Forum Discussion

bobinyelm's avatar
bobinyelm
Explorer
Nov 23, 2014

Opinions on Winegard Roadstar 2000 TV Antenna

I just bought a used Truck Camper from which the PO had removed a round non-directional TV antenna.

I'd like to have a TV antenna on the unit, but don't really have room on top for a Winegard Sensar crank-up rotatable antenna as I have on my other RVs (5er, Casita, and former Lance T/C.

I already have a new-in-box Winegard Roadstar 2000 amplified antenna ( see: http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RS-2000-Roadstar-Omnidirectional-Antenna/dp/B000R2YB0G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416780955&sr=8-1&keywords=roadstar+2000 I bought years back for a van I had which I never installed.

I did a search here, and no threads came up about the antenna.

Anyone using one, or have comments about them on fiberglass RVs (no metal roof to act as a "ground-plane" for signals?

Bob
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Nov 23, 2014
    Of the omni's out there, it is very good. With that said, none of the omni's are very useful with the new digital signals. If you have A/C units on your roof they can completely block the signal from the tower is the coach is pointed just right. If TV is not a big deal then the Roadstar will do as good a job as is possible for that type. No ground plane required but you do need to connect it to a 12V power supply (should be included with your antenna) inside the coach.
  • bobinyelm's avatar
    bobinyelm
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2014
    Bill.Satellite wrote:
    Of the omni's out there, it is very good. With that said, none of the omni's are very useful with the new digital signals. If you have A/C units on your roof they can completely block the signal from the tower is the coach is pointed just right. If TV is not a big deal then the Roadstar will do as good a job as is possible for that type. No ground plane required but you do need to connect it to a 12V power supply (should be included with your antenna) inside the coach.


    Thanks-

    The "hot-ticket" seems to be the King "Jack" antenna, which technically I guess is not an omni-directional (since it does rotate), but it's small, and doesn't need to be cranked up, and is very small diameter, so doesn't need room to swing-around.

    Yes, I have an A/C unit on the camper roof that is as high as the Roadstar would be, so that's a factor (as it would be, I guess, for a "Jack" antenna.

    Yes, I have the amplifier/12v receptacle w/ the Roadstar.

    If the "Jack" were CLEARLY superior, I could probably sell my Roadstar on ebay or Craigslist for maybe $60 new-in-the-box and buy the King for $120, for a total "out-of-pocket" cost of $60, though.

    If I "use" the Roadstar and it sucks, used I'd realize less $$ selling it, of course.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Nov 24, 2014
    I would recommend AGAINST an Omni, They are short range and suffer from multi path interfernece, Very bad.
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Nov 24, 2014
    I would take a look at the Winegard Rayzar Air antenna as well. I have one on my coach and I am very happy with it.
    Winegard Rayzar Air
    It gets the antenna about 13" high and takes up much less space than the Winegard Batwing.
  • Tom_M1's avatar
    Tom_M1
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2014
    The Winegard Sensar IV is considered the best RV antenna. When I installed my Batwing antenna I positioned it so that it stowed to the side rather than to the rear. It's been that way for 4 years and I have had no problems.

    The Rayzar Air and Jack antennas are small but this means that they work well for UHF reception but work poorly for VHF. Most TV stations are UHF but there are many broadcasting VHF.
  • MNtundraRet's avatar
    MNtundraRet
    Navigator
    Nov 24, 2014
    Considering your current situation, I would suggest you go with the Jack antenna that rotates of the roof. It most likely will give you range you were used to in the past. If you possibly have room for the shorter crank-up Rayzar Air that may be better.


    The Roadstar is yesterday's trash. Almost useless since high-powered analog stations no longer exist. You won't get much money for the Roadstar unless you find some sucker willing to part with his money.
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Nov 24, 2014
    MNtundraRet wrote:
    Considering your current situation, I would suggest you go with the Jack antenna that rotates of the roof. It most likely will give you range you were used to in the past. If you possibly have room for the shorter crank-up Rayzar Air that may be better.


    The Roadstar is yesterday's trash. Almost useless since high-powered analog stations no longer exist. You won't get much money for the Roadstar unless you find some sucker willing to part with his money.


    The Jack is too low also when you are not talking about a Jack that has been adapted to a Winegard head (and why would anyone want to do that?!) Height is might and the Jack (and many others) simply don't have the inches needed to get a clear signal.
  • bobinyelm's avatar
    bobinyelm
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2014
    Hmmm, so you're saying the Jack is GOOD, but it would need to be a foot higher to clear the top of the A/C shroud?

    I COULD possibly fit a Sensar IV on top, but because my roof is not flat (it's curved to shed water) it would not be parallel to the ground unless I mounted it dead on the camper's centerline, which is not possible. Not sure I could orient it to "park" on the roof, either.

    I installed a Sensar on top of my little Casita, but I had to shorten both arms to allow it to park 95% on the roof-top (at an angle at that), and it's "OK," but sure doesn't do THAT well pulling in stations.

    Maybe I am expecting too much of ANY RV antenna?
  • RLS7201's avatar
    RLS7201
    Explorer II
    Nov 25, 2014
    bobinyelm wrote:
    I COULD possibly fit a Sensar IV on top, but because my roof is not flat (it's curved to shed water) it would not be parallel to the ground unless I mounted it dead on the camper's centerline, which is not possible. Not sure I could orient it to "park" on the roof, either.


    Winegard does make a exterior roof wedge for sloped roofs.
    Winegard part number RW-2000. For Sensar antenna.
    You might also need the interior wedge to make things line up.
    Winegard part number iw-5012. For Sensor antenna.

    Richard

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