kking
Lowell, MA
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Joined: 02/18/2008
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Does this type of antenna work well, or at least substantially better than the stock one on a 96 Dodge High top conversion van?
http://cgi.ebay.com/6-Inch-Tall-Boomeran........639QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
Or, does anyone know of an amplifier that will work with my van's antenna?
The map shows the states my wife and I have driven (or camped) in together.
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Hit The Road Jack
Treasure Coast of Florida
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Joined: 10/20/2005
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Scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the antenna I have installed.
I mounted mine via magnetic base only, sticks fine.
I purchased an inexpensive booster at Walmart and it definitely improved the signal.
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VernM
Marion County, AR
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Joined: 06/21/2006
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In real life, neither of these antennas will work as well as the ubiquitous Winegard crank up antenna for receiving television in the van. And the Winegard has a booster built in which gives it another edge. Especially with digital off-air reception being the thing starting next year. Digital signals will be harder to recieve in that the nature of the technology is that you will either have a signal or not have any. It will be similar to what you experience when rain attenuation gets the satellite TV signals and freezes the view or separates it into blocks.
You'll need all the "gain" (efficiency) you can to receive digital TV. The aircraft-style fixed direction "wings" won't have it.
* This post was
edited 06/29/08 08:03am by VernM *
VernM
GMC Conversion van/Wells Cargo MiniWagon trailer
Sent via HughesNet/SatMex5 Internet Portal
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kking
Lowell, MA
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The crank up may indeed be the answer, but I have several concerns...including mounting it, how far it extends into the van, and having to crank it up every time I want to go anywhere. I'd much prefer, if indeed there is such a thing, an antenna that allowed me to just go.
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Davydd
Minnesota
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The Winegard does not extend down into the van except for a crank handle and a rotating ring - maybe about 2 inches. It goes up by cranking the stem from a horizontal position on your roof to straight up vertical. Then the rotating ring turns the antenna to the optimum direction. If reception is good you don't even have to crank it up or rotate it.
Davydd
2005 Pleasure-Way Plateau Sprinter B Camper Van
Davydd is the Welsh spelling for David with an English twist using a v instead of an f.
See Our Pleasure-Way and my pork tenderloin sandwiches
Visited states in an RV
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VernM
Marion County, AR
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Quote:I'd much prefer, if indeed there is such a thing, an antenna that allowed me to just go.
That's just it. There isn't. Unless you plan on doing all your traveling within site of the tower of the TV stations and networks you want to watch. The farther from a station, the more antenna it takes to capture the most signal. Broadcast TV covers too much spectrum and has limited range that necessitates a lot of antenna gain/efficiency.
The better solution, really, for travel is one of the satellite subscription services. Low-profile roof mounted antennas with automatic aiming are available at a price. Simple retractable rooftop dish, similar to the bigger RVs are cheaper, and setting up the dish on the ground when you stop is the cheapest and, with a little practice, easiest way to quality signal and audio and a lot more program choices.
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kking
Lowell, MA
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I'm sure that would be the best solution and would even allow me to have "real" internet, but this van isn't going to be traveling that far and that solution is way out of budget anyway (plus, if you ever saw the van you'd see that this really would be dressing up the pig, or however that expression goes  )
The crank up has be interested for sure though... I'll check them out. Thanks for the info guys!
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VernM
Marion County, AR
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Adding a TV antenna, even satellite, will not bring you Internet service. That takes a bigger and more complicated setup.
Good luck.
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radio man 7.262
terre haute in u.s.a.
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Only talked to one person when i was at the rally that had this rare BOOMERANG antenna, and he said it was not very good and would replace it soon. Bob
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