I drove off with the antenna up...

The two bars on the crank-up assy is a rather easy change out thing... Just remove two E-CLIPS on the other side of this photo showing where the two pins are located. The two bars then can removed for repair or replacement.. It is doubtful the mechanism is damaged - only the bars and the antenna perhaps.





I agree with the others you may not like the performance you will get from your OTA if it is not raised up off the roof...

Here is what the JACK Antenna will look like mounted to the same two bars the BATWING antenna was using...


Of course we are all poking in the dark not knowing which antenna got damaged...

Roy Ken

I do like Wadcutter and hang a red hankerchief on the crank.

I have also forgotten my outdoor thermometer (twice). So I hang another red hankerchief outside where even I can't miss it before leaving.

I use a green twisty-thing and put it on the steering wheel. Easy to spot.

I would replace it with the Razar Air-- reports are that it works quite well flat on the roof- has an omni-directional pattern- but you can still raise and turn it if extra sensitivity is needed.

Since the latest digital TV signals are essentially line-of-sight you need an antenna that will rotate to pick up signals from the various directions.
I replaced my original with the Jack antenna. Lighter than the original and easier to crank up.

I put our truck keys on it. Can't go anywhere without them.

We use to hang an antenna up flag on the crank. After a while you get use to seeing it and it doesn't get noticed. If it hangs in the same place and you're parked for a while the flag just becomes part of the RV and you won't notice it.
I found that if I hang it somewhere that's in the way when I'm ready to leave then I don't forget it. If you have a Class A/B/C then hang it on the steering wheel where you'll see it when you get ready to drive away. I pull a 5th wheel. I hook it to the power cord. When I am hooking up the truck to leave I can't miss the flag. I remove the flag and immediately go in to lower the antenna. A few times I haven't been able to go inside immediately so I clip the flag to the front of my shirt.

Bite the bullet and replace the original, you won't like the reception from a window one. Replacement is not hard, just check it out on YouTube. I hand a hat on my crank so I won't forget.

Is that the small or large pitot tube cover?
Thanks,Mike

Get one of these (aircraft pitot tube cover).





Fits in the cigarette lighter socket on the booster and fits over the antenna handle.