new hd antenna

If you are having reception problems the first thing to do is to determine where the problem lies.

First, make sure you are pointing the antenna in the right direction. The arrow on the knob does not point to the front of the antenna. The arrow is for positioning the antenna for stowing. If the arrow is pointing north the antenna is facing either east or west.



Most problems are not the antenna but the wiring. Check all the coax for:

• Loose fittings
• Corroded connections
• Cracked or cut outer covering

Make sure that there is power getting to the antenna. While you are on the roof, disconnect the coax from the antenna and check that there is 12 volts present.

If some channels are good but others bad, you may benefit from adding the Wingman attachment. Make sure the antenna will stow okay with the Wingman attached. Or you could replace the head with the Sensar IV which has the Wingman built in. Prices are $25 > $30 for the Wingman. $50 > $60 for the Sensar IV head.

Here's a link to a good article on tuning up your antenna:
Tune up your antenna

The general consensus is that the Winegard Sensar is the best RV antenna, especially for VHF. In the U.S. about 25% of the full power stations are VHF.

Last Thursday, 5/14/15, we met up with friends in a camping club. The weather was heavy overcast and we were about 80 miles from the nearest major city.

Four of the group had had the Jack, and we had our Winegard III with Wingman and a bent up wing thanks to a very strong headwind a few weeks ago. I do have an additional amplifier in the set-up.

Thursday everyone was happy with the channels from 80+ miles. Friday the sun came out and they lost all stations except for a couple from a nearer town. I still had around 30 channels with 2nd amplifier backed off to allow 14 dB attenuation.

They never did recover the other channels over the rest of the weekend. I am still debating whether to replace head with Winegard IV, or the new shield design that can also replace the old one.

The "birdie with a bad wing" still works fine.

Question: What is the difference between an HD antenna and a regular old antenna?
Answer: THE PRICE

Yup, that is the only difference.. I have seen a 20 dollar antenna sold as HD for 100 (well 99.95).. I kid you know folks were throwing good money away on that thing.. Oh, that was in 2007 TODAY that antenna sells for 20 bucks.. I think it was 15 back then.

Now there are antennas designed for Local, Firnge, Medium and Deep Fringe.

The Winegard Batwing is the best VHF antenna made for RV use
Add the Wingman and its the best UHF as well

Best is based on signal strength measurements made by an independent (Forum member's) lab by the way.

Add the SENSAR PRO indoor module/power supply/switch/splitter/much more and you have the best RV antenna system made

NOTE: Winegard Sensar IV comes with the Wingman in the box.

Many older antennas can use new coax.

Recently put my full blown Winegard Sensar system up against a neighbor's JACK of which they were (past tense) Proud. I got 25% more stations.

You will find many threads about the Jack and the Batwing here. Not only is the Winegard a superior performing antenna on UHF, it also covers VHF WAY better than the Jack that is simply not built for VHF. While its true that a majority of the stations are on UHF today, that is about to change as we are a out to go through another repack of the channels. So make sure your antenna works well on VHF because you'll need it.

Edit: spellin'

As posted above, no such thing as an HD (or digital) antenna. Your Winegard is the best antenna available. If it's really, really old, replace it with a new Winegard for the best performance.

No such thing as an HD antenna despite some manufactures advertising such. They receive UHF or VHF, same frequencies as your old antenna receives. The antenna doesn't care nor process the type of transmission carried. Your TV does that.

That said, older analog transmissions were mostly on VHF while todays HD is mostly on UHF. Depending on city there maybe stations on one or the other or both. Some antennas do better than others at receiving both VHF and UHF but HD is irrelevant in antenna selection.

Does your old antenna work? There's no difference in an analog antenna and an "HD" antenna. Both receive HD programming.

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