our, what I thought was a defective Batwing, I returned the Jack.

I purchased the Wingard Signal meter and 12V power injector from Camping World. I installed that meter in between the antenna and the Digital Converter box. Now, I am receiving 12VDC to the Batwing which enables the signal to be boosted. And, that signal meter reveals the best position to aim the antenna for the best and strongest signal.

Well, we only would receive 4 channels while at home in Ramona CA, three of which were Mexican broadcasts. Well, we headed out to a new camping/RV park for us called Pechanga RV Park and Casino. I popped up that antenna, turned on the signal finder, and then fine tuned the direction to the best and highest readings on that signal finder.

Then I hit "scan" on the new Digital converter box that one of the fine members on here gave me and sat back and watched as it picked up more that SIXTY CHANNELS!!!! I thought, yeah sure.

Well, after the scan was complete. I hit the enter button and it started out with 2.1 on the channel. Every time I hit the channel up button, it came up with another channel and, each and every one of them was as clear as possible. No fuzz, snow, wiggling lines, bad signals, nothing, just perfectly clear pictures, on each and every channel I selected.

I even picked up Japanese channels, Iraguian or Iranian, or whatever they were, Chinese, quite a few Mexican and more. I had no idea that there was that much being broadcasted over the air. Maybe I was in a perfect spot or what, I don't know but, what I do know is the Wife and I were simply amazed at how many that Batwing picked up so incredibly clear. In any case, out tilt up antenna system now works. Wow!
Scott

14 Replies

  • FIRE UP wrote:
    Gents,
    I most certainly agree, So, we'll be keeping an eye out for a HD model that will fit in there.



    I have found that any model will fit. Here is a 55 inch in a 34 foot Damon. Cabinet is being built.

    Found here
  • Gents,
    I most certainly agree, I should say "WE" both the DW and I agree that a new HD TV would definitely be a major improvement in operations but, that original TV, the Sony, yes that boat anchor for the U.S.S. Enterprise, still works absolutely flawlessly. I hate throwing things away that still work great. Maybe I'll relocate it into the garage for TV entertainment there. I'd just have re-enforce the wall like a bank vault.

    Anyway, we don't really watch too much TV while out but, it's just nice to have everything working as it should. So, we'll be keeping an eye out for a HD model that will fit in there. \
    Scott
  • yep you really need to step up to a HDTV. The picture is so much better.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Now you need to get rid of the analog TV and digital converter box and start enjoying the full screen high definition digital TV signals that are free to the public... win win...

    I use the 22-inch VIZIO HDTV here with my OTA BATWING. super setup...

    Roy Ken