Antenna upgrade
I have a standard crank up type antenna, not sure of make or model, but it does not perform very well. I might pull in 4 channels with it sitting here in my yard. We had friends stay with us last summ...
Forum Discussion
The most common RV antenan is a Winegard Sensar II or III Some few have the IV
This is what we call a "Batwing" type antenna.
Now the II and III can benefit from the addition of a "Wingman" (The IV comes with one in the box)
Now if you forgot to turn it on, Turn it on and try again (Others have covered this so I'll not)
However here is the sequence:
Coax cable gets "old" especially if exposed to sunlight also connectors get "old" as well. You have at least 3 lengths of coax.. ONE is exposed to sunlight..that is the one that runs from ROOF to Antenna. Check the connector at the antenna, Simply disconnecting and re-connecting can clean it.
TURN OFF the switch plate (or box of many buttons) before disconnecting, and while disconnected hook up your multi-meter (negative to shell positive to center wire, do not short) and have partner turn switch on.. 12 volts: Good,
Have partner turn it back off before re-connecting then turn back on once inside.
I HAD No 12 volts
So I dug the connection out of the roof (yes it's there) and found.. The reason.
I then replaced the connectors and now it works again.
I doubt the internal cables will be bad but .. well.. They use crimp on ends and one hard sneeze is often enough to pull those off.. (I use compression fittings,, I have had ONE pulled off.... took power equipment to do it though).
Now.. The next imnprovement.......
I have the box of many buttons so the job was a tad different for me.. Will describe
If you have the wall plate. Try a Winegard Sensar Pro replacement, this is a near direct replacement (no 12 volt outlet which is next to useless anyway) You remove the existing wall plate and put the Sensar Pro in it's place. You may have to cut a small NOTCH in one of the lower corners of the box so you can bring a small coax out so as to make a conneciton.. Or not, depending on your RV.
In my case I had to re-route the ANT cable to a standard outlet box. run a jumper from same back to the original Box of Many buttons (Matrix Switch) and run 12 volt leads (i tapped the ones to the BOMB) back to the same box and install it there...
Currently the Gain is set to 20.. I am watching a station nearly 50 miles distant as I type.
This is what we call a "Batwing" type antenna.
Now the II and III can benefit from the addition of a "Wingman" (The IV comes with one in the box)
Now if you forgot to turn it on, Turn it on and try again (Others have covered this so I'll not)
However here is the sequence:
Coax cable gets "old" especially if exposed to sunlight also connectors get "old" as well. You have at least 3 lengths of coax.. ONE is exposed to sunlight..that is the one that runs from ROOF to Antenna. Check the connector at the antenna, Simply disconnecting and re-connecting can clean it.
TURN OFF the switch plate (or box of many buttons) before disconnecting, and while disconnected hook up your multi-meter (negative to shell positive to center wire, do not short) and have partner turn switch on.. 12 volts: Good,
Have partner turn it back off before re-connecting then turn back on once inside.
I HAD No 12 volts
So I dug the connection out of the roof (yes it's there) and found.. The reason.
I then replaced the connectors and now it works again.
I doubt the internal cables will be bad but .. well.. They use crimp on ends and one hard sneeze is often enough to pull those off.. (I use compression fittings,, I have had ONE pulled off.... took power equipment to do it though).
Now.. The next imnprovement.......
I have the box of many buttons so the job was a tad different for me.. Will describe
If you have the wall plate. Try a Winegard Sensar Pro replacement, this is a near direct replacement (no 12 volt outlet which is next to useless anyway) You remove the existing wall plate and put the Sensar Pro in it's place. You may have to cut a small NOTCH in one of the lower corners of the box so you can bring a small coax out so as to make a conneciton.. Or not, depending on your RV.
In my case I had to re-route the ANT cable to a standard outlet box. run a jumper from same back to the original Box of Many buttons (Matrix Switch) and run 12 volt leads (i tapped the ones to the BOMB) back to the same box and install it there...
Currently the Gain is set to 20.. I am watching a station nearly 50 miles distant as I type.
