Nothing is worse than going camping and roughing it (in a FHU CG!) and not being able to have TV due to inadequate OTA signal, too many trees for satellite TV or no CG cable TV.So am thinking of getting a lightweight fiberglass sectional mast (4' sections) and larger antenna (bowtie or maybe yagi style). The mast could be perhaps 20' or 24' tall. Problem is, is there a way to attach a mast to an RV? It could sit on the ground or I could perhaps make a bracket to attach to the bumper or A-frame in our TT. But where to attach near roof level or to something on the roof? I was looking at the vertical track for the awning and it *might* be possible to bolt to the top of the track but not sure if the track is attached to the exterior wall strongly enough (likely not). Can't think of a simple way of attaching to something on the roof (antenna base, vent trim or ??). If we had originally ordered the optional roof ladder, attaching to the ladder would be easy. Could there be blocking inside the rear wall already that could be used to attach a bracket of some sort? I hate the thought of drilling into the wall tho., especially for mounting a non-standard, non-RV bracket.Maybe a better antenna (than the original Winegard batwing one) at a lower height would be enough to get a better signal?

Look at RV flag pole mounts....bumper, ladder. tire etc.

There is no better RV antenna than the Winegard Batwing, with the optional Wingman attachment. Add also the Sensar Pro power supply/booster and you have a good setup. There are also apps for smart phones that will help you find the closest towers for aiming purposes. If you go with the Yagi/bowtie you may still need a signal booster, and a way to turn the antenna to get what reception there is.

The Ham radio guys can give you some good info on attaching a mast. I'm not sure how many are on this forum, but there must be some.

wildtoad wrote:There is no better RV antenna than the Winegard Batwing, with the optional Wingman attachment. Add also the Sensar Pro power supply/booster and you have a good setup. There are also apps for smart phones that will help you find the closest towers for aiming purposes. If you go with the Yagi/bowtie you may still need a signal booster, and a way to turn the antenna to get what reception there is.I'm sure the OP already knows this, also knows that even with a Sensar IV head and SensarPro driving it that reception is often still marginal to none at all ... just as I also know this. The OP's solution is correct - a better (home use) head mounted much higher up above the roof. I would think this might be the one exception for mounting a 2" bumper receiver, even a bolt on, as that would allow then mounting a flagpole holder like this to the trailer. To rotate the head I'd just keep it simple by manually rotating the pole to which the head is mounted. I just haven't bothered myself because I really don't care all that much about watching TV while camping, 'though my wife would probably think this was a worthwhile mod. ;)

wildtoad wrote:There is no better RV antenna than the Winegard Batwing, with the optional Wingman attachment. Add also the Sensar Pro power supply/booster and you have a good setup. There are also apps for smart phones that will help you find the closest towers for aiming purposes. If you go with the Yagi/bowtie you may still need a signal booster, and a way to turn the antenna to get what reception there is.Not sure why you'd say nothing is better than a Winegard Batwing? There are lots of better choices but the problem for RV-ing is physical size and portability. The one I'm thinking of is relatively flat and can fit in the back of our truck. I spent the winter researching different antennas and looking at gain and other specs. and ones that'd be better at pulling in long distance stations get quite large, like 8-10' long...Already have a SensarPro and Wingman booster. Haven't looked into a separate mast-mounted pre-amp yet like the RCA or Channel Master ones. I like the TVfool.com website and since we carry a laptop and have Verizon mifi, I can determine optimal aiming direction at different CGs. Once I know the optimal aiming direction I can go outside and manually turn the mast and leave it alone. Once we aim the Winegard rooftop antenna now, I have never changed the direction. If I get a bowtie antenna, it'd be a lot less directional than a yagi plus they're more compact.We were at a CG on the weekend and there was no problem getting 3 shopping channels but 3 others worth watching kept dropping out. A better and higher antenna should improve things there. We got a difficult jigsaw puzzle done tho. :)

Securing an antenna mast to a trailer? | Good Sam Community

myredracer
Explorer II
May 22, 2018
wildtoad wrote:
There is no better RV antenna than the Winegard Batwing, with the optional Wingman attachment. Add also the Sensar Pro power supply/booster and you have a good setup. There are also apps for smart phones that will help you find the closest towers for aiming purposes.

If you go with the Yagi/bowtie you may still need a signal booster, and a way to turn the antenna to get what reception there is.

Not sure why you'd say nothing is better than a Winegard Batwing? There are lots of better choices but the problem for RV-ing is physical size and portability. The one I'm thinking of is relatively flat and can fit in the back of our truck. I spent the winter researching different antennas and looking at gain and other specs. and ones that'd be better at pulling in long distance stations get quite large, like 8-10' long...

Already have a SensarPro and Wingman booster. Haven't looked into a separate mast-mounted pre-amp yet like the RCA or Channel Master ones. I like the TVfool.com website and since we carry a laptop and have Verizon mifi, I can determine optimal aiming direction at different CGs. Once I know the optimal aiming direction I can go outside and manually turn the mast and leave it alone. Once we aim the Winegard rooftop antenna now, I have never changed the direction. If I get a bowtie antenna, it'd be a lot less directional than a yagi plus they're more compact.

We were at a CG on the weekend and there was no problem getting 3 shopping channels but 3 others worth watching kept dropping out. A better and higher antenna should improve things there. We got a difficult jigsaw puzzle done tho. :)
SoundGuy
Explorer
May 22, 2018
wildtoad wrote:
There is no better RV antenna than the Winegard Batwing, with the optional Wingman attachment. Add also the Sensar Pro power supply/booster and you have a good setup. There are also apps for smart phones that will help you find the closest towers for aiming purposes.

If you go with the Yagi/bowtie you may still need a signal booster, and a way to turn the antenna to get what reception there is.

I'm sure the OP already knows this, also knows that even with a Sensar IV head and SensarPro driving it that reception is often still marginal to none at all ... just as I also know this. The OP's solution is correct - a better (home use) head mounted much higher up above the roof. I would think this might be the one exception for mounting a 2" bumper receiver, even a bolt on, as that would allow then mounting a flagpole holder like this to the trailer. To rotate the head I'd just keep it simple by manually rotating the pole to which the head is mounted. I just haven't bothered myself because I really don't care all that much about watching TV while camping, 'though my wife would probably think this was a worthwhile mod. ;)
camperkilgore
Explorer
May 22, 2018
The Ham radio guys can give you some good info on attaching a mast. I'm not sure how many are on this forum, but there must be some.
wildtoad
Explorer II
May 22, 2018
There is no better RV antenna than the Winegard Batwing, with the optional Wingman attachment. Add also the Sensar Pro power supply/booster and you have a good setup. There are also apps for smart phones that will help you find the closest towers for aiming purposes.

If you go with the Yagi/bowtie you may still need a signal booster, and a way to turn the antenna to get what reception there is.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 22, 2018
Look at RV flag pole mounts....bumper, ladder. tire etc.

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