TV antenna and reception issues

[RoadkingC6]

Hello, I have a 2022 FR Greywolf and i cannot get a signal for my tv reception,i have the coaxial plate with the button for the amplifier depressed and i get the indicator light showing it's on but i can't get any reception, the TV shows it's not getting a signal, I removed the plate and all the connections are intact, however i can't see the connection at the antenna. I'm considering buying a new antenna and replacing the factory one with a King antenna with the ability to rotate the direction, before i do that i may remove part of the ceiling in the trailer to get a look at the connection at the antenna side, any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[Sunseeker16]

Are you sure the tv setting is set for air and not cable?

 

[RoadkingC6]

Yes it's set for air, i also put a volt meter on and verified there was 12 volts present.

 

[Sunseeker16]

Try a cheap antenna and a length of coax and bypass the RV antenna.

 

[RoadkingC6]

Funny you say that
, at one of the campgrounds i made a cheap antenna out of a coat hanger and coax cable and i got TV reception, so i know the coax wiring is good from the input side of the RV, and i get reception when i hook up from the campground cable. however next month we have a trip planned for Virginia and this campground has no Cable or WiFi available

 

[fipntdot]

What antenna do you have? Ours is the winegard "360 degree" antenna which I can say is not 360 degree. When setting up in different orientations at the same campground we get different reception. Sometimes reception varies by weather, etc. Sometimes no reception when we had stations an hour earlier. I have not been impressed by this antenna.



Make sure you have reception where your camper is. It was suggested getting a second cheapo rabbit-ear antenna and plugging it directly into the tv and seeing if you get a station where you are.

 

[Sunseeker16]

My Rv has a King directional antenna and if I ever have to replace it I'm going old fashioned bat wing antenna.

 

[tomkatb]

We have the King antenna.

Great reception.

Issues!

The plastic is inferior. Hit a branch and they break. We are on #4 in 6 years.

The design is goofy. Any issues requires the removal of the antenna on the roof. Connections in the base. So now we have a severed cable to the antenna. The thing has to be removed to service it. Not a ten minutes job.

They require plugging in the single cable from the booster. So if the antenna connection is in the exterior antenna this would be easy.

They sell a plastic plate to cover bigger holes in the roof. Order that as well. You can always return it.

Expect two hours on the roof. You have to “worry” the sealer off the roof. No metal tools. Rub with the hands.

 

[RoadkingC6]

The antenna i have is a Batwing style, as far as what brand i don't know it's whatever Forest River uses when they built the RV, also the Wineguard requires a WiFi signal, i would prefer to use an antenna not requiring WiFi to work, the antenna i'm looking at is the King Low Profile HDTV Over The Air antenna a Batwing style antenna Model OA8500, unless of course i can get the antenna on the RV now to work.

 

[FlagstaffBen]

Omnidirectional OTA antennas are worthless unless youre 25 miles or less from the transmitter location, and that's if you also have a clear line of sight from antenna to transmitter. There is not one made that does not have in the install instructions to not have an obstruction around the mounting location, such as an RV AC unit, vent fan cover, etc. That's almost impossible to accomplish.


Our 2024 Flagstaff TT has a Winegard Air 360 5G omnidirectional antenna. At the dealer it worked fine but was within 20 miles of all the Pittsburgh transmitters, at our house @ 32 miles from the Pgh transmitters as the crow flies, I get nothing. Its a POS. As a comparison on the previous trailer we had with the Winegard Sensar Batwing antenna, I could pull in all the Pittsburgh channels from the same spot where I get none with Air 360. And secondly the FM radio reception of the Air 360 is terrible also. They install these omnidirectional antennas because theyr'e cheap and fast to install, not because they're better than other options.

 

[Boomerweps]

Some get better reception using a flat hdtv antenna aimed towards the transmitter. High up is best, of course, but some people just suction cup it to a window facing the right way in flatlands.
If you have DirectTV, they will give you that type antenna for local channels for free if you ask.
I saw one camper use a normal house antenna on a short pole (~5’) on their rear bumper. Claimed it worked at that CG (flat land on the northern OH-PA border). They were on the edge of that CG.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

It could be the amplifier in the antenna on the roof is defective. I found ours to be defective and replaced it with a new omnidirectional antenna. Works great for stations that are within 20 miles or less, depending on the terrain.

Hills and certain types of vegetation between the RV antenna and the TV transmitter site will cause a lack of signal or weak signal. Do not believe those 100-mile range statements. TV signals travel line of sight only.

Bob

 

[bikendan]

Moved thread from the Welcome Mat section to the Appliances and Electronics sub-forum since the OP's post is specific to that particular sub-forum and not an introduction post.

 

[fipntdot]

The antenna i have is a Batwing style, as far as what brand i don't know it's whatever Forest River uses when they built the RV, also the Wineguard requires a WiFi signal, i would prefer to use an antenna not requiring WiFi to work, the antenna i'm looking at is the King Low Profile HDTV Over The Air antenna a Batwing style antenna Model OA8500, unless of course i can get the antenna on the RV now to work.

The wineguard doesn't need a wifi signal for broadcast tv.

 

[DougW9876]

The winegard 360 is pretty worthless as an antenna. We had one on our motor home and were getting only a few channels when others around us were getting plenty of stations. since we were parked for the winter I bought a $40 antenna and a 5ft piece of mast, put it on the ladder and got more than double the number of stations. Our current RV has the winegard as well, I am considering swapping for one of the old style crank up gull wing units, I don’t think it could possibly be worse.

 

[Medic455]

We had the Winegard Teton Antenna on ours when purchased and it was useless, took it off after second trip and replaced with the 360+ and the gateway and works like a champ. Pick up stations in places that I don't have regular cell service in and usually does a good job of OTA antenna coverage.

 

[leomosley]

Two things you could try.
- Check your cable from the booster panel inside to the antenna for continuity. Put a jumper at one end from the centre pin to the screw connection. At the other end measure resistance between the centre pin and screw connection. You should get zero resistance with the jumper installed, open circuit with the jumper off.
- Connect your cable back up inside, and turn on the booster power. With the cable disconnected at the antenna, measure for DC voltage. Should get 12V, if I recall correctly.

 

[GHWildcat]

No TV signal

If you’re not getting a tv signal first thing to do is go on the roof of your rv and unplug the cable from your rv and attach a length of cable long enough to attach to your tv and just bypass the internal cable.
My neighbour had this issue and we found this to prove that at the factory they had put a staple right through the internal coax cable.
I have also had others having this same problem when the booster is malfunctioning inside the trailer.
I am surprised that you’re still getting an analog cable signal. Most have gone to digital which you need a digital signal antenna to get a digital signal.

 

[Pockets]

try hooking up the cable to the other port on your wall. There are 2 ports you can use, upper and lower. The upper one is for cable, the lower is antenna. It is on my Flagstaff at least

 

[Red Roadrunner]

Installed an as seen on TV antenna purchased from Walmart for $39.00. Works great. It looks like a small ole' time rabbit ears antenna. Just get it near a window and it works great.
We have Wineguarde Teton on our Rockwood, and get no service.