Pointing my TV antenna

P.S. As a guy who writes documentation for a living, I did search for and read the manual. It wasn't much help though:

Make sure antenna is in
“UP” position. Pull down
on both hands until it
disengages ceiling plate
and rotate for best picture.

The "rotate for best picture" step is where I'm stuck.

The antenna wants to be broadside to the direction of the waves. Is there a pointer on the rotating knob? If so, you want that 90° to the direction of the towers. Think of it as presenting the biggest amount of surface area to the wave.

Alternately, you could get a cheap signal strength meter or get a Sensar Pro booster that has a meter built in.

I built my own antenna and the signal strength meter seemed to do the trick.

Moved from General RVing

Another Sensar Pro vote. Adjustable amp, peaking meter.

Dave, I used a black, permanent magic marker to draw a line on the rotating ring that showed the direction of the front of the antenna. That way, I would always know exactly which way it was aimed. On my trailer it is at about the 9:30 (AM or PM - take your choice :)) position from the "down" arrow on the ring.
Barney

Antenna HEAD (face of antenna) points towards Tower
Antenna ARMS (metal wings) are perpendicular to Tower

If not already on antenna you should add the 'RV-Wing' ----snaps onto botom of head and has small array that points forward
Adds in signal reception AND gives you a 'pointer'

See Winegard Parts List

BarneyS wrote:
Dave, I used a black, permanent magic marker to draw a line on the rotating ring that showed the direction of the front of the antenna. That way, I would always know exactly which way it was aimed. On my trailer it is at about the 9:30 (AM or PM - take your choice :)) position from the "down" arrow on the ring.
Barney

Thanks Barney.

The image above is a Sensar III. The newer Sensar IV has UHF director elements added to the front as image below.

So is there a front and a rear? Maybe that's my problem. Maybe I'm pointing the butt end of the antenna at the tower. Is there any indicator which is the front and which is the rear (without climbing up there)?

Antenna Head 'rear' is where the support arms attach.
Front extends forward of support arms

I see that others have shown you the drawing.

Suggestion: DO you have the standard wall plate 12 volt outlet. light. switch antenna connection?????

Replace it with a Sensar Pro.

Now I can pre-aim with the Winegard aiming app but .. Well I need to know where both TRUE and Magnetic NORTH are (I'm good at that) but

Turn on the Sensar Pro. if not on the first ON option keep pushing top button till it shuts off and back on. Turn for biggest number on top window.. DONE.

In some cases I will manually force a carrier channel (Push top button 2 more then use bottom UP/DOWN buttons to select) and peak. depends on where I am.

Example the other MI Campground I stay in peak on 12 and 1-2 notches clockwise.