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09-07-2016, 02:14 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Hampstead, NC
Posts: 99
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TV Antenna Rotation Tips *NEEDED*
I suspect the answer is "tiral and error", but how do you know the best position to rotate your antenna? Mine is a Winegard that came with the 2014 Silverback. Any tips?
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2014 Cedar Creek Silverback 33RL
2008 Dodge 3500 6.7L Diesel, Quad Cab, 4x4, dually, long bed.
Steve & Pat, "Diesel" the Boxer, and "Molly" the Scotty
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Bought camper 7/14/16
2016: 9 Nights camping
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09-07-2016, 02:25 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: eastern NC
Posts: 1,783
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swbouton
I suspect the answer is "tiral and error", but how do you know the best position to rotate your antenna? Mine is a Winegard that came with the 2014 Silverback. Any tips?
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what I do is,.......if we've never been in this cg, first I'll look at the surrounding rv's to get an idea of what direction most of them use,... I'll dial that in and then its truly trial and error to fine tune for the best reception,....
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09-07-2016, 02:32 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Englewood FL
Posts: 2,797
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If you have internet access, there are multiple sites like antennaweb.org that will show you the direction and distance of each and every channel from your location. From there it is pretty easy.
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2015 335DS
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09-07-2016, 02:33 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hawkins, Texas
Posts: 1,243
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There is an app for your phone or tablet called TV antenna helper it will show you all of the available channels and also display them on a compass so that you know what direction to point the antenna for whatever you want to watch.
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Chuck & Sandra
Engineer/Teacher
2010 F350 CC 6.4
2015 Prime Time Sanibel 3601
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09-07-2016, 02:54 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Hampstead, NC
Posts: 99
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Thanks to you all for these very helpful tips.
__________________
2014 Cedar Creek Silverback 33RL
2008 Dodge 3500 6.7L Diesel, Quad Cab, 4x4, dually, long bed.
Steve & Pat, "Diesel" the Boxer, and "Molly" the Scotty
_______________
Bought camper 7/14/16
2016: 9 Nights camping
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09-07-2016, 03:23 PM
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#6
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Some places there may be a 'best' position if all the off air stations broadcast from within a certain city but often times, stations are located many miles apart geographically.
The antenna may have to be pointed one direction to get certain channels and in a completely different position for others.
Back in the old analog signal days, this wasn't too difficult a task.
Whichever way the antenna was pointing, the stronger channels would scan into your TV just fine and the weaker channels would do so too but would show up snowy until you rotated your antenna for maximum picture gain.
With the onset of digital signals, the task of trying to obtain ALL available off air channels (with any kind of success) is increasingly difficult.
Digital channels require a much stronger signal to get the TV's receiver to tune/lock on to the channel. The weaker ones (which would require the antenna to be rotated differently) don't even scan in so they simply get skipped during the search.
Consequently, if you are looking for a specific network or channel, you may have to rotate the antenna and redo the scan. You'll quite likely lose the channels you originally received and obtain others in their place.
If you feel so compelled, you can research your location to get the channel numbers, (such as 6.1, 8.3, etc) manually input that channel number into your TV and then rotate the antenna to see if you can obtain signal.
Unfortunately, it simply is not as easy as it used to be!
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2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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09-07-2016, 03:47 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: IL
Posts: 1,295
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Hi,
Another good app to try is TVfool.
It gives both chart- and graphic-based depictions, with distances, signal strength, etc., based on a zip code or town name for input.
FWIW.
Rich Phillips
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Rich Phillips
2019 K-2500 Duramax Crew Cab
2014 Silverback 33RL
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09-07-2016, 03:59 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,499
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And know which way the antenna needs to be turned to be "pointing" the right way. I went a few years thinking the old batwing should be lined up with the transmitter. Then found out it goes perpendicular to the transmitter. Duh!😟
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2018 Forester 3011 DS
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09-07-2016, 04:41 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 13,710
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What others have said about which direction other campers have there antenna pointed is a great start. Look in the set-up menu on your tv for the signal strength meter. Then you can fine tune the direction of the antenna to get the strongest signal. It might be a little different because not all transmitters are in the same location.
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09-07-2016, 04:46 PM
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#10
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Learning a lot as I go...
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 216
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They sell a gadget for that
All responses true about perhaps different directions being needed for different stations.
What I do is turn on my gadget and spin the antenna looking for blue LEDs to light up on the gadget. Sometimes I have to adjust the gain knob for weak/strong signals. Move the antenna for the most LEDs lit up. Then launch the TV channel scan.
I have something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/KING-SL1000-S.../dp/B0045E3MHK
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2015 Rockwood 2604WS (sold as 2016)
2014 Ford F-150 Ecoboost
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09-08-2016, 01:01 PM
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#11
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StlClay
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 126
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Check out Winegard SensarPro TV Signal Meter either at Camping World or Amazon. Yes there is a cost but mine works great
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2014 MiniLite with
Nissan Frontier
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09-08-2016, 06:56 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 423
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Be sure you booster is on, if you aren't getting a good signal, rotate your antenna 360 degrees. There is front and back to the antenna.
Good luck.
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09-08-2016, 07:55 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Savannah, GA
Posts: 185
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomrob1161
Be sure you booster is on, if you aren't getting a good signal, rotate your antenna 360 degrees. There is front and back to the antenna.
Good luck.
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I believe you want to make that 180 deg.
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2017.5 Cedar Creek 34RL2
2018 F-350 Lariat CC SRW PSD 4x4
USMC Fighter Pilot (Ret)
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09-08-2016, 08:05 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Savannah, GA
Posts: 185
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fella10
what I do is,.......if we've never been in this cg, first I'll look at the surrounding rv's to get an idea of what direction most of them use,... I'll dial that in and then its truly trial and error to fine tune for the best reception,....
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+1
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2017.5 Cedar Creek 34RL2
2018 F-350 Lariat CC SRW PSD 4x4
USMC Fighter Pilot (Ret)
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09-08-2016, 08:12 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cedar Creek Lake, TX
Posts: 3,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcheatwood
And know which way the antenna needs to be turned to be "pointing" the right way. I went a few years thinking the old batwing should be lined up with the transmitter. Then found out it goes perpendicular to the transmitter. Duh!😟
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Are you saying to not point the end of the antenna at the tower but rather set it "broadside"?
__________________
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Keystone Loredo 290SRL
2019 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins crew cab
Andersen hitch
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09-08-2016, 08:15 PM
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#16
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Which way do you point the Jack antenna? I point the arrow head away from the strongest signal.
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09-08-2016, 10:52 PM
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#17
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Professional Texan
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 366
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I have an app on my phone that tells me which way to point for each individual station the area I'm located. It is free It is called OTAMap
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Texas Bob
2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD2500 Z71
2013 Prime Time Tracer Executive 2640 RLS
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09-08-2016, 10:55 PM
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#18
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Professional Texan
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 366
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasBob
I have an app on my phone that tells me which way to point for each individual station the area I'm located. It is free It is called OTAMap
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Here is a screen shot
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Texas Bob
2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD2500 Z71
2013 Prime Time Tracer Executive 2640 RLS
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09-09-2016, 05:44 AM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Ovilla, TX
Posts: 6
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We use an app on the phone called "DTV Antennas". It uses the GPS on the phone to locate you and then provides a list of all stations within a distance you set with network affiliation and an arrow point out which direction from your location they are. In the Google Play Store, it is listed as "Digital TV Antennas" and the developer is Nicolas Lichtmaier. Not sure if it's available on other platforms.
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The Gisters
TT: 2015 Oasis 310K
TV: 2014 Nissan NV 3500HD-12 psgr Van
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09-10-2016, 07:26 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Dunn, NC
Posts: 1,199
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I have a Direct TV dish and a King HD antenna. Last night found out why I could only get three over air channels. Direct TV receiver was still on. (Trees blocking sat signals) Turned receiver off, got 18 channels.
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