Hi - Our 1996 camper has the typical old batwing type antenna that raises up with a crank from the inside. I recently hooked up a new digital tv to it and could only get about 1 channel. I thought I should get at least 15 because that's about how many I could get in the house with just using rabbit ear type antenna. I figure either the antenna is COMPLETELY wrong for the new digital tvs, or I have a bad connection some place in the cable from the antenna to the inside coax connector. Any ideas on how to determine which, and any recommendations on inexpensive type replacement for it would be appreciated.

GaryS1953 wrote:Our 1996 camper has the typical old batwing type antenna that raises up with a crank from the inside. I recently hooked up a new digital tv to it and could only get about 1 channel. I thought I should get at least 15 because that's about how many I could get in the house with just using rabbit ear type antenna. I figure either the antenna is COMPLETELY wrong for the new digital tvs, or I have a bad connection some place in the cable from the antenna to the inside coax connector. Any ideas on how to determine which, and any recommendations on inexpensive type replacement for it would be appreciated.The only thing that may be "wrong" with your antenna is that considering it's on a 21 yr old camper it may be an earlier non-amplified version, in which case you'd benefit by replacing it with a current model Winegard Sensar IV which does have an amplified head. In that case you'd also have to install a Winegard wall plate that will route 12 vdc to the head and power the preamp inside it. Better still, install a Winegard SensarPro which offers up to 10 db of signal amplification beyond what the head can provide.

SoundGuy wrote:GaryS1953 wrote:Our 1996 camper has the typical old batwing type antenna that raises up with a crank from the inside. I recently hooked up a new digital tv to it and could only get about 1 channel. I thought I should get at least 15 because that's about how many I could get in the house with just using rabbit ear type antenna. I figure either the antenna is COMPLETELY wrong for the new digital tvs, or I have a bad connection some place in the cable from the antenna to the inside coax connector. Any ideas on how to determine which, and any recommendations on inexpensive type replacement for it would be appreciated.The only thing that may be "wrong" with your antenna is that considering it's on a 21 yr old camper it may be an earlier non-amplified version, in which case you'd benefit by replacing it with a current model Winegard Sensar IV which does have an amplified head. In that case you'd also have to install a Winegard wall plate that will route 12 vdc to the head and power the preamp inside it. Better still, install a Winegard SensarPro which offers up to 10 db of signal amplification beyond what the head can provide.Could be the amplifier is off and just needs to be turned on.

darsben1 wrote:SoundGuy wrote:GaryS1953 wrote:Our 1996 camper has the typical old batwing type antenna that raises up with a crank from the inside. I recently hooked up a new digital tv to it and could only get about 1 channel. I thought I should get at least 15 because that's about how many I could get in the house with just using rabbit ear type antenna. I figure either the antenna is COMPLETELY wrong for the new digital tvs, or I have a bad connection some place in the cable from the antenna to the inside coax connector. Any ideas on how to determine which, and any recommendations on inexpensive type replacement for it would be appreciated.The only thing that may be "wrong" with your antenna is that considering it's on a 21 yr old camper it may be an earlier non-amplified version, in which case you'd benefit by replacing it with a current model Winegard Sensar IV which does have an amplified head. In that case you'd also have to install a Winegard wall plate that will route 12 vdc to the head and power the preamp inside it. Better still, install a Winegard SensarPro which offers up to 10 db of signal amplification beyond what the head can provide.Could be the amplifier is off and just needs to be turned on.Hmm, I tend to think it is NON-amplified as Soundguy suggested, but if not, where would I find a switch to turn it on? It's certainly not by the coax connector plate.

A non-amplified antenna works reasonably well if you have no splitters. All an amplifier can do is overcome losses in the system between the antenna and TV. If you can run a coax cable direct from the antenna to a TV for a temporary test that would tell you if the problem is the trailer wiring.

First thing to do is check all external and internal coax connections. It's quite possible the internal ones are loose, and external ones are corroded. Take corrective steps if required. The Batwing is directional so raise the antenna and turn it towards the nearest channels(s) and do a channel scan. I've had a booster on every Winegard antenna I've ever owned so look for another coax connection. May be in a cabinet, in the bedroom. Mine is on the wall, near the floor, by the passenger seat. They can put them anywhere.

Replace old TV antenna | Good Sam Community

GaryS1953
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2017
darsben1 wrote:
SoundGuy wrote:
GaryS1953 wrote:
Our 1996 camper has the typical old batwing type antenna that raises up with a crank from the inside. I recently hooked up a new digital tv to it and could only get about 1 channel. I thought I should get at least 15 because that's about how many I could get in the house with just using rabbit ear type antenna. I figure either the antenna is COMPLETELY wrong for the new digital tvs, or I have a bad connection some place in the cable from the antenna to the inside coax connector. Any ideas on how to determine which, and any recommendations on inexpensive type replacement for it would be appreciated.

The only thing that may be "wrong" with your antenna is that considering it's on a 21 yr old camper it may be an earlier non-amplified version, in which case you'd benefit by replacing it

with a current model Winegard Sensar IV which does have an amplified head. In that case you'd also have to install a Winegard wall plate that will route 12 vdc to the head and power the preamp inside it. Better still, install a Winegard SensarPro which offers up to 10 db of signal amplification beyond what the head can provide.

Could be the amplifier is off and just needs to be turned on.

Hmm, I tend to think it is NON-amplified as Soundguy suggested, but if not, where would I find a switch to turn it on? It's certainly not by the coax connector plate.
darsben1
Explorer
Aug 01, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
GaryS1953 wrote:
Our 1996 camper has the typical old batwing type antenna that raises up with a crank from the inside. I recently hooked up a new digital tv to it and could only get about 1 channel. I thought I should get at least 15 because that's about how many I could get in the house with just using rabbit ear type antenna. I figure either the antenna is COMPLETELY wrong for the new digital tvs, or I have a bad connection some place in the cable from the antenna to the inside coax connector. Any ideas on how to determine which, and any recommendations on inexpensive type replacement for it would be appreciated.

The only thing that may be "wrong" with your antenna is that considering it's on a 21 yr old camper it may be an earlier non-amplified version, in which case you'd benefit by replacing it with a current model Winegard Sensar IV which does have an amplified head. In that case you'd also have to install a Winegard wall plate that will route 12 vdc to the head and power the preamp inside it. Better still, install a Winegard SensarPro which offers up to 10 db of signal amplification beyond what the head can provide.

Could be the amplifier is off and just needs to be turned on.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Aug 01, 2017
GaryS1953 wrote:
Our 1996 camper has the typical old batwing type antenna that raises up with a crank from the inside. I recently hooked up a new digital tv to it and could only get about 1 channel. I thought I should get at least 15 because that's about how many I could get in the house with just using rabbit ear type antenna. I figure either the antenna is COMPLETELY wrong for the new digital tvs, or I have a bad connection some place in the cable from the antenna to the inside coax connector. Any ideas on how to determine which, and any recommendations on inexpensive type replacement for it would be appreciated.

The only thing that may be "wrong" with your antenna is that considering it's on a 21 yr old camper it may be an earlier non-amplified version, in which case you'd benefit by replacing it with a current model Winegard Sensar IV which does have an amplified head. In that case you'd also have to install a Winegard wall plate that will route 12 vdc to the head and power the preamp inside it. Better still, install a Winegard SensarPro which offers up to 10 db of signal amplification beyond what the head can provide.

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