Winegard "Wingman" option-does it help?

[drmopar]

Winegard Sensar III option for adding the Wingman antenna looks easy to install. Has anyone installed this and did it help? The Sensar IV is a Sensar III with the additional antenna. Both digital ready.

[wa8yxm]

drmopar wrote:
Winegard Sensar III option for adding the Wingman antenna looks easy to install. Has anyone installed this and did it help? The Sensar IV is a Sensar III with the additional antenna. Both digital ready.

Two questions, One answer YES (To both)

Just about doubled the strength of UHF stations (no effect on VHF) when I tested it... That's per my TV.. It basically brings the UHF performance of the antenna up to the VHF performance level (Range of reception.

ONe negative.. W/o the antenna is bi directional so if the station is located in the direction you can NOT aim you can point away and peak it.

The Wingman makes it mono-directional.. Front only But simply moving the RV so it is angled a few degrees overcomes this.

[Chris_Bryant]

While I am a big fan of the wingman, it is not that much more to buy the Sensar IV head with the wingman built in. The way you get new electronics too.

[SCVJeff]

Hang on!
After the repack you're REALLY gonna get cross-eyed

[Dutch_12078]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

It is quite possible the channels 3, 10 and 13 are actually being broadcast on the UHF frequencies these days. Seeing channel 3 on the TV no longer means that it is being broadcast on VHF channel 3. That all changed when much of the VHF band was sold.
You can look it up (Google) or let us know where you are located and we can give the the broadcast frequencies.

And to keep it "interesting", in upstate NY virtual channel 13 (WNYT) broadcasts on actual VHF channel 12, while virtual channel 51 (WNYA) broadcasts on actual VHF channel 13. I'm sure there are other markets with similar odd combinations... 😉

[jpmihalk]

I stand corrected... channel "3" is actually broadcast on UHF channel 40, channel "10" is broadcast on UHF channel 31, and channel "13" is broadcast on UHF channel 41. Go figure. Guess that explains how all of the channels have better signal.

In any case, the Wingman definitely helps.

[Bill_Satellite]

jpmihalk wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
It does nothing for the already good VHF reception, nor is it meant to.

I disagree based upon our own experience... where I am, Channels 3, 10 and 13 can be very difficult to get clearly if only 20 -30 miles from the towers but the add-on allows us to get signals and clear (non-pixelated) HD pictures from almost 50 miles away. I do agree that it does make the antenna more directional, but that is the point of a yagi antenna - they are directional in nature.

It is quite possible the channels 3, 10 and 13 are actually being broadcast on the UHF frequencies these days. Seeing channel 3 on the TV no longer means that it is being broadcast on VHF channel 3. That all changed when much of the VHF band was sold.
You can look it up (Google) or let us know where you are located and we can give the the broadcast frequencies.

[SCVJeff]

jpmihalk wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
It does nothing for the already good VHF reception, nor is it meant to.

I disagree based upon our own experience... where I am, Channels 3, 10 and 13 can be very difficult to get clearly if only 20 -30 miles from the towers but the add-on allows us to get signals and clear (non-pixelated) HD pictures from almost 50 miles away. I do agree that it does make the antenna more directional, but that is the point of a yagi antenna - they are directional in nature.

Dutch is correct. The Wingman is a passive directional element aligned on the UHF element ONLY. It has no effect nor is it even lined up to affect the VHF element that is the Batwing itself. Are those the channels you have displayed on the TV or the physical over the air channels? There's a big difference between the two

[Devocamper]

Yes does help reception but it is directional not omnidirectional and there are apps for smart phones to help you fine the tv towers such as tv towers USA for the iPhone

[jpmihalk]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
It does nothing for the already good VHF reception, nor is it meant to.

I disagree based upon our own experience... where I am, Channels 3, 10 and 13 can be very difficult to get clearly if only 20 -30 miles from the towers but the add-on allows us to get signals and clear (non-pixelated) HD pictures from almost 50 miles away. I do agree that it does make the antenna more directional, but that is the point of a yagi antenna - they are directional in nature.

[jake2250]

Yes

[Big_Katuna]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
The Wingman yagi conversion helps the Sensar UHF reception quite a bit, although it does make the antenna more directional. It does nothing for the already good VHF reception, nor is it meant to. Replacing the stock power injector with the SensarPro amplifier/signal meter adds even more reliability to the Sensar reception. Ignore any hype about "HD" or "digital" antennas, the radio signals don't know or care about either one. Signals are signals...

I agree completely. I would add that the Sensar Pro peak signal meter function combined with the Wingman added 10 or so channels at my house in a before and after test.

[Dutch_12078]

The Wingman yagi conversion helps the Sensar UHF reception quite a bit, although it does make the antenna more directional. It does nothing for the already good VHF reception, nor is it meant to. Replacing the stock power injector with the SensarPro amplifier/signal meter adds even more reliability to the Sensar reception. Ignore any hype about "HD" or "digital" antennas, the radio signals don't know or care about either one. Signals are signals...

[VoodooMedicineM]

yes it helped

[jpmihalk]

I installed one on our new Hurricane with a Sensar II antenna. It just replaced a few rubber plugs on the bottom of the antenna with the ones in the kit to hold the add-on in place. It seems to help with additional range and better VHF (2-13) performance.