Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-09-2011, 09:18 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
EastlakeRoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eastlake, Ohio
Posts: 463
Question 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
EastlakeRoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2011, 09:25 AM   #2
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastlakeRoo View Post
Just wanted to know from experience how it worked.
There are several GREAT threads here about how and why this piece of equipment works (and it does).

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...enna-8557.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...uard-5152.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ster-7037.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...gman-4197.html

The list goes on...
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2011, 09:37 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
grhodes50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 2,618
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.
grhodes50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2011, 09:47 AM   #4
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
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.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2011, 08:34 AM   #5
Site Team
 
KyDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastlakeRoo View Post
Has anybody purchased or installed a winegard-wingman antenna booster?
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.
__________________
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
KyDan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2011, 08:54 AM   #6
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan View Post
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.
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
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2011, 07:32 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Hipshot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waco, Texas
Posts: 222
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.
__________________
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
Hipshot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2011, 04:55 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Big Dawg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 533
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.
Big Dawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2011, 07:41 AM   #9
Site Team
 
KyDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hipshot View Post
I just installed the King Controls Jack Lou is refering to.
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
KyDan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2011, 07:59 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Big Dawg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 533
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
Big Dawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2011, 08:03 AM   #11
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan View Post
How does this "king controls" antenna get power?
Do you simply just change the antenna head up on the
mast and that's all??
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.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Protractor used to align TV antenna.pdf (219.7 KB, 97 views)
File Type: pdf DTV Stations.pdf (252.6 KB, 83 views)
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2011, 08:08 AM   #12
Moderator Emeritus
 
MtnGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
I have pretty good luck with doing a channel search every 120 degrees.
__________________

Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
MtnGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2011, 08:21 AM   #13
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
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
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2011, 09:06 AM   #14
Moderator Emeritus
 
MtnGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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
MtnGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2011, 08:16 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Hipshot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waco, Texas
Posts: 222
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
Hipshot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2011, 10:48 PM   #16
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 800
Thumbs up

Here's another transmitter map website:

TV Fool
__________________
2017 Chevrolet K2500HD
2009 Rockwood 2106 Mini-Lite

https://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/3...600x600Q85.jpg
revrnd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2011, 08:18 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
Wildwood Danny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Kansas
Posts: 280
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
Wildwood Danny is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
antenna

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:15 AM.