TV Antenna

[MyCK180]

I have a 2006 Mallard CK180 trailer and would like to install a TV antenna. It has a coax cable terminal on the roof and a coax terminal mounted on the ceiling above the TV shelve with a built in amp and 12v cig style plug. I would like to find an antenna that does not have to be raised and lowered because I don't want to have to drill holes in the roof. What would you use?

[dodge_guy]

SCVJeff wrote:

hddecker wrote:
I like my Jack, Jack.

I had a Winegard Wingman, but I didn't like the way it bounced around on the roof. I could just envision a nice hole worn through the membrane.---snip---

ive never heard that being a problem with the tens of thousands of installed Batwings. Besides, any bounce problem is a function of mechanics, not mount.

I agree. I have a mark in my roof from the Batwing, but no hole worn through, not even close. with that said the Jack antenna is by far superior to my old Batwing, I get 10X the stations I used to get. I was lucky to get 7 stations before.

[SCVJeff]

hddecker wrote:
I like my Jack, Jack.

I had a Winegard Wingman, but I didn't like the way it bounced around on the roof. I could just envision a nice hole worn through the membrane.---snip---

ive never heard that being a problem with the tens of thousands of installed Batwings. Besides, any bounce problem is a function of mechanics, not mount.

[hddecker]

I like my Jack, Jack.

I had a Winegard Wingman, but I didn't like the way it bounced around on the roof. I could just envision a nice hole worn through the membrane.

I have been able to pick up all the off air TV I needed everywhere we have camped. If TV became big on the priority list, I would break out the sat dish and receiver, but we go away to be away.

[RoyB]

The only OMNI-ANTENNA I have physically played with is the WINEGARD HIDE-AWAY OMNI Antenna. It did not perform very well and also when you was picking up a HDTV station it would start breaking up when aircraft would go passing overhead hehe..


This mounts to side of the trailer and when in travel mode you just pull it down inside the round tube. When it is up you can rotate the twin dipole.

This is probably no better than sitting some old TV rabbit ears on the roof when you park at the camp grounds.

I still have this antenna but it is for a backup...

Along this line you don't have to drill thru the roof to mount a BATWING antenna. I use one associated with my OFF_ROAD POPUP. It is mounted up the side of the POPUP using PVC tubing and Antenna pipe sections. I can setup in just a couple of minutes. I break it all down to transport...

This is what it look likes in my OFF-ROAD POPUP. I can reach thru the window flap and rotate it hehe...

This photo shows me using a LOWES long house HDTV antenna - I now have the BATWING install on top. The $90 LOWES best house YAGI antenna was the best one we ever used but after taking down for one season we finally destroyed the antenna. Broke in half haha... Then we installed the BATWING in its place.




In my opinion our best performance antenna to date is the BATWING with UHF DIPOLE...

Roy Ken

[SCVJeff]

HappyKayakers wrote:
You might want to reconsider. An antenna that you can't raise may not get any TV stations so it would basically be a hood ornament on the roof.

Additionally, any omni-directional antenna is completely useless unless you are almost literally a city camper. Anything more than an omni antenna: Winegard or Jack MUST be steered, and that requires a hole all the way through. 99.9% of the RV's out there have full installed antennas, so don't sweat it. Just make sure it's properly sealed when done.

If you have your mind set on no holes, buy one of those window stick-on's sold on TV probably very similar to CA travler's

[Old-Biscuit]

HappyKayakers wrote:
You might want to reconsider. An antenna that you can't raise may not get any TV stations so it would basically be a hood ornament on the roof.

X2

Some times even with a antenna that can be cranked up........little to no stations and our antenna was on tall 5vr (13'4")

I got a 5' length of pipe......attached a simple array antenna to it and then when we couldn't get any stations via crank up antenna I would hoist the pole antenna up on a flag pole mount on top of ladder. It would pull in many channels

[HappyKayakers]

You might want to reconsider. An antenna that you can't raise may not get any TV stations so it would basically be a hood ornament on the roof.

[wildtoad]

Given your objectives a Winegard Roadstar 2000 Omni directional. You will need to drill some mounting holes, but not through the roof. I have seen some people in trailers mount an antenna on a multi-section pole which they attach to the side of the trailer once they get settled.

[CA_Traveler]

Google non directional tv antenna and you'll get a variety of hits. The round non directional type could be attached to the roof with 3M VHB tape and you might need a larger base for mounting. I would get the amplified version.

I have a amplified flat wave antenna attached to a window on the inside. It's bidirectional but otherwise works well. Just another option.

[Ka_Ron]

Winegard probably has the best selection of RV antennas.

Check out their website......WINEGARD RV ANTENNA