getting a tv with a sensitive tuner

We are talking about a simple over air TV signal and asking about tuners. Is this going a little sideways ?

Gdetrailer I am not splitting anything. There is 1 TV in a 23' trailer. I unplugged 1 tv and plugged in the other and gained @ 27 channels in 30 seconds. The only thing that changed was the tv. Not even a coax change, so YES, it is definitely the tuners.

Johno02 wrote:
Best to be sure you have a good signal. Upgrade to a Winegard Sensar antenna,.....

That is how I do it.. My system would make Rube Goldburg proud.
That's the antenna. One of the Sensar Pro's outpts feeds the original Winegard BOMB (Matrix switch, box of many buttons) which feeds the front TV, the Rear TV a small digital/analog converter with recording capability (THat's new have not really worked it out yet) and the main Digital converter (A Echostar (Dish) converter) this works rather well
The Echostar feeds a Replay TV (analog only DVR)

The other output feeds a Zenith or INsignia (Same thing different paint job) converter in teh rear. Supposed to be the best converter senistivity wise per a broadcast engineer.. I'm not convinced but there is abou t50 feet of RG-6 between them.

The Replays eat not only Video off the Converters (Line in) but DATA off my router, it comes from a computer, which gets it from an online service for 25/year.. That way I can tell it "Record all shows with NCIS in the name" and it does. NCIS. NCIS LA and NCIS New Orleans.

Nice.
Problem.. Time to watch it all :)

dockmasterdave wrote:
Hi Johno02 We have used 2 different tv's, both vizeo's, on the same antenna, in the same location. I got @ 3 channels on 1, the other @ 13 channels, so obviously they have different quality tuners.
We will be in fringe areas quite a bit over the summer and want to start with the best tuner. We do have a wineguard with wingman and a booster. A 28" class, smart tv, so we can still get something in fringe areas via verizon mifi is still in the mid $300's and no way, I can see, of finding out which model has a good tuner and which model they cheaped out, on the tuner in.

The problem IS NOT the "tuners", it is HOW the signal from the antenna is being SPLIT.

Pretty much standard issue is these critters..



They are "passive" splitters, they EAT your signal, cutting a already weak signal into a bit more than half for two way.

Passive splitters worked OK with the old analog broadcasts, but the change to digital and they no longer work well. Digital broadcasts are really touchy about Radio interference (RFI) and reducing the weak signal allows for LOCAL noise created by stuff inside your trailer (including TV tuners) to interfere with your TV reception.

The "fix"?

Amplified couplers.



Amplified couplers have a built in wideband preamp for EACH ouptut so instead of a large signal loss each port will now have some signal GAIN..

The downside to amplified couplers is they do cost more than passive splitters and they do require a DC voltage to operate.

Amplified couplers often do have remote power capability via a power inserter which means you do not need the coupler to be close to a power source.

Some tuners are def. better than others but don't know if there's reviews of them anywhere that would help RV-ers. The TV in our bedroom gets 2 or 3 more channels than the TV that came with our TT. Annoying! I installed a Sensarpro signal finder/booster to replace the standard amp behind/above the TV. Has more gain and helps you aim the antenna. We mostly use satellite TV now except for when there's too many trees. Have been thinking of getting a yagi type antenna and a sectional mast 20-24' tall.

If you're struggling with getting stations, you can go to TVfool.com and plug in your location to see what's "catchable". No point trying to get stations that you can't possibly get to start with. I'd suggest going to an OTA website/forum that may be able to help like avsforum.com, satelliteguys.us, legalfreetoair.com and a few others. I think some people use a separate ATSC tuner.

Magnavox and Sony HAD the best tuners in the past ,...... not sure if they 'cheaped' out like others did

2008 when we swapped from anaolog to digital TVs Vizio was good quality

2015 when we bought new TV for S&B it was a Vizio.......2 years and it quit
(2008 models in 5vr still going strong even with huge temp swings and bouncing from rough roads :H )

Bought a 'SCEPTRE' 55" to replace the Vizio....cheap price and yet good picture/pulls in all the available channels via a cheap ACE Hardware single array antenna.
Seems most electronics now a days are throw aways anyway :S

Sounds like you have about the best to start with, and like you, I have no knowledge of any way to find out about the tuners, except to try one. Like said, we have a Visio ond a Samsung, both appear to be about the same.

Vizeo used to have one of the best tuners. It seems the newer Vizeos have a cheaper tuner compared to older. I was told that not many folks use OTA anymore, other than us RVers, so the manufacturers don't feel the need for a more expensive/quality tuner.

Jerry

I think you would be better off getting a directional antenna for cheap.
I got one for $34 on Amazon and at a remote spot where my friend got 3 channels with his sensar I got 38.

Hi Johno02 We have used 2 different tv's, both vizeo's, on the same antenna, in the same location. I got @ 3 channels on 1, the other @ 13 channels, so obviously they have different quality tuners.
We will be in fringe areas quite a bit over the summer and want to start with the best tuner. We do have a wineguard with wingman and a booster. A 28" class, smart tv, so we can still get something in fringe areas via verizon mifi is still in the mid $300's and no way, I can see, of finding out which model has a good tuner and which model they cheaped out, on the tuner in.