Older Winegard Antenna

ronniewarren · 03-04-2012, 06:34 PM

I just puchased a 1992 sunline camper with a roof mounted Winegard Antenna. I am installing a new HDTV. Is their any way the old Winegard Antenna work with the new digital TV?

mainah · 03-04-2012, 06:47 PM

Yes it's called a Wingman one thing I would do first though is see if it will pick up any thing even if it's poor reception the reason I say that is because a replacement head unit comes with the up grade so if it's bad you won't have a Wingman that you don't need. The Wingman is a 5 minute job as long as the head unit is working and it does make a huge difference.

Jim-Bev-2363 · 03-05-2012, 04:41 AM

I use the regular antenna, no upgrade, and get plenty of channels. Just make sure you have your antenna booster/amplifier turned on when searching. I don't think I'd spring for the HD antenna until after seeing what I get without it. Another antenna many snowbirds have been using is about $40 at WallyWerld. I use one here in the house and get good reception without costly upgrades.

Antenna: Walmart.com: Philips Indoor/Outdoor Digital TV Antenna: TV & Video

Edited to add: What I like is that the antenna is omni-directional and I don't have to rotate the antenna or do anything.

mainah · 03-05-2012, 05:43 AM

If you are in a fringe area like I am the little add on thing is a huge improvement there is a camp ground in VT that I have been to several times with the add on I went from 3 stations to 15! Your results may vary. It is imperative that the amp in the head unit works other wise it just a strange looking thing on your roof.

Jim-Bev-2363 · 03-05-2012, 06:19 AM

Most of the station antenna are around fifty miles from my house. Absolutely must have the booster. The 18db gain of our antenna is marginal for some stations that are in and out at times.

We also have satellite, DirecTV, and when I can do it without penalty I will drop it. Maybe I'll take up reading if they haven't changed the English language so much I can't understand it.

A station locator: AntennaPoint.com - Antenna Locator

Our area: AntennaPoint.com - Antenna Locator

awellis3 · 03-07-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim-Bev-2363

Maybe I'll take up reading if they haven't changed the English language so much I can't understand it.

A week's worth of camping requires at least two novels for me. I taught English and when I retired, I vowed I'd never read "heavyweights" again. Give me Tom Clancy or cold-war era spy thrillers. Don't need no stinkin' TV when youse got "Pillars of the Earth" sitting next to the lounger, bourbon and a good seegar.

Teach

mainah · 03-07-2012, 04:32 PM

Agreed if I can't get public TV or the local news that pretty much rules out TV for me. My wife is the reader I'm the walker of the dogs.

kanyonkitty · 03-07-2012, 06:14 PM

And currently I am the one who pretty much "gets waited on". Gary takes wonderful care of me, AND he does all the leveling, connecting, modifications (lots of what I think up

). WOW, and to think I used to do all this stuff by myself.

Kitty

awellis3 · 03-08-2012, 06:42 AM

My local parts dude told me his experience with the Wingman wasn't too stellar.
Apparently there are those here who would disagree? We're thinking about adding one to help us pull in local weather.

Teach

nasa42a · 03-12-2012, 06:37 AM

But on the other hand.....

We added the Wingman to our antenna last year. It made a noticable difference in our reception....and a better fringe range. The quality of one's amplifier is apparently magnified by this add-on, especially since transmissions are now digital!!

Frank

**Tweety** · 03-12-2012, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasa42a

But on the other hand.....

We added the Wingman to our antenna last year. It made a noticable difference in our reception....and a better fringe range. The quality of one's amplifier is apparently magnified by this add-on, especially since transmissions are now digital!!

Frank

Ditto. We added the Wingman during a trip, and it more than doubled the number of channels when we were down in SW Virginia.

mainah · 03-12-2012, 06:13 PM

Digital signals are not like the old analog signals with the analog you might get a picture maybe not be the best but with digital you either get it or you don't there is nothing in between. The Wingman is a passive Yagi antenna it has no hard connection to the head unit but by design it allows you to receive the much higher frequencies that the digital stations broadcast at now the old bat wing's frequency cut off was much lower by it's self. Winegard is an old co. and actually make some very nice TV antennas and signal amps for the home. To me the Wingman is a good upgrade and a simple one 10 minute install and your done.