We were having problems with our hydraulics and got distracted and forgot about the antenna being up. A tree took off the top and bent the two bars so I replaced all the bent and missing parts on our automatic Winegard TV antenna. All works well but now, when pushing either of the rotating buttons, nothing happens. When we hit the store button, it rotates and stores just fine. I am now thinking I should have replaced the entire antenna. Emailed the tech people at Winegard but never heard back. Any ideas out there would be greatly appreciated.

I have learned to listen to my inner voice its alot smarter than I am.

You weren't at Lapine in September when you did it were you?I have recently learned how terrible Winegard is in regard to customer service. So to answer your question, you probably should have replaced everything. But my guess is you have a switch out of position or not working properly. But getting any help finding which one is near impossible with Winegard. They will want you to ship the whole thing back to them for them to diagnose and repair.

I have the JACK HDTV RV antenna; its performance is amazing.You may want to read the reviews posted on amazon.com

What is the model of the Winegard antenna?

Schertz wrote:I have the JACK HDTV RV antenna; its performance is amazing.You may want to read the reviews posted on amazon.comDitto. I just can't be trusted to consistently crank down the antenna, so I got a Jack. Love it.

Drove with the antenna up! | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

mlts22
Explorer II
May 13, 2013
Isn't there a plug in replacement where you can chuck the batwing antenna for a Jack model + control pad? That gets rid of the "ouch" factor because there is no need to extend/retract the antenna, and it gives you one less way for water to get into your RV.
CincyGus
Explorer II
May 13, 2013
I have one of THESE that I clip on tongue jack. When I hook back up to the trailer, I see it and that becomes my next duty after hook up.
larry_barnhart
Explorer
May 12, 2013
Our antenna has not been up since 2005 but it would be easy to leave it up.
chevman
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
May 12, 2013
pritch272 wrote:
SCR wrote:
I always look over, under and around the RV before leaving. It's worked for 15 years.

I have a ritual that when we leave, I pull out of the site about 30 feet, stop, get out and walk back to and all around the site to make sure we didn't leave anything, and leave the truck on one side returning on the other, examining the trailer sides, bottom, top, windows, etc. I also put the 4-ways on so I can check turn signals, etc.

Just be aware that if you are parked under or near trees that can be an expensive 30' drive if you have a TV antenna or Satellite TV antenna left up.
Want to know how I know!:S
Bobbo
Explorer II
May 12, 2013
I have a wooden clothes pin that lives on the antenna crank while the antenna is down and lives on the gear shift lever when the antenna is up. If I try to shift out of park, I hit the pin.
pritch272
Explorer
May 12, 2013
SCR wrote:
I always look over, under and around the RV before leaving. It's worked for 15 years.

I have a ritual that when we leave, I pull out of the site about 30 feet, stop, get out and walk back to and all around the site to make sure we didn't leave anything, and leave the truck on one side returning on the other, examining the trailer sides, bottom, top, windows, etc. I also put the 4-ways on so I can check turn signals, etc.
1775
Explorer
May 08, 2013
I have a sock that gets hung on the gear shift whenever the antenna is up. It is at the antenna crank when the antenna is down. There is no way to forget when you shift into drive or reverse to leave with a sock on the gearshift.

Sorry that this happened to you. There is a Wineguard tech who frequents this forum and this particular section so you may here from him in a response here sooner or later.
SCR
Explorer
May 05, 2013
I always look over, under and around the RV before leaving. It's worked for 15 years.
Beverley_Ken
Explorer
May 05, 2013
Drove once with the antenna up, fortunately no damage before someone warned us.
Now we have a red Velcro tie wrap, when the antenna is down its on the antenna crank handle, when the antenna goes up the red tie goes to the top of the steering wheel. Has worked for about 5 years now.

Beverley and Ken
Pirate1
Explorer
May 04, 2013
Winegard CS rocks IMO. They spent hours on the phone working with me on a weird issue.