New Style Antenna

[bobkatz5]

We have a Cardinal early 2015, 3850 equipped with what appears to be an omnidirectional antenna with a booster. I am parked next to relatives with the old style bat wing, who are able to get multiple digital channels and I am unable to get any. Any ideas out there?

[Timex]

You'll have to give a little more info.

Is it a Jack antenna?
Is the amplifier/power switch on?
Do you have your tv accepting antenna signals when you scan for channels?
Do you have the antenna pointed in the direction of the broadcast tower?

Pictures of the antenna would be helpful.

[Ksilvi]

The only antenna we've ever had good reception with is the old bat wing type.

[Weezer]

Sneak changed out the original antenna on our 5er for the King Jack. We went from being able to pick up 8 channels at a favorite park/site to picking up 18 channels.

CW duplicated our order....still got the second one for sale if anyone is interested.

[Timex]

Originally Posted by Weezer

Sneak changed out the original antenna on our 5er for the King Jack. We went from being able to pick up 8 channels at a favorite park/site to picking up 18 channels.

CW duplicated our order....still got the second one for sale if anyone is interested.

Weezer, don't tell anybody but I used the 1st one CW sent me(and didn't want back) on the S/B home. Works just as good as the old, tore up Winegard I had. It looks strange up there. The old antenna was about 12' long and this is no bigger than a frying pan!

[Timex]

Bobkatz5, it is beginning to sound like either you don't have a cable that is plugged in or there is a function on the tv that is not selected properly. If you are not getting any signal whatsoever, sounds like a cable is not connected.

Can DVD's be played thru the tv?

Have you ever received tv signals before this trip?

Your relatives may be playing a trick on you so you can spend more time with them!

How far are you away from a tv station?

I'll keep asking questions until we can narrow the problem down.

My daddy would say, get your head out of the tv and get outside!

[bobkatz5]

Well to attempt to answer all the questions posed by Timex, yup did them all. Can play DVDs, received good signals at other campgrounds, maybe the family did get the goat. So I can tell you the TVs are working fine, hooked up my satellite and forgot about off the air. Problem is getting local info. I asked one of the camp hosts and he told me others there have had similar problems, even with the good old bat wing.

We have moved from that campground to one in Rochester MN. Have yet to try off the air, will attempt later today and let you all know. BTW this place has cable with over 100 channels some even digital. Thanks for all the help.

[abjb]

A friend had the exact same problem, 0 channels.
We hooked up my "King Jack" (didn't move rv) and POOF at least a dozen channels.
Only problem, the "King Jack" requires rotation like a bat wing.

[Timex]

I'm no "expert" anymore when it comes to tv reception. Some 30+ years ago , I installed antennas on S/B homes. We'd use a 40' mast with a motor on top with a little piece of pipe about 2' long connected to the large aerial antenna. Sometimes, just by raising/lowering a section of the mast made a huge difference in reception. Now with digital signals, all I know is you need to be pretty closely aimed at the signal or you won't get anything.

You mentioned you were getting cable channels; are you sure you had the button for the antenna pushed in? Out for cable, in for antenna. Here is a pic of mine. Green light means it is pushed in. You may want to pull this cover off and see if the antenna cable has come off or is loose.

[Dawdyr00]

Have a 2014 cardinal 3850 with the same problem. New style antenna doesn't pick up like old-style did. Picks up about half the channels the old-style did and the reception come in and out



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[Haul-a-Fifth]

I have a 2014 Cardinal 3450 with new type antenna. It depends on location with me, I get just as many channels as my camping buddy with bat wing antenna in some locations and sometimes a few less in other locations. I like the idea of not having to put it up/down and rotating it for better signal.