Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » TV antennas
| TV antennas [message #104407] |
Wed, 27 October 2010 13:57  |
jayrabe
Messages: 509
Registered: June 2009
Location: Portland, OR
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Got lucky and scored a 23" flat screen digital TV from a friend who's moving across country. Need to find a place to mount it, but excited about putting it in my PB.
So now I need an antenna. Looked at Jensen, and really like the omnidirectional and the cool look of them, but reviews aren't good if you're any distance from town, which I plan to be.
The Winegard RS2000 also looks good, 15-20dB gain, but that's what the Jensen claimed, so it might not work well either (couldn't find any reviews online).
So if neither of those are good enough, we're back to crank-up and aim models. Seems like the options are batwings or the ones that look like a Star Wars blaster.
Any experience or recommendations? Just looking for broadcast TV, not satellite or direct TV.
Thanks,
J
76 PB
Portland, OR
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| Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas [message #104410 is a reply to message #104407] |
Wed, 27 October 2010 14:07  |
gmcrv1
Messages: 839
Registered: August 2007
Location: Memphis
Karma: -1
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J.
Haven't even thought about TVs and antenna arrangements for the GMC yet, but
you do not need a special HDTV antenna. I have an old set of rabbit ears in
my shop - the kind with the rotating type tuner on it. Works as good as any
HDTV over the air antenna I have seen. I just had to add one of those
conversion boxes.
As an aside. I saw in Target today a 7" digital TV on clearance for $32.95.
Hard to beat for a small bedroom or limited space application. Co-pilot? I
guess I should go back and get one. Even comes with the 12 volt car
adapter.
Tom Eckert N2VWN
73 Glacier
Oakland, TN
On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 1:57 PM, Jay Rabe <jayrabe@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Got lucky and scored a 23" flat screen digital TV from a friend who's
> moving across country. Need to find a place to mount it, but excited about
> putting it in my PB.
>
> So now I need an antenna. Looked at Jensen, and really like the
> omnidirectional and the cool look of them, but reviews aren't good if you're
> any distance from town, which I plan to be.
>
> The Winegard RS2000 also looks good, 15-20dB gain, but that's what the
> Jensen claimed, so it might not work well either (couldn't find any reviews
> online).
>
> So if neither of those are good enough, we're back to crank-up and aim
> models. Seems like the options are batwings or the ones that look like a
> Star Wars blaster.
>
> Any experience or recommendations? Just looking for broadcast TV, not
> satellite or direct TV.
>
> Thanks,
>
> J
> 76 PB
> Portland, OR
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
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| Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas [message #104432 is a reply to message #104407] |
Wed, 27 October 2010 18:16 |
Nelson Wright
Messages: 147
Registered: May 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I installed a Winegard RS2000 Roadstar Omnidirectional TV Antenna
(RS2000) inside my storage pod top cover and have been amazed at the #
of stations it receives. Nothing to raise or lower or aim, just hit
auto channel program on the TV at each new stopover.
Nelson Wright
Orlando FL
78 Royale rear bath
On Oct 27, 2010, at 2:57 PM, Jay Rabe wrote:
>
>
> Got lucky and scored a 23" flat screen digital TV from a friend
> who's moving across country. Need to find a place to mount it, but
> excited about putting it in my PB.
>
> So now I need an antenna. Looked at Jensen, and really like the
> omnidirectional and the cool look of them, but reviews aren't good
> if you're any distance from town, which I plan to be.
>
> The Winegard RS2000 also looks good, 15-20dB gain, but that's what
> the Jensen claimed, so it might not work well either (couldn't find
> any reviews online).
>
> So if neither of those are good enough, we're back to crank-up and
> aim models. Seems like the options are batwings or the ones that
> look like a Star Wars blaster.
>
> Any experience or recommendations? Just looking for broadcast TV,
> not satellite or direct TV.
>
> Thanks,
>
> J
> 76 PB
> Portland, OR
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas [message #104433 is a reply to message #104432] |
Wed, 27 October 2010 18:26 |
jayrabe
Messages: 509
Registered: June 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Well, that's a great testimonial. That model is high on my list. Thanks Nelson.
J
76 PB
Portland, OR
> From: f25ccapt@gmail.com
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:16:37 -0400
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas
>
> I installed a Winegard RS2000 Roadstar Omnidirectional TV Antenna
> (RS2000) inside my storage pod top cover and have been amazed at the #
> of stations it receives. Nothing to raise or lower or aim, just hit
> auto channel program on the TV at each new stopover.
>
> Nelson Wright
> Orlando FL
> 78 Royale rear bath
>
> On Oct 27, 2010, at 2:57 PM, Jay Rabe wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Got lucky and scored a 23" flat screen digital TV from a friend
> > who's moving across country. Need to find a place to mount it, but
> > excited about putting it in my PB.
> >
> > So now I need an antenna. Looked at Jensen, and really like the
> > omnidirectional and the cool look of them, but reviews aren't good
> > if you're any distance from town, which I plan to be.
> >
> > The Winegard RS2000 also looks good, 15-20dB gain, but that's what
> > the Jensen claimed, so it might not work well either (couldn't find
> > any reviews online).
> >
> > So if neither of those are good enough, we're back to crank-up and
> > aim models. Seems like the options are batwings or the ones that
> > look like a Star Wars blaster.
> >
> > Any experience or recommendations? Just looking for broadcast TV,
> > not satellite or direct TV.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > J
> > 76 PB
> > Portland, OR
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > List Information and Subscription Options:
> > http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas [message #104438 is a reply to message #104412] |
Wed, 27 October 2010 18:57 |
jayrabe
Messages: 509
Registered: June 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Hi Ken,
Yeah, that's the Star Wars Blaster model. :-)
I may end up with that, as it has the best gain #'s I've seen. Anyone using one on top of their coaches? Looks like if you rotated it around with the point towards the rear it wouldn't give a huge amount of wind resistance at speed.
Curious that the info on the website seems to say that this high gain model doesn't work as well if you're too close (closer than 40mi ?!) from the station. Thoughts on why that would be? Still, seems like since you can point it wherever, you should be able to adjust it for good reception regardless...
Thanks for the lead.
J
76 PB
Portland, OR
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: n9cv@comcast.net
> Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:16:24 -0500
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas
>
>
>
> Take a look at these. They will not go up and down but they do have have a built in rotor. Also are fairly small.
>
> http://www.homeantenna.org/?gclid=CInKvLzg86QCFQFoKgod7lLYgw
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
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| Re: TV antennas [message #104445 is a reply to message #104407] |
Wed, 27 October 2010 20:34 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I also was able to get a small 15" HDTV for the back sleeping area of the coach. I hooked it up to an old boomerang antenna I had laying around (you used to see them on the back of limos back in the day), and it seems to work fine. I haven't mounted it on the dop of the coach yet, but if it works a distance away from Chicago, I do like the way it looks.
Anyone had any experience with the boomerang type antennas?
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas [message #104561 is a reply to message #104407] |
Fri, 29 October 2010 06:56 |
Douglas Norton
Messages: 191
Registered: April 2008
Karma: 0
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I have the crank-up Winegard. I picked up a HDTV (UHF) directional adapter for it in January. The adapter made it a bit more directional and added a station or two in the very fringe areas. Before the adapter I compared it to a couple of house top mounted units in a fringe area. It smoked the house top units.
At home I have a big UHF antenna (the kind you see on the front section of the old UHF/VHF expensive antennas) and the crank-up Winegard outperform that. However, there is a considerable expense for a crank-up Winegard - not even counting the cost if you slide off the roof of the coach.
Wal-Mart sells a small bolt-on-a-pipe rectangular amplified unit about 8" high by 4" wide for about $40. My daughter has one: while not as good as my crank-up Winegard, it does a good job. That design takes up little space, could be mounted in a window, be put inside a pod, on the roof behind the AC unit, or I would put one on a telescoping rotatable pole that I could mount on my ladder.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-Indoor-Outdoor-UHF-Digital-Analog-TV-Antenna/11019010
http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/hd-antenna.php
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&expIds=17259,25980,26637,27059,27140,27144,27182,27284&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=hdtv+antenna &cp=4&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=16761795725211677468&ei=ubLKTKLuLYvCsAPDnr3RDg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&re snum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CD0Q8wIwAg#
http://www.espymall.com/products/LAVA-Amplified-Indoor-Outdoor-HDTV-Digital-TV-Antenna-HD600.html
--- On Wed, 10/27/10, Jay Rabe <jayrabe@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Jay Rabe <jayrabe@hotmail.com>
Subject: [GMCnet] TV antennas
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 11:57 AM
Got lucky and scored a 23" flat screen digital TV from a friend who's moving across country. Need to find a place to mount it, but excited about putting it in my PB.
So now I need an antenna. Looked at Jensen, and really like the omnidirectional and the cool look of them, but reviews aren't good if you're any distance from town, which I plan to be.
The Winegard RS2000 also looks good, 15-20dB gain, but that's what the Jensen claimed, so it might not work well either (couldn't find any reviews online).
So if neither of those are good enough, we're back to crank-up and aim models. Seems like the options are batwings or the ones that look like a Star Wars blaster.
Any experience or recommendations? Just looking for broadcast TV, not satellite or direct TV.
Thanks,
J
76 PB
Portland, OR
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas [message #104604 is a reply to message #104602] |
Sat, 30 October 2010 02:50 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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| Douglas Norton wrote on Sat, 30 October 2010 01:26 |
Yes, it is the Wingman. It is about 8" long with cross beams. It bolts onto the center of the Sensar (bat wing) antenna. That long Bat wing antenna is directional and this increases the directionality. They should engineer a shorter wing as the long one is out dated as it was for VHF and UHF. HDTV is now only UHF which requires shorter cross beams.
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While I agree most GMCers should probably look at using a narrower (smaller) antenna on their GMCs covering UHF only, not all high power TV transitioned to the UHF band and if you are in an area that still uses VHF you might still want a wider antenna.
After the Feb 2009 conversion to digital the nation's 1,819 full-power TV stations look like this:
Low-band VHF (ch. 2-6): quantity 40,
High-band VHF (ch. 7-13): quantity 445,
UHF (ch. 14-51): quantity 1334.
If some of the local stations you want to receive are still below channel 14, you may need a VHF/UHF antenna — especially to receive channels 2-6.
I intend to go to a UHF only antenna even though there are still some VHF channels in the Chicago area.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: TV antennas [message #104611 is a reply to message #104445] |
Sat, 30 October 2010 08:20 |
fred v
Messages: 999
Registered: April 2006
Location: pensacola, fl.
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| GeorgeRud wrote on Wed, 27 October 2010 20:34 |
I also was able to get a small 15" HDTV for the back sleeping area of the coach. I hooked it up to an old boomerang antenna I had laying around (you used to see them on the back of limos back in the day), and it seems to work fine. I haven't mounted it on the dop of the coach yet, but if it works a distance away from Chicago, I do like the way it looks.
Anyone had any experience with the boomerang type antennas?
|
you could take the bat wing off the arm and mount the boomerang on it so you could still raise it and rotate it.
Fred V
'77 Royale RB 455
P'cola, Fl
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| Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas [message #104621 is a reply to message #104604] |
Sat, 30 October 2010 11:38 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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After the Feb 2009 conversion to digital the nation's 1,819 full-power TV stations look like this:
Low-band VHF (ch. 2-6): quantity 40,
High-band VHF (ch. 7-13): quantity 445,
UHF (ch. 14-51): quantity 1334.
If some of the local stations you want to receive are still below channel 14, you may need a VHF/UHF antenna — especially to receive channels 2-6.
Ken: I thought all 2-6 channel stations had been forced off those frequencies and they were allocated to something else. Is that not true? I did know about the 7-13 being left alone in many cases. Is there a switchover date on the 2-6 stations? 40 is not a lot, but still significant. Is there a listing somewhere of what stations are on what (real) channels? Appreciate the help.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] TV antennas [message #104629 is a reply to message #104621] |
Sat, 30 October 2010 15:16 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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| idrob wrote on Sat, 30 October 2010 11:38 |
After the Feb 2009 conversion to digital the nation's 1,819 full-power TV stations look like this:
Low-band VHF (ch. 2-6): quantity 40,
High-band VHF (ch. 7-13): quantity 445,
UHF (ch. 14-51): quantity 1334.
If some of the local stations you want to receive are still below channel 14, you may need a VHF/UHF antenna — especially to receive channels 2-6.
Ken: I thought all 2-6 channel stations had been forced off those frequencies and they were allocated to something else. Is that not true? I did know about the 7-13 being left alone in many cases. Is there a switchover date on the 2-6 stations? 40 is not a lot, but still significant. Is there a listing somewhere of what stations are on what (real) channels? Appreciate the help.
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I thought the same as you but I have found multiple references to the 40 that are still on the lower VHF band. Unfortunately I have no listing of them or where they are located.
It is possible that they are not in the continental US. Example: Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, US Virgin islands, Puerto Rico, etc.
As AN EXAMPLE, I just googled "remaining VHF TV channels" and found this quote:
UHF television antennas have physically smaller antenna elements than those required for VHF frequencies. VHF channels provide more solid signals in hilly or otherwise uneven terrain, but require a larger antenna. Most digital TV channels on VHF will be using channels 7 through 13, which require a high-band VHF antenna separate from a UHF array, or a combined UHF/VHF antenna. There are approximately 40 stations left in the entire country that will use the VHF Low Band (Channels 2 through 6), which requires an even larger antenna for adequate reception of those frequencies.
ON this page:
http://www.global-cm.net/DIG%20TV%20PRIMER.html
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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