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07-29-2013, 07:59 AM
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#1
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
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JACK antenna vs Winegard with wingman
On another thread here someone mentioned the JACK replacement
antenna. See here-
Digital Over-the-Air HDTV Antenna
This is sold as a "5 minute" replacement for the Winegard antenna.
My question is why??
I can't find any sort of db claim of increased signal strength vs Winegard or
anything else.
Why would I want to change out a winegard for a Jack??
I have the Winegard wingman booster but am not happy with reception.
This Feb we camped in the FL panhandle and had iffy reception.
If the clouds rolled in I lost half my stations.
I sure would like to know if a Jack antenna would have made any difference.
Anyone with real world experience. Have you put a Jack in the place
of a Winegard and seen an improvement??
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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07-29-2013, 08:08 AM
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#2
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PPST OGCDG
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between I-95 & The Great Dismal Swamp
Posts: 2,163
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan
On another thread here someone mentioned the JACK replacement
antenna. See here-
Digital Over-the-Air HDTV Antenna
This is sold as a "5 minute" replacement for the Winegard antenna.
My question is why??
I can't find any sort of db claim of increased signal strength vs Winegard or
anything else.
Why would I want to change out a winegard for a Jack??
I have the Winegard wingman booster but am not happy with reception.
This Feb we camped in the FL panhandle and had iffy reception.
If the clouds rolled in I lost half my stations.
I sure would like to know if a Jack antenna would have made any difference.
Anyone with real world experience. Have you put a Jack in the place
of a Winegard and seen an improvement??
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I just installed the Jack antenna. I checked with the old Winegard with out the booster I could only get 2 channels. After I replaced with the new Jack antenna I could 31 channels
__________________
Frank- VA {:-{)
2004 4x4 Ford 6.0 PS, SCC, SB
2005 Wildcat 29 RLBS
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07-29-2013, 08:26 AM
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#3
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
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Really not fair to compare the Jack to an old style Winegard.
Like trying to compare a Hybrid to a gasser only compact car.
The comparison should only be to a Jack and a Winegard Sensar IV or Wingman boosted unit.
Would love to compare signals at Goshen as I have the booster on my Sensar II.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-29-2013, 09:06 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
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Lou, I would love to know!
If you find anyone at Goshen with a Jack on the roof ask how many channels
they're getting and compare to what you're getting.
Momma wants her TV to work- especially on rainy days.
Part of my problem is my winegard lays down right next to my refer
roof vent. I can't leave the wingman booster on there. I have to go up
and install and remove it anytime we're moving.
Instead of clipping it on permanently I just hold it on there with industrial
size rubber bands but it's a PIA to climb up there to do it- especially if
it's raining!!
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07-29-2013, 09:18 AM
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#5
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan
Lou, I would love to know!
If you find anyone at Goshen with a Jack on the roof ask how many channels
they're getting and compare to what you're getting.
Momma wants her TV to work- especially on rainy days.
Part of my problem is my winegard lays down right next to my refer
roof vent. I can't leave the wingman booster on there. I have to go up
and install and remove it anytime we're moving.
Instead of clipping it on permanently I just hold it on there with industrial
size rubber bands but it's a PIA to climb up there to do it- especially if
it's raining!!
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My point is that I am pretty sure the results will be similar without the expense of a complete replacement (just the 25 dollar snap on part). You should also look at how much real estate a Jack takes up. While less than a Wingman, it is more than what you have.
If you have issues with the Wingman, you most likely will have issues with the Jack. So, a complete roof replacement to one of the round ones (that you don't aim) might be your only option. (Sucky option; but there you are).
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-30-2013, 08:11 PM
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#6
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Love My Sunseeker
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 788
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I've got the JACK with the Surelock. I have found the SureLock doesn't mean squat. I'm in North Dakota right now and I have found that when I rotate the antenna to the MOST LED lights, I get NOTHING. I still have to do the Scan, see what you get, rotate another 45 degrees, scan, see what you get, etc. I have found that I get the most channels when I have ONLY ONE LED light lit. Unless someone at Forest River wired the SureLock wrong.....
Also with the JACK, I have found that when I have stayed in places where I used to use the batwing, I get both of the following:
I get channels I didn't use to get with batwing plus Wingman
I fail to get channels I USED TO GET with batwing and Wingman
I am failing to see how JACK is such an improvement.
__________________
JJ only, my cat went to Rainbow Bridge July 2015
I love my Sunseeker, when I'm on a trip I don't wanna go home!!!"
Total days camping each year: AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!
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07-30-2013, 08:27 PM
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#7
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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I replaced the Winegard batwing with the Jack sitting in the same location in Orlando Thousand Trails. Went from 31 channels with the batwing to 63 channels with the Jack and never changed a thing except the antenna. Antenna was not rotated from the original batwing position, absolutely nothing was changed but the antenna. I have a batwing I will GIVE anyone who wants it.
__________________
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07-31-2013, 08:39 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: TN
Posts: 645
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot
I replaced the Winegard batwing with the Jack sitting in the same location in Orlando Thousand Trails. Went from 31 channels with the batwing to 63 channels with the Jack and never changed a thing except the antenna. Antenna was not rotated from the original batwing position, absolutely nothing was changed but the antenna. I have a batwing I will GIVE anyone who wants it.
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Did your batwing have the Wingman add on? Just wanted to know if you were comparing apples to apples.
__________________
Russ & Kim
2014 Alpine 3600RS
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9 4X4
2008 Harley Davidson Road King 105th Anniversary
(2011-5 bad year)(2012-40)(2013-45)(2014-23)
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07-31-2013, 08:54 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Road-King
Did your batwing have the Wingman add on? Just wanted to know if you were comparing apples to apples.
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X2???
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07-31-2013, 02:56 PM
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#10
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Old Enough to Know Better
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Greenwood, In
Posts: 528
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My .02 I put the Jack unit on an 94 Itasca class c I used to own and it made a big difference in the number of channels I picked up. I had already added the wingman without much change. I will admit the sensar unit was original to the rig so it was pre-digital but I was well statisfied with the jack. I wish I could put one on my current rig to replace the pizza pan pos that is on it but I dont want to deal with the modification yet.
Regards
__________________
Jim & Debbie England
Do you have Gas? 2015 F350 6.2L CCLB DRW 4.30 axle.
2020 Keystone Cougar 364BHL ,Gone 2012 Yellowstone Ridgeline 34RLT Fifth Wheel
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07-31-2013, 03:11 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 9
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just came back from our annual trip to peninsula state park in door county, wi which has horrible tv reception. Past trips were with the wingard wingman,this was the first trip with the Jack. All though we were not on the exact same site (3 away from our last trip). we did notice some improvement with the jack, less freeze up and not quite directional but no additional channels, still poor but noted improvement.
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07-31-2013, 03:32 PM
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#12
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Road-King
Did your batwing have the Wingman add on? Just wanted to know if you were comparing apples to apples.
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It was a basic batwing replaced with Jack. Didn't want to add to the batwing when there was something smaller.
__________________
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07-31-2013, 05:12 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Jamestown NY
Posts: 588
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I had the wingman w/the wingman ad on, changed to the Jack and got 100% better reception in the same location. Would never have anything but the Jack antenna.
__________________
2012 Winnebago "Journey To Insanity" 40U
2008 Dakota Sport 4x4
2004 Subaru Baja - DW's
2006 Honda Shadow Aero - TOAD for now.
F.R.O.G. member
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