JimInMA wrote: I can understand why they would be! lol How many RVs are out there using Winegard antennas?
But they can't really deny it.Winegard's own specs show the effectiveness of their antennas. Scroll down to the bottom of that page and look at their own charts. Two nice big lobes for channels 2 and 7 but only one lobe for channels 32 and 56.
By the time to get up to channel 32 the back-side of the antenna is completely useless.
Wish I could read the specs on those grid charts to see if that's really apples to apples.
To the omni-directional problem: There are a few converters that use what they call a "Smart Antenna", that is a stationary antenna with electrically driven elements that are controlled by the converter itself. When the converter does its initial scan it rotates the antenna and finds everything in all directions, then remembers what direction any given station came from. I have seen the Smart Antenna jacks (on RCA I think), but not the antennas available to the general public, they must be out there..
I have one that I tested on a prototype receiver about 2 years ago and it works really well, although the antenna has no gain whatsoever since they're just dipoles (like rabbit ears).
HERE is a picture of the antenna. It's a standard 1 1/4" mast mount on the bottom, and would be a snap to replace the batwing. I thought about installing it in the RV, but the prototype receiver is easily 4x the size of what’s currently out there.
I just installed one of my two new convertors. Thank goodness their are pass throughs. We are in Thayne, WY and the couple stations that are available by antenna are very watchable, some snow but not enough to be a real bother. Turning on the convertor, I get zero, zip, nada signal from any station.
If thats what we have to look forward to when the analog is finally dropped, one better have a satellite system if they want to have any reliable TV.
hershey - albuquerque, nm Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
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hershey wrote: I just installed one of my two new convertors. Thank goodness their are pass throughs. We are in Thayne, WY and the couple stations that are available by antenna are very watchable, some snow but not enough to be a real bother. Turning on the convertor, I get zero, zip, nada signal from any station.
If thats what we have to look forward to when the analog is finally dropped, one better have a satellite system if they want to have any reliable TV.
You got nothing through the converter because there are no digital stations in the Thayne, WY area yet. The converter can't convert something that the stations aren't broadcasting.
If your description is accurate though, I would be concerned. Even the analog stations shouldn't have had snow. Your picture should have been crystal clear. The transmitting antennas for the analog stations are only 6 miles away.
JimInMA wrote: I can understand why they would be! lol How many RVs are out there using Winegard antennas?
But they can't really deny it.Winegard's own specs show the effectiveness of their antennas. Scroll down to the bottom of that page and look at their own charts. Two nice big lobes for channels 2 and 7 but only one lobe for channels 32 and 56.
By the time to get up to channel 32 the back-side of the antenna is completely useless.
Wish I could read the specs on those grid charts to see if that's really apples to apples.
To the omni-directional problem: There are a few converters that use what they call a "Smart Antenna", that is a stationary antenna with electrically driven elements that are controlled by the converter itself. When the converter does its initial scan it rotates the antenna and finds everything in all directions, then remembers what direction any given station came from. I have seen the Smart Antenna jacks (on RCA I think), but not the antennas available to the general public, they must be out there..
I have one that I tested on a prototype receiver about 2 years ago and it works really well, although the antenna has no gain whatsoever since they're just dipoles (like rabbit ears).
HERE is a picture of the antenna. It's a standard 1 1/4" mast mount on the bottom, and would be a snap to replace the batwing. I thought about installing it in the RV, but the prototype receiver is easily 4x the size of what’s currently out there.
Summit carries that antenna and there are several DTV boxes that are supposed to be able to control it. I haven't had the chance to play with any of the smart antenna setups yet. I guess I should break down and buy one. (More toys! lol)
It looks to me like more gain is needed not less. An omni antenna which has zero dB gain will be easier to point but will not pull in weaker stations. I have never found a problem in peaking up UHF stations with my batwing, or at least finding the best pointing. Sometimes weak stations still don't come in well.
I picked up a three panel antenna at Target when I got the converter for my mother. I don't remember the name but it was about $30 and has three flat panels connected with hinges which allow essentially 360 degree positioning. Works pretty well.
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