Winegard flat antenna

The model in your link that is an outdoor antenna may do OK but save your money on the rest. I tried the Winegard amplified flat antenna indoors and it does not work well. While it claims to be omnidirectional it worked better in one direction that it did in another and none compared to what my Winegard batwing on the roof pulls in. I even tried hanging out the window with no better success.

I am not familiar with the flat panel antenna that is being advertised.

BUT I did have good luck with one I picked up at Lowes. Around 40 bucks the size of paperback and as thick as one. Comes with a mount so I just Nailed it to a tree while camping in a cabin and got all the same channels I get in the MH. You do have to fiddle with it pointing it because digital signal will not get thru even the smallest branch in the way

There are several available from 20 to 60 bucks at lowes and what I did notice is ALL of them came with a small booster that needed to be plugged in. Just like our RV antennas don't work unless the booster is on.

Key word is booster or amplified otherwise they don't work.

BTW: Every flat screen I have bought will get one channel with OUT an antenna attached. So getting one channels is not represented if that flat antenna is even working!

Do these flat ones include a booster or amplifier?

When all else fails you can do what this RV'er did to resolve his TV reception problems!!!

1mtnman wrote:
Has anyone tried this type of antenna. Would be great for local channels if it really works.Winegard

My motorhome didn't come with an external antenna, so I bought one of these Winegard flat panel antennas. After connecting it, I could pick up just one channel - but not consistently. I even bought the winegard antenna amplifier - and that only brought in another half channel

Not being happy, I decided to have a Winegard Sensor III crank up antenna installed on the roof. Using that antenna and the included amplifier, I now get 22 channels where the flat panel only got one.

Bill

It's just that I have tested the particular product mentioned and those were the results I found while in RV parks mostly along I-5 in CA over the course of a month or so.

I used to use a competitor's product in Detroit.... Even there, surrounded by towers some of which I could SEE from my house... Signals were iffy.

The flat antennas work well but with limitations you need to understand. The OTA TV signal can be quite flaky if you don't have a clear view. The signal does not do a good job of penetrating obstructions. Something like the Batwing antenna on the roof is raised a couple of additional feet to clear obstructions and will therefore get you the best reception and distance.
The Batwing can pick up signals from TV towers 50-60 miles away (some report better). The amplified version of the Winegard flat antenna is going to get good reception when you are within 30-40 miles and the non-amplified version would work if you are within 20-30 miles of the towers. If you put it in a window and there is another RV right beside you and the TV towers on the other side of that RV, your reception can be dramatically effected.

The distances quoted are "salesman's" hype. Notice the words "UP TO" (yes I am shouting). That means the upper limit is only reachable with flat terrain (better if you were on high-ground) and no electronic interference between you and the transmitter tower, and a night-time signal.

Remember; "A fool and his money are soon parted". The FTC has little control over advertisements now days. No way I would even consider buying one.

We tried one because of the omnidirectional was that came with our unit was worthless. It was a pain hanging it on a window and running a coax to the tv. It did not help our reception either. We returned it and bit the bullet and had a real antenna put on camper. Luckily when we bought it we made sure we could return it. Good luck!