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01-09-2011, 09:18 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eastlake, Ohio
Posts: 463
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Winegard Wingman UHF Antenna Booster
Has anybody purchased or installed a winegard-wingman antenna booster?
Just wanted to know from experience how it worked. Purchased it at the RV show.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...-wingman/44021
__________________
2014 Wildwood 300BH
2014 Ford Explorer XLT
2011 Ford F350 FX4
Eastlake, OH
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01-09-2011, 09:37 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 2,618
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I bought and installed one on my old trailer. It took as long to climb up and down the ladder as it did to install it. Very simple and easy.
It did bring in what channels I was currently receiving better, but I didn't notice it being able to pull in any additional channels.
Hope this is the info you needed.
Good luck.
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01-09-2011, 09:47 AM
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#4
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
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As posted previously, the Winegard Wingman makes your antenna "directional" and no longer "omni-directional". Use www.antennaweb.org in the USA to find the direction (compass heading) to point the "arrow" of the wingman to the transmission antenna of the local stations.
There may be several "headings" required to get all the possible stations in your area. Antenna web works best if you use your actual address instead of your zip code.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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01-10-2011, 08:34 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastlakeRoo
Has anybody purchased or installed a winegard-wingman antenna booster?
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It's been mentioned before but just so you are aware--
Some of us have discovered that our antenna lays
down in the "travel position" right next to some other
roof obstruction like the top vent of your refrigerator
or ceiling fan vent.
The wingman sticks out the SIDE of the antenna when
it's stowed and mine and several others find it lands
right on top of the obstruction so we can't leave it
on while traveling.
I kept mine but attach it with heavy duty rubber bands
only when we're in a fringe area where we can get a
signal but it's "iffy". The wingman will improve my
signal when I have a slightly weak one. It won't pull
in really weak stations.
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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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01-10-2011, 08:54 AM
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#6
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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
It's been mentioned before but just so you are aware--Some of us have discovered that our antenna lays down in the "travel position" right next to some other roof obstruction like the top vent of your refrigerator or ceiling fan vent.
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In this situation, I would change out the entire winegard antenna head for a King Controls Jack TV For Free OA8000 VHF UHF Amplified TV RV Antenna (OA-8000) - King Controls - OA-8000 - It is only marginally wider then the stock unit and only a few dollars more expensive than the Wingman Booster.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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01-16-2011, 07:32 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waco, Texas
Posts: 222
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I just installed the King Controls Jack Lou is refering to. My Wineguard lays down within inches of the airconditioner so the wingman would not fit. The Jack took less than 15 minutes to install. I mounted it 180 out from the wineguard and it lays down perfect. I did a scan using the Wineguard, 16 channels. Then did a scan with the Jack, 29 channels. The real test will be next time I go to Goose Island State park. I cannot pull in any stations clearly there. Last time there the camper next to me had a Wingman and got all the local stations clearly.
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2010 Rockwood 2604SS
2008 Silverado 1500 LTZ 4X4
Great Wife and Idiot Yorkie
True Friends are like diamonds, precious and rare.
False ones like autumn leaves found everywhere
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01-17-2011, 04:55 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 533
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I added the wingman to my old camper, I was able to pick up more channels than others in my camping group. The new one is supposed to have one when I get it.
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01-18-2011, 07:41 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 Hipshot
I just installed the King Controls Jack Lou is refering to.
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How does this "king controls" antenna get power?
It says 120v/240v/12v do you have a little adapter like
a cell phone charger that needs a wall outlet?
Do you continue to use the winegard wall connection
(which sends 12v power up to the winegard antenna)??
Do you simply just change the antenna head up on the
mast and that's all??
I'm seriously looking for an upgrade.
We camped at Cumberland Gap NP last fall.
I scanned with my winegard and got zip. Zero stations.
The camp host (Skeeter!) told us we should have found
one or two.
Please give us an update when you've tested your new
unit!!
__________________
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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01-18-2011, 07:59 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 533
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There is a government web site where you can go to see what channels you should recieve when you go camping at places. Just type in the zipcode. I always print out a sheet when I go to see what I should be getting. Here is the site:
The Digital TV Transition: What You Need to Know About DTV
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01-18-2011, 08:03 AM
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#11
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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
How does this "king controls" antenna get power?
Do you simply just change the antenna head up on the
mast and that's all??
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Dan,
The King's antenna is a direct replacement for the Winegard head you have up there now. It gets its power from the existing Winegard wall plate just like the one you have there.
AS to TV stations, remember the thread where I talked about digital stations being "directional" and the UHF/VHF digital stations still need your old antenna to be "aimed". Once you put the Wingman or the King's Control antenna on, ALL digital stations become directional. The "Arrow" of the the Winegard and King's control antenna MUST point to the tower for best reception. Find that bearing for each station you want to watch.
Try using www.antennaweb.org to get the "bearing" to the transmission tower. I made a compass for the crank handle as shown in a related thread and it works GREAT.
Also attached is what the web site will produce. Also click on the "street level" button for a "visual" indication of where the antenna should point using road map or Google Earth type pictures of your camp site. I had no luck trying to create a "picture" of that result to post.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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01-18-2011, 08:08 AM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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I have pretty good luck with doing a channel search every 120 degrees.
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Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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01-18-2011, 08:21 AM
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#13
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
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Since every channel has its own bearing, that technique (which served you well in the past I am sure) would be extremely time consuming with today's digital signals. (Unless there are only one or two available in your area). See the attached PDF of stations in my area. There are over 30 available, most with unique headings for pixel free reception.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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01-18-2011, 09:06 AM
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#14
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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au contraire, that is the method that I use now. I might be missing a few channels, but can pick up a bunch.....something like 23 with my camper sitting in the driveway. I was so impressed with the reception, that I decided to go OTA in my house and I am now disconnected from cable. Got to tell ya, the picture is much better OTA than cable.......and I have had neighbors comment on that, also.
I cannot pick up as many channels on my home TV....something like 21. My home antennae does not rotate, but has something like a 75% directional beam width. I am picking up channels from 75 miles away with a small mountain in the way.....not too shabby.
1 interesting note, is that my Winegard with Wingman picked up a 2 channels that were on the backside of the antennae from my aim point. That is why I like the 120 degree channel search method. I figure it might pick up some channels from the backside also, giving me a search every 60 degrees with 3 twists of the antennae ring.
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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01-21-2011, 08:16 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waco, Texas
Posts: 222
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KyDan: I had the same concern about power. The Jack uses the same power supply as the Wineguard. Just connect the coax that was connected to the Wineguard and turn on the antenna switch. There is a LED on the Jack that will light, I can see it from the ground. The Jack also comes with a power supply and power injector for those that don't have a Wineguard.
__________________
2010 Rockwood 2604SS
2008 Silverado 1500 LTZ 4X4
Great Wife and Idiot Yorkie
True Friends are like diamonds, precious and rare.
False ones like autumn leaves found everywhere
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02-16-2011, 10:48 PM
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#16
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 800
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Here's another transmitter map website:
TV Fool
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02-21-2011, 08:18 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Kansas
Posts: 280
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Wingman
We used the Wingman all of last season. We received channels in area where other campers were receiving none, not just on a part time basis but all the time while we were camped in these areas.
In our homestate campground we go to it improved the channel selection.
Turned out to be a good mod for us.
Let's keep talking RVing
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