antenna works better in down position

[luvztheoutdoor1]

I am a bit confused. It seems as though I have better reception of over the air channels when my antenna is in the down position. Since I like to camp away from cities, reception can be tricky. Does this mean that my Jayco 26DS is the new antenna? Any ideas on why reception is lousy when it should be better? Would this indicate loose wiring?

Thanks for any advice.

[luvztheoutdoor1]

Thanks for all of your comments. I think I will check the coax cable since this seems to happen in most places that I camp. I often to go the UP and signals there are few and far between. I like to get the local news. I also travel with a satellite dish, but this post was regarding local over the air stations.

Particularly, dougrainer, your advice will definitely be followed.

Thanks again, everyone!

[wa8yxm]

There are several reasons this might happen including

Signal propragation.. Sometimes (rare) lower really is better due to obstructions as you raise up the antenna

Bad coax.. Roof to Antenna head

Bad connection Roof and/or antenna head

But it is not common.

[down_home]

A useful bit for the notebook. thanks 🙂

[dougrainer]

Your motorhome is 7 years old. If you have the Winegard(Jayco uses 2 brands), There is a coax union on ALL Winegard Antennas right under the mount baseplate where the coax enters the roof. Usually, after a few years, water gets to this coax union and corrodes the connection. When you crank up and down this motion slightly moves the coax and if you have this type problem will cause reception problems. You can usually access this connection from the INSIDE of the RV. Remove the Crank plate and handle and use a flashlight and a pencil to push any insulation out of the way. There is usually enough slack to pull out this coax junction to check it. If it is clean and no rust/corrosion, then check the Coax where it goes into the antenna wing. Remove the coax and check for rust/corrosion there. Doug

[Bill_Satellite]

Most of Roy's post are generic posts anytime anyone posts about receiving satellite TV (why bother when you can get OTA?) or when someone posts about OTA reception. I have to believe that he is not even reading the post but simply seeing the letters OTA and posting random information which, in most cases, has nothing at all to do with the OP's post. This is another one of those posts but you simply have to love Roy as he is a big fan of OTA. He doesn't understand how satellite works or why anyone would want to use it and he doesn't know anything more than "Use the Batwing and be sure the dipoles are pointed in the correct direction". While this has nothing at all to do with your original question, please do not be discouraged by posts that have nothing at all to do with your question. Help is available but we might need a bit more information.

[RoyB]

Assuming you have this BATWING Antenna with the dipoles added...



This antenna would be pointing to the transmitter station to the right of the photo... AFter you crank up the Batwing you have to rotate it towards the local transmitting HDTV station.

This is one of the best antennas you can have to pick up the OTA HDTV signals in your RV...

You might want to inspect the RG cable that comes up from the crank -up assy and make sure it is not frayed anywhere... You can disconnect it from the BATWING antenna and use a regular MULTIMETER and see if you can read 12VDC from the the center pin to the ground side of the connector. This is the power coming up the cable when the BOOST BUTTON on the Antenna WALL PLATE Panel is pushed. This is the power to operate the PRE-AMPLIFIER inside the BATWING Antenna...

If you don't read the 12VDC Power when the antenna panel button is pushed in then you may have a break in the RG Coax going down to the Antenna Panel...

Looking on the back of the Antenna Panel the antenna connector on the left of this photo is the RG cable that goes to the BATWING antenna...

Google Image

Roy Ken

[wildtoad]

I find that I can crank up the antenna, find channels, then lower the antenna and still receive the channels.

[Crazy_Ray]

Bill 6yrs old

[Bill_Satellite]

luvztheoutdoorz1 wrote:
I am a bit confused. It seems as though I have better reception of over the air channels when my antenna is in the down position. Since I like to camp away from cities, reception can be tricky. Does this mean that my Jayco 26DS is the new antenna? Any ideas on why reception is lousy when it should be better? Would this indicate loose wiring?

Thanks for any advice.

I am not sure the age of your coach or the antenna type, if this is generally an indication that you have an issue somewhere. It this has only happened at this one location then it could be location specific. However, if this seems to be an ongoing problem and it is an antenna that can be pointed and has been adjusted to point in the correct direction you should almost always have better reception with the antenna raised than lowered. I frequently get the same whether the antenna is up or down but that does not appear to be what you are saying.

[DutchmenSport]

Depending where we are, mine works best all the way up, half up, and completely down. Nothing wrong, it just pulls better in different positiosns.

[Old-Biscuit]

AS long as you have 'aimed' it in the proper direction (head of antenna towards TV Transponder towers)......it doesn't matter

Some places we have to have antenna FULLY crankup......some place we found only half way up and some places we left it fully retracted for best signals

[rgatijnet1]

What is the condition of the coax cable to your new antenna. Perhaps the cable is making better contact when lowered than it is when the antenna is extended.

[Mandalay_Parr]

Propragation and signal reflection does strange things at times. Just adjust it for the best reception.