Tv antenna upgrade questions

brianseay1 wrote:
I have an 07 Coachman Cross Country that has a Signal Commander batwing antenna on it. I have HD tv's in the coach and have been using the satellite system over the years. I have dropped my satellite service and I'm going to start using the antenna. It works well in some places and not so well in others. I looked at the Winegard HD batwing and thought about getting it. Mine does not have a 12v power source going to it. It has the coax going into the batwing and coming in to the signal diverter (box that sends signal to all three tvs). I cannot find any other power source going to the antenna so I'm not sure if the new Winegard will work without having to install the power source. Not really sure if I am calling it by its right name or not. It had three coax connections and an on/off button on it with a place for 12v plug. The guy says its needs a 12v power source and that it works like an amplifier. I'm just wondering what all you have to do to upgrade the antenna from an 07 model to a 2019 model. Everything is working fine I am just wanting to be able to pick up more channels and increase the range of the antenna. Any help is greatly appreciated.

If you have a Signal Commander, you DO NOT have a Winegard Batwing antenna. It might be that shape but it's not the same so be sure you are listening to folks who understand the difference.
It's quite easy to add the 12V power you need for a Winegard Batwing as the 12V power is sent up the existing coax after you add the Winegard power supply (or Sensar Pro) somewhere in the area where the existing coax leaves the wall and runs to the TV. Worst case you just add a 120V to 12V power supply in that location and you are good to go. The Winegard needs room to raise and lower without obstruction on the roof so be sure to plan the installation before you proceed.

Another vote for the Sensar Pro. Doubled my channels.

$70 on Amazon.

From Bridgeport, you should be able to get both Chattanooga and Huntsville, depending on your location with the hills. If you are at the bottom of the hill, pay for satellite.

We have a wineguard batwing with no 12v to the head. We simply bought an aftermarket antenna booster that plugs into 120 volt, and screws into the coax between the antenna plate on the wall and our tv , or splitter.
Went from 17 channels to about 30 at one campground by just screwing the wires on and plugging it in.

IF you get a new winegard Sensar IV (which I think is the best RV antenna by the way) drop an additional C-Note on the Sensar PRO indoor module.

This "Box" fits in a standard outlet box which you will have to get at the Hardware of your choice and has 3 inputs and 2.1 outlets

Input 1/outlet 0.1 is to the antenna on the roof (Feeds 12 volt UP the coax)
Input 2/ Park cable/other (Can be used for any RF-out video player)
Outputs 1.0 and 2 are TV-1 and 2. All in/out are cables on the back.

Input 3 s us `12 volt input

Unit does following
If off: Cable/other in selected and passed
IF ON TOP led: Signal search (OTA ANTENNA SELETED) seeks strongest Digital carrier displays the CARRIER channel (different in many cases from TV channel) and strength. You may Peak the signal here

2nd LED you use Up/Down buttons to scroll through all detected carrier channels

3rd LED: you can "Dial in" (using up/down) any channel detected or not

4th LED Gain 0 to 20, near as I can tell 10 it "unity" (Same as the old winegard wall plate with only one button on/off)

5th Led Volume.. It has an annoying beeper just like the sat receiver for peaking the antenna by ear .

Two digital displays Carrier channel on bottom S-Meter on top

What is a carrier channel?
Digital TV still uses the same VHF/VHF/UHF channels (well mostly UHF and 2nd VHF) that the old analog did. That's why your old "Analog" antenna still works

But in the old days Channel 12 was.. Well Channel 12 And Channel 7 was Channel 7

Where I'm sittin now I'm not sure what 12 is broadcasting on (Was 12 but may have changed) plug there are now FIVE channel 12's 12.1.2.3.4.5

Channel 7 uses 41 as the carrier

YOu do not need to know which carrier your favorite channel is on. THe TV figures it out and takes care of it automatically when you "Scan for channels"

Not sure about yours, but it is easy to check. I have seen a signal diverter box, selector buttons, that had the 12v power source in it, and did not have the wall plate version. This may be your situation. And actually, the amplifier is in the antenna head, that is the need for the 12v on the coax. The voltage source also strips that off to keep it out of your TVs. I upgraded several years ago to the winegard sensar IV antenna, which camme with the wingman installed, and it made a big difference. Later, I installed the Winegard Sensar Pro wall unit inside, replacing the standard plate power supply. It also has an additional adjustable amplifier built in, with the two, Signals 60+ miles (over flat land) are easy. It does need to be carefullly aimed however.