Can Dish receiver work with roof antenna?
I haven't tried to use my roof antenna since broadcasters switched to digital. (It's the Winegard that came on my 2008 Hitchhiker II; can't find a model number.) I've got a Tailgater satellite and a D...
Forum Discussion
Ok let me see if I read this right:
You want to attempt to get OVER THE AIR broadcast TV using your Dish' receiver's OTA in, using the Winegard Batwing on the roof and you want to know will it work:
Short answer: YES
Medium answer, Possibly
It will work but if signal strength is not good enough results will be poor
You may stop reading here.. Or continue on for how to make it work BETTER.
Long answer:
When FCC mandated the broadcasters go digital a lot of folks started selling 20 dollar antennas for 100 dollars simply re-labeling them "Digital" these were total rip-offs.. WHY: Because antennas do not know digital from morse code (The very first radio transmissions were morse code) AM/FM, NTSC (old analog TV) ATSC (new digital tv) to then antenna, no difference. the only difference is FREQUENCY or if you like Wavelength (For practical purposes Wavelength in meters = 300 Million/Frequency in MHz, So you can say it either way, Frequency or wavelength, there is a direct, inverse, translation.
Old NTSC analog tv used 3 bands, VHF-Low, VHF-High and UHF
Modern ATSC Digital Tv.... Uses the exact same bands.. and thus works with the exact same antennas.. HOWEVER
There has been a "Migration" Up in frequency (More UHF, fewer VHF way fewer VHF-LO) and the channel number on your screen... Not always the one at the antenna.. But.. you do not (normally) need to know this.
So, the antenna still works.
The other thing is many stations reduced power.. So ... You can use a bit more gain, epically on UHF.
If your antenna is a Winegard Batwing (Sensar II or III) you can improve UHF performance by adding the Wingman, about 30 bucks, you do it yourself, takes just a couple of minutes.. The job:
Raise the antenna and take the kit up on the roof, Take a pair of regular slip joint pliars with you (or any flat jawed pliars set)
Pull 4 rubber "Feet" off the bottom of the batwing,, I did it with my fingers but this is what the pliars are for.
Hold the WINGMAN up against the bottom and line up the holes
Push 4 Plastic Push-Pins in till they lock
Job done.
(NOTE MAKE sure it will fit first,, Sometimes they do not and you end up cutting off one director element).
The second upgrade is the SENSAR PRO, about 100 bucks. Now if you have the good old wall plate with Switch 12 volt outlet antenna connector and light.
THIS, replaces it Very easy instructions are good.
IF not (I have a box of many buttons) it is a bit more complex.
This device has two digital displays, 3 buttons and a column of LED's.
Push top button till it turns off... Selects CABLE/OTHER input.
Push button so LED (Any of them) and displays turn on (SELECTS OVER THE AIR ANTENNA) in the first position past off it searches for the strongest DIGITAL signal and displays the carrier channel (The one the antenna sees) and signal strength.
In the next position you can use the other two buttons (marked UP and DOWN) to scroll through the detected channels I BELIEVE in signal strength order
In the NEXT position you can select a channel using the UP/DOWN buttons, in all these positions the top indicator shows the strength (zero to 99) of the received signal.
IN the next position you can adjust the gain of the Sensar Pro 2nd Pre-amp, This can make a ****BIG**** Difference
And the last (bottom) position gives you the option of turning on a speaker so you can peak by sound like those annoying satellit folkls BEEP BEEP BEEP ing all over the park.
You want to attempt to get OVER THE AIR broadcast TV using your Dish' receiver's OTA in, using the Winegard Batwing on the roof and you want to know will it work:
Short answer: YES
Medium answer, Possibly
It will work but if signal strength is not good enough results will be poor
You may stop reading here.. Or continue on for how to make it work BETTER.
Long answer:
When FCC mandated the broadcasters go digital a lot of folks started selling 20 dollar antennas for 100 dollars simply re-labeling them "Digital" these were total rip-offs.. WHY: Because antennas do not know digital from morse code (The very first radio transmissions were morse code) AM/FM, NTSC (old analog TV) ATSC (new digital tv) to then antenna, no difference. the only difference is FREQUENCY or if you like Wavelength (For practical purposes Wavelength in meters = 300 Million/Frequency in MHz, So you can say it either way, Frequency or wavelength, there is a direct, inverse, translation.
Old NTSC analog tv used 3 bands, VHF-Low, VHF-High and UHF
Modern ATSC Digital Tv.... Uses the exact same bands.. and thus works with the exact same antennas.. HOWEVER
There has been a "Migration" Up in frequency (More UHF, fewer VHF way fewer VHF-LO) and the channel number on your screen... Not always the one at the antenna.. But.. you do not (normally) need to know this.
So, the antenna still works.
The other thing is many stations reduced power.. So ... You can use a bit more gain, epically on UHF.
If your antenna is a Winegard Batwing (Sensar II or III) you can improve UHF performance by adding the Wingman, about 30 bucks, you do it yourself, takes just a couple of minutes.. The job:
Raise the antenna and take the kit up on the roof, Take a pair of regular slip joint pliars with you (or any flat jawed pliars set)
Pull 4 rubber "Feet" off the bottom of the batwing,, I did it with my fingers but this is what the pliars are for.
Hold the WINGMAN up against the bottom and line up the holes
Push 4 Plastic Push-Pins in till they lock
Job done.
(NOTE MAKE sure it will fit first,, Sometimes they do not and you end up cutting off one director element).
The second upgrade is the SENSAR PRO, about 100 bucks. Now if you have the good old wall plate with Switch 12 volt outlet antenna connector and light.
THIS, replaces it Very easy instructions are good.
IF not (I have a box of many buttons) it is a bit more complex.
This device has two digital displays, 3 buttons and a column of LED's.
Push top button till it turns off... Selects CABLE/OTHER input.
Push button so LED (Any of them) and displays turn on (SELECTS OVER THE AIR ANTENNA) in the first position past off it searches for the strongest DIGITAL signal and displays the carrier channel (The one the antenna sees) and signal strength.
In the next position you can use the other two buttons (marked UP and DOWN) to scroll through the detected channels I BELIEVE in signal strength order
In the NEXT position you can select a channel using the UP/DOWN buttons, in all these positions the top indicator shows the strength (zero to 99) of the received signal.
IN the next position you can adjust the gain of the Sensar Pro 2nd Pre-amp, This can make a ****BIG**** Difference
And the last (bottom) position gives you the option of turning on a speaker so you can peak by sound like those annoying satellit folkls BEEP BEEP BEEP ing all over the park.
