Returning to RVing

It is called the Wingman and it increases the gain in the UHF frequency range. It does work. I installed mine in Forrest City (got it from Winegard during the Winnebago Grand National Rally) and went from about 4 or 5 channels to 8.
It is more directional though and has to be pointed more carefully.

In spite of being an amateur radio operator for 45 years I can't remember what the add on elements are called - a director maybe?

Hey Old Guy,
What in the world are you talking about, if I may ask when you say, "they have a unit that just SNAPS into place on the antenna"? I'm definitely not the smartest when it comes to this TV stuff but, I've definitely not heard of anything that "Snaps" to the antenna that does any types of improvement. Thanks for any info.
Scott



I believe Old Guy is talking about the little snap on unit Winegard sells to boost the UHF sensitivity for their older TV Antennas, I just can not remember what they call it.

Just throw the old Tube TV out and buy new lcd/led tv,s There cheap to buy and 10 times better pictures etc. easy to change over.dont waste time or money on the old>TV

roscott wrote:
It's been a couple years since I've been on this forum and am glad to be back. Two years ago we sold our Class C in hopes of moving to a Class A. For different reasons it took a bit longer than expected. Anyway, I head out to Arizona in a couple weeks to pick up the '99 Dutch Star DP we just purchased.

I just found out that the tv antenna on the rig is not digital. Do I need to replace only the head (as I've heard) or does the entire unit need to be replaced...as the dealer is telling me?

Thanks

roscott,
Well Sir, congrats on the new rig. I'm sure you'll plenty for us to help you with once you get a hold if it and either start to travel or, just are doing some tinkering on it. Now, as for your TV system, for starters, the first thing we need to know is, is it the original TV that was installed in '99 when the coach was built? If so, it is definitely NOT a digital ready TV. It's an analog one. And, since "Big Brother) (for those of you that know the name "Gorge Orwell") forced the SYSTEM to go digital, starting in and or around '05 plus or minus.

So, when that happened, all those that had, (which was about 98% of the American public at the time) analog TVs, had to get a DIGITAL CONVERTER BOX. So, I'm sure you remember all about that. Anyway, if the TV in your new coach has not been upgraded to a newer style of digital one, you'll need that digital converter box. Your present antenna will most likely be just fine.

The best thing to do in this situation is, leave things alone 'till you get the beast home and can check things out without any kind of pressure or input from sales people. Then, when you start tinkering with it, and find situations you're not familiar with, and you're stumped on what you've found, then jump on here and folks will be glad to help. Good luck.
Scott

P.S.

Posted By: old guy on 11/29/13 04:37pm
you might need a digital ready TV but they have a unit that just snaps into place on the antenna unit. I bought one for mine and it really works. I get so many more channels now than I used to. some I didn't even know were in this area. the snap in unit runs about $30

Hey Old Guy,
What in the world are you talking about, if I may ask when you say, "they have a unit that just SNAPS into place on the antenna"? I'm definitely not the smartest when it comes to this TV stuff but, I've definitely not heard of anything that "Snaps" to the antenna that does any types of improvement. Thanks for any info.
Scott

We never changed our antenna, just went to a new TV with digital. But a converter box would work also if it's an older TV.

The first digital TV I bought I hooked a bare wire to the antenna input and picked up at least 10 local stations off the air. Rabbit ears will work too.

I think your dealer is trying to sell you something you don't need.

you might need a digital ready TV but they have a unit that just snaps into place on the antenna unit. I bought one for mine and it really works. I get so many more channels now than I used to. some I didn't even know were in this area. the snap in unit runs about $30

But you need to get a converter box that will change the signal from anolog to digital signal if you've on older TV.

You should not need to replace the antenna. What's there covers the the VHF and UHF bands that are the same ones used for analog. For some Winegard models there is a clip on that adds about 3 dB gain in UHF, where some of the VHF stations got shifted.