Wingman antenna

[camper1999]

Anyone try the wingman antenna booster...does out improve reception?

[MtnGuy]

On my camper it works great. Weak channels that previously pixelated often now come in with very little pixelation.

Make sure you have about 10" of clearance on the non-post side of your antennae. Some people have experienced clearance problems in the down position.

[camper1999]

Thanks it seemed like for the price it would be worth a try.I will check the clearance before ordering

[Wiscampsin]

Have used it on our last 2 campers, greatly improved reception. It took me longer to climb up the ladder than it did to put it on.

[Herk7769]

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ster-9994.html

Has lots of great links and explains why it works so well.

[wagon52]

I purchased one and put it on last week. I'm in a good area for reception and got 3 more channels without even turning the antennae.

[JohnandPandra]

The Wingman does the job. I also just added the Winegard SensarPro Signal Meter which works great and also enhances TV reception. We went out of state where we didn't know what direction or channels were available, and with the signal meter you just turn the antenna around to the strongest signal, then turn on the tv and do a channel scan. I'm impressed and happy with the purchase from C.W.

[Wildwood Danny]

We have had a Wingman since they first came out, and we have picked up channels when other people without one could not. It does seem like it makes the antenna directional tho.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by camper1999

Anyone try the wingman antenna booster...does out improve reception?

I've put mine on there when reception was marginal and it made a difference.
One important caveat---
See the photo below that Lou posted??
Well, on MY roof there is a refrigerator roof vent in the exact spot where
the wingman sits down when the antenna is lowered.
I can't leave mine on there with the antenna down.

I don't use it unless absolutely necessary and then I have to go on the roof
and "install" it using industrial size rubber bands.
But if momma want's to see her favorite show and it's dropping out-- up on
the roof I go!

You might want to go look at your roof and see if there is an obstruction
next to your antenna in the lowered position.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Wildwood Danny

We have had a Wingman since they first came out, and we have picked up channels when other people without one could not. It does seem like it makes the antenna directional tho.

Yes, sir; without it the UHF part of the antenna is just a loop in the floor plate of the circuit board in the amp and thus "omnidirectional." The wingman acts like a "lens" focusing and thereby boosting the UHF signal onto that loop. This will make it directional for those signals. Your VHF reception (the bat wings) are already directional for VFH stations. If the wings are like arms the white box is the nose and must be pointed at the station's broadcast towers. With the Wingman the "arrow" points to the station's tower.

[ezawacki]

Herk,
I just installed the Batwing last week. I havent had the chance to op check it yet. Reading your post concerning the direction of the antenna; should I now point my antenna using the Batwing as the arrow? In other words, 90 degs off? Im not sure.
thanks
r/
Ed
Salem 2012 26 TBud.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ezawacki

Herk,
I just installed the Batwing last week. I havent had the chance to op check it yet. Reading your post concerning the direction of the antenna; should I now point my antenna using the Batwing as the arrow? In other words, 90 degs off? Im not sure.
thanks
r/
Ed
Salem 2012 26 TBud.

Ed, I am not sure what you mean by "90 degrees off"

The elements of the wingman (and the white amp head) should point at the station's tower. Is that what you meant?

[KyDan]

Ed, see the photo of the antenna below in Lou's previous post??

Even tho the antenna is in the lowered position it is "pointing" to all
stations that are in the direction of the top/right corner of the photo.

[Oakman]

The Wingman gets my endorsement. The Wingman antenna really makes a HUGE difference when you are in a fringe area of television reception. In those fringe areas, even a slight adjustment to the direction that the antenna is pointing can make a big difference. When I installed the Wingman on my previous Wildcat we went from getting one station at Carlyle Lake in Illinois to getting all major stations from the St. Louis area.

I’m bummed because on our new Silverback the antenna is too close to the skylight in the stored position to allow for the Wingman. Nuts!

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Oakman

The Wingman gets my endorsement. The Wingman antenna really makes a HUGE difference when you are in a fringe area of television reception. In those fringe areas, even a slight adjustment to the direction that the antenna is pointing can make a big difference. When I installed the Wingman on my previous Wildcat we went from getting one station at Carlyle Lake in Illinois to getting all major stations from the St. Louis area.

I’m bummed because on our new Silverback the antenna is too close to the skylight in the stored position to allow for the Wingman. Nuts!

Your Silverback might have the new Sensar installed and it has the elements build into the case; or you can replace the entire head (a 2 minute/2 bolt/1 coax job) with King Controls Jack TV For Free OA8000 VHF UHF Amplified TV RV Antenna (OA-8000) from Solid Signal which has a smaller roof footprint.

[Oakman]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Your Silverback might have the new Sensar installed and it has the elements build into the case; or you can replace the entire head (a 2 minute/2 bolt/1 coax job) with King Controls Jack TV For Free OA8000 VHF UHF Amplified TV RV Antenna (OA-8000) from Solid Signal which has a smaller roof footprint.

The Silverback has the Wineguard Sensar III antenna. It just doesn't receive as well as the Wildccat with the Wingman installed. Now that I think about it, perhaps the difference is in the TV's. The Silverback came with a Jensen TV as standard equipment and in the Wildcat I had put in my own personal Samsung TV.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Oakman

The Silverback has the Wineguard Sensar III antenna. It just doesn't receive as well as the Wildccat with the Wingman installed. Now that I think about it, perhaps the difference is in the TV's. The Silverback came with a Jensen TV as standard equipment and in the Wildcat I had put in my own personal Samsung TV.

Winegard Sensar III Digital HDTV Antenna (GS-2200/GS-1100) Amplified and Non-Amplified Outdoor TV Antenna

If you look at the antenna pattern you will see that the Sensar III does NOT have the directional feature included. It is the OLD antenna head.

I would look at an antenna head replacement. The Sensar IV might fit or the King Controls Jack TV.

SENSAR RV VHF/UHF Television Antenna - #1 Antenna in the RV Industry!

The Sensar IV has the leading elements included but the largest one is inside the white amp housing.

[Oakman]

I guess if I'm going to continue going to Lake Carlyle I'll have to get a better OTA antenna or perhaps I'll just go with a satellite service. The decision will have to wait until the end of May when I return from Italy.

[jgrant911]

Bought one for my 2011 Sunseeker 2300 and it seems to perform as advertised. Sitting in my driveway in Vancouver I can pick up about twice as many off-air channels as I could before installing the Wingman (8 vs. 4). I second KyDan's caution about checking the clearance on your roof before going ahead with the purchase. On my Sunseeker the Wingman sits just inside the edge of the roof.

[ezawacki]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Ed, see the photo of the antenna below in Lou's previous post??

Even tho the antenna is in the lowered position it is "pointing" to all
stations that are in the direction of the top/right corner of the photo.

KyDan/Herk,
Copy all. I understand now. I may have the chance to go camping next week and look fwd to trying it out. Thanks for the info and help.
r/
Ed