Winegard to Jack King

[rdmike]

Has anyone changed out their existing crank up Winegard to a King Jack? Is there electrical power to the Winegard? I see on the installation of the King Jack you add power? Thanks in advance.

[wildmanbaker]

The Jack for us, better picture, more channels, less picture losses as long ranges. We have had this MH since new, and just got tired of poor reception in know areas of very good reception. Talked to others who updated their Winegard with no improvements, so went with the Jack.

[dodge_guy]

Not sure about anyone else, but I upgraded to a Jack. I pull in stations from far away with the Jack better than the Winegard ever could! Even when new the Winegard could only pull in about 12 stations. After I went to the Jack I could pull in 72 stations. I'm about 45miles from Chicago so it is a pretty good test. My buddy had he Winegard and added the Wingman and it never did any good. He upgraded to the Jack a year after I did and was very happy he did.

Yes the Jack has to be aimed precisely, but that's why it's a better antenna! Once aimed it is stronger. One campground we go to neither of us could get a signal when I went to the Jack I got 20 stations, I could turn it towards another city and get thier stations too, obviously not at the same time.

Real world tests are much better than what lab tests show!

[wa8yxm]

Many have downgraded from Winegard to Jack.. Just make sure you buy the model of the Jack made to fit the Winegard "mast"

Why did I say Downgrade? IN independent lab testing by another forum member and in side by side performance tests I've conducted NOTHIGN, and I mean NOTHIGN sold for RV use beat the winegard with Wingman and Sensar Pro... (What I have) NOTHING.

That said. in some locations the Jack may do better.. Here is why:

There are basically two types of antennas, Omni directional and Directional or beam (There is a 3rd type. bi-directional but the wingman fixes that)

now,, how far you can "See" (How far a station transmitter can be from you and you can still watch that station) depends on the "Gain" of the antenna, Elevation (Both transmitter and receiver) and transmission power.

YOu can not do much about elevation, or transmitter power.. But you can do something about antenna gain.

Antenna GAIN is obtained by narrowing the beam width..

Think this way.. Sit in the back of the uppermost balcony of a theater (been there.. Dang near got a nosebleed) and look at the stage... (Tiny ants running around singing "Think of me" (Phantom of the Opera).. Now get out a set of opera glasses.. The ants get a bit bigger and you can still see the whole stage (Yes I had them with me) and then some (Masonic Temple theater, Detroit, MI by the way)... Now get out something like a set of 10x Field glasses.

Finally you can see what's happening on stage, but you may not see all the stage at once (not sure, did not have my powerful field glasses with me).

(Oh, I went back and watched it again, only play I've ever paid to see twice, this time from the main floor).

Same is true of the TV antenna, works exactly like the theater.. Omin you see all around you so if you are in the middle of 20 stations, you may see all 20, out to about 20 miles that is

Jack, has a wide beam width, like the opera glasses so if you have 20 stations scattered all on one side, say 40 miles out.. You are good.. I do park in one spot where that is the case

Winegard with Wingman I'm 50-60 miles out from several, at that range tightly grouped stations, see 'em all. More or less (that is the limit of its range)

Jack only sees about 80% of 'em.

[rdmike]

Thanks all for your comments. My current antenna works ok, but does not rotate. I was planning on buying the King Jack roof mounted not just the head that mounts on my current structure. Once on the roof, I will lube up and see if it can rotate. If not replace. I was just not keen to have to route a 12v wire up ther but sounds like you all answered my question. Thanks again!

[FIRE_UP]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
While the Jack is a direct replacement, it is also a downgrade from a working Batwing with Wingman (or Sensar IV).

EXACTLY!!!!!!!
I did much inquiry in to this and actually purchased a Jack to replace out Batwing. I was told the Jack would not do much better. Well, hard headed me, I tried it anyways. Yep, no difference. In fact, sitting in the same position with the RV, and aimed appropriately, the Batwing received more over-the-air channels than the Jack did. So, I learned.

If the OP still intends to make the change over, the cable that leads to the Jack/Batwing, carries the 12V necessary to run the amp. It's powered up by either a separate wall plate mounted antenna booster or, a switch on the multi-switch box that many RVs have in the DVD/VCR compartment of their coach.

On a Jack, it's easy to tell if you have power to it, right from the ground. It has a RED LED on the bottom side that lights up when power is present. If no RED LED, you don't have power and, your amp will not work and therefore, you will not receive and send, the channels to your TV.
Scott

[Bill_Satellite]

While the Jack is a direct replacement, it is also a downgrade from a working Batwing with Wingman (or Sensar IV).

[Dale_Traveling]

I replaced the bat wing crank up with the fixed position jack antenna. Once less item on my pre-drive check list. The mounting plate is a flat square which makes sealing much easier. Power for the antenna amplifier comes from the same source as the bat wing via the coax. Performance is slightly better. Most noticeable is the jack isn't as directional as the bat wing.

[RoyB]

Easy chage out Takes about 5-mins and most of that time is used climbing on top haha...

It will connect to the crank up arms with existing connections...

The 12VDC coming up the RG cable will work just fine with the JACK...

You will not have to use the 120V xfmr adapter that comes with the jack...


google image

Note the direction to point this JACK antenna to the local town with HDTV would be to the right of this photo...

I really didnt have much difference on my setup but I did notice the JACK has to be more precisly pointed at the transmitter station. I only had it up for a one trip checking it out. I use it at home for a 'CLEAR TV' Antenna.

My BATWING Antenna lloked like this model with the small dipoles added...

google image

If your batwing does NOT have those add-on dipoles shown above then the KING JACK will be a hugh performance over your batwing antenna.

This is how it worked for me at any rate...

Roy Ken

[rgatijnet1]

My Jack was an exact replacement with the existing amplifier on my older Winegard providing the power to the Jack. It has worked great for several years now.