Winegard Wingman

[RVnwithRAM]

Has any one tried the winegard wingman that just attaches to the existing antenna that is advertised in Camping World catalog. Since I still have the old TV and use the converter Box I was thinking about trying the add on for a better signal but I am afraid I will just be wasteing my money, haven't seen a post any where where some one has actually used one. They also have a replacement head that suppose to help too. My 5th. wheel is a 2000 Sunnybrook which has the older type antenna. It does pretty good on antenna I have but I pick up fewer stations.

 

[tempforce]

i bought one, it helps a little.

i would just purchase a hd antenna. and put the pole on the ladder, raise it up when needed.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

A few are using them over in the IRV2 forums - they help some, but nothing to get excited about if you are really in a fringe area. Fact is, all the Winegard RV antennas are, is a VERY broadband dipole, bi-directional antenna - ZERO signal gain on even it's best frequency match - and LESS than zero everywhere else.



The only way the antennas perform at all, is thru use of the built-in wide band signal booster inside the antenna head. The antennas were designed decades ago, and for the VHF (lower channel) frequencies - and performance SUCKS up at UHF, where the HD digital channels are.



The Wingman is a feeble attempt to provide a LITTLE improvement in the UHF band - but the 3 db increase they provide is pretty minimal. I'm currently working on a VHF/UHF small footprint, multi-element rotatable Yagi type antenna just for this exact reason - it will either mount to the existing Winegard crank-up mast, or else I will just mount it on a separate mast that secures to the rear ladder of our MH.

 

[Jim W]

I had one on my 2006 Summit Ridge 5er and I did not really notice much of improvement at all. On our 2010 Cougar with a HD TV installed and the standard Winegard Antenna, I thought we would not need one.

Will on the last trip all we could get in was 5 channels which were local kids, church and spanish channels ended up buying two movies to watch at night. Could not get any national TV programing, signal strength is not very strong from them when camping. For that matter ABC, in the Chicago market had to increase their signal strength just to broadcast to the local market. Needed FCC permission to increase their signal strength.

We since have purchased the new portable sat receiver from Winegard $200 and a DISH box $100, will be trying this system in May on our next trip. This was the DW idea, I would just as soon listen to music and a good book to read, but the DW needs to be kept happy.

By the way we already have a dish account, must have the NFL, History channels.

Jim

 

[RVnwithRAM]

Seems like every one so far are on the same page concerning the antenna, that is what I was thinking but just wanted to see if I was missing something. I will just keep what I have and use cable when available . Jim,I am with you about watching TV I had rather listen to good music or read but the wife has got to watch TV ,she's not to crazy about listening to music . If Mama not happy no body happy. About the only time I watch TV is at night or if it is raining and I can't get out .

Dwade

 

[skorski]

I have the same problem can't recieve good tv signal keeps breaking up . I looked at the add on and it is made of plastic with snap in plastic nuts to hold it in place . You tell me how a piece of plastic can recieve a tv signal better then the metal on on the RV. Sounds like a scam to me

 

[JRMora]

I'm full timing here in Wichita (work). I have the original Wineguard antenna. It works as good as a $50 powered (amplified) "HD" rabbit ears antenna I bought at Radio Shack. There are about 50 or so RV's here now. I'd say all but a handful are using satellite dishes. Maybe it's time for me to bite the bullet...



Juan

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'm full timing here in Wichita (work). I have the original Wineguard antenna. It works as good as a $50 powered (amplified) "HD" rabbit ears antenna I bought at Radio Shack. There are about 50 or so RV's here now. I'd say all but a handful are using satellite dishes. Maybe it's time for me to bite the bullet...



Juan

YUP - you got it!



ALL the typical batwing RV TV antenna IS, is a rabbit-ear, amplified antenna, and actually, the TRUE rabbit ear type can at least lengthen/shorten the elements to better match the frequency of the TV channel you are watching. The Winegard RV antenna in truth, is little better than a coat-hanger, as far as technology and efficiency is concerned! :-laf

 

[FPettijohn]

Comcast in Indiana is making EVERYONE go to a digital box so my guess is that in a year or 2 there will be no "free" tv. You will either need cable from the park or dish and the local channels will have to pay to be carried in that market, not sure how that will all work out with their advertisers.

Fred

 

[jelag]

I was just on the Wineguard sight yesterday... They say the batwing will work for digital as good as it did on analog... . We just upgraded to a new Sony and have installed a full wave inverter... to run the TV, DVD player and the wife's heated mattress pad...

We often will spend the night in a parking lot or truck stop when we travel, hitting a rv park every week or so as needed... .

We've noticed that the heated mattress pad, uses 90 watts max but an engineer at the company that makes the electronics says that a good rule of thumb would be 30-35 watts continuous during the night as it uses a dwell cycle, on/off cycle... . That's more than acceptable with our current battery set up... . BTW it wouldn't work with a square wave unit...

We usually watch a movie but at times want a local broadcast. . and I'd be interested in a unit that might mount in place of the batwing to do a better job if one of you has tried this... .

I've thought about taking an existing off the shelf antenna and modifying it... . but that's a next winter project. .

 

[PMcColley]

We have a factory installed Winegard (amplified) from 94 on our ALJO TT and it works great for HD. I was just down by Springfield OR and was pulling in 18 channels. We live in SE WA and get 12 with no stutter and if I actually turn the antenna I can get 4 more.

We considered adding the "HD Upgrade" since 70% of all HDTV channels are in the UHF range but after talking to others that had already installed it we found that there was really no added benefit.

The sensar antennas have 2 antennas the long metal elements are VHF and inside the plastic box is a smaller UHF element. The idea behind the wingman is that adding the element is supposed to help direct more of the UHF signal toward the existing UHF antenna giving your a 3-6 decibel gain.

You probably already know this but make sure your antenna has the amplifier turned on when in use. If it is not on the amp will switch your antenna feed to the cable input and you will not be using the antenna.

 

[jelag]

In motorhome news or hiway herald I just saw a new antenna that was tested that replaced the bat wing... . you take the keepers and pins out and replace with the new one. . as tested it did really well... and sells for $50... if I remember the article I'll grab the web sight and post it.

 

[Garlic]

Walley World has amplified HD antennas for under $35. Bought one last fall and it beats the Winegard add on hands down. Small, compact and if you play your cards right you can move it slightly to adjust signals. No issues with it so far. We usually don't dry camp, so shore power is usually availabe. The wife says 'If the Microwave don't work, we don't go camping'. We have gotten pretty soft in our later years.

 

[jelag]

OK... . A company called King Controls, at King Controls makes a replacement for the batwing antenna that is a direct bolt up... there was an article about it in the June issue of MotorHome... . sells for $49. 95 and has to be used with the existing 12 volt booster already installed... .

This unit is called the "Jack" and weighs just a 1/2 lb... what I like is that it is a replacement for the batwing and is smaller and looks like it might do the trick. .