Bat Wing TV - no reception

[Super_Dave]

Owned my camper for 7 years and just getting around to trying a TV with the bat wing antenna. All I'm getting is snow in my driveway at home. Any secrets to making this system work?

[CA_Traveler]

The specs indicate it's HD but analog tuner. While you could use a converter the 2 I had weren't as satisfactory as the TV digital tuner.

Recommend you donate your TV and get a new one. I recently bought the same size for $150.

[Tom_M1]

As stated, the LN-S2338W is not digital. If you intend to use this TV you will need a converter box. I would suggest one of the following:
iView 3500STBII Multi-Function Digital Converter Box with Recording and Media Playback

Mediasonic HW-150PVR HomeWorx ATSC Digital TV Converter Box

With one of these boxes you would be able to watch broadcast TV in high definition if your set has an HDMI or component video inputs.

Also if you plug in a USB hard drive you would be able record TV programs.

[rrupert]

From what I found, your TV is not digital.

Info

[Super_Dave]

The search page was:
Air
STD
HRC
IRC

[MNtundraRet]

The screen picture you show is for scanning analog signals only. That is why there is snow in the background. Digital is usually solid blue or black background during a search.

Did you possibly miss a screen asking whether you were searching for Analog or Digital channels? Some TV's may have had a list in setup where checks were needed to identify if search was on Air (antenna)/cable, analog/digital search, etc.

[Super_Dave]

bigjohnmcvicker wrote:
Whats the model number on the tv?

Samsung LN-S2338W

[wa8yxm]

IF all you get is snow... How old is the TV, a 7 year old TV is likely NTSC (Analog) only and there are not many Analog stations out there.

The porcedure.. Using either a web page like Antenna Web or a smart phone app like Antenna Helper Free,, Find out which way to point.
Elevate and point the antenna

TURN ON the antenna (this means you need a charged battery and the wall plat with the switch and light, antenna and 12 volt connections the light MUST BE ON.

Now on the TV access Menu, Set up and from there you are on you own finding channel scan IT MUST BE SET TO ANTENNA. not cable. as well.

Once you have a station,, Fine tune the aim by using Digital Station Strength.

Of course. this all assumes the antenna is properly connected and not broken (Happens).

Next lession is how to improve. Good luck

[bigjohnmcvicker]

Whats the model number on the tv?

[Super_Dave]

You guys are being a big help. Here is a picture of my menu and where I'm still stumped. I run auto program and it goes through 69 channels with nothing being picked up.

[bigjohnmcvicker]

Super_Dave wrote:
Owned my camper for 7 years and just getting around to trying a TV with the bat wing antenna. All I'm getting is snow in my driveway at home. Any secrets to making this system work?

Snow... You have analog.

[CA_Traveler]

Connect a known good TV which will isolate the problem.

[SCVJeff]

As mark mentioned, a 2007 camper could have either analog or digital receiver in it. My 2006 was analog and I believe the the 2007's did as well. If the TV is digital it should have had a sticker that said ATSC on it. Is it still there?

Raise the antenna and point is perpendicular to the wings. The front of the antenna is opposite the mast. If you are in Sacramento proper, start by pointing the due South towards Downers Grove, roughly 20 miles out. If you can see in that direction there are a group of 2000' towers down there roughly in the center of the valley where most, but not all of the transmitters are located. There are a few UHF also up on Bear Mtn. about 50miles to the east. Make sure the amp is on or you will see nothing. When you get into the menu, do a scan and look at how it's progressing. If it's a digital TV you will likely have progress bars that show how many analog and digital stations you have found. If only one progress bar you likely have a analog TV. Or Goggle the model number and see what it says. If it's analog, just replace it. These days the small TV's are cheap.

[MNtundraRet]

Super_Dave wrote:
Do all tv's need a digital tuner? I thought just the really old ones did?

Your TV is 7 years old and you have not yet figured out if it is an old analog or digital TV? Only analog TV's show snow. I take it that the manual was discarded with the box.

If the television is digital it has a menu and a scan will need to be run to find either "Digital" or "Analog" channels if they still exist where you are located. Most newer sets will show a screen saying "No signals found. A scan must be run."

By the way some television sets sold in that time frame (2007) were digital monitors. They were analog sets that needed a digital tuner-box for Digital TV. They were mainly sold as computer monitors and much cheaper than early HD sets, but could be used with the addition of the tuner-box.

[rrupert]

If you have checked all of the above you should also check to see if there is 12 volts going up the cable to the antenna head to power the amplifier. Also, time and weather can take its toll on the cable and the connecters. Moisture and corrosion can seriously limit the signal strength to the TV. Digital requires good signal strength to get any picture at all. Replacing the cable can make a world of difference. Get good quality cable and connectors, and make sure to seal the head connection to keep moisture out.

[RoyB]

We have the VISIO 22-Inch HDTV and usually get 6-36 digital channels just about every where we go here on the EAST SIDE of the US.

The NATL BROADCAST transmits everything in FULL HIGH DEF mode which is really great. You will have to point the OTA BATWING antenna in the right directions before you will pick any channels in the SCAN MODE. My big surprise was to get 24/7 RADAR channels to watch. Being in a OFF-ROAD POPUP one needs to know when the BAD WX is sneaking up on you.

If you end up having to use a digital converter box for your older TV you will not get high def TV out of it. The digital converter will convert it back to analog mode. Also most campground still convert their CABLE TV SIGNALS to analog mode so watching high DEF TV from the OTA BATWING is great from the local towns towns. We do both modes when camping at campgrounds with CABLE HOOKUPS.

HIGH DEF MODE is much better on the eyes for us... Also it is FREE to the PUBLIC as well...

Roy Ken