RV tv antenna

SanDimasJoe · 08-04-2010, 04:44 PM

Has anyone ever had to replace their tv antenna? I have a 2005 T2553 model and while taking the trailer out to test the brakes, I inadvertently left the tv antenna in the upright position. Well I drove under some pine trees and you can guess the rest. The aluminum supports bent and the plastic batwing antenna broke at the support. I had to order the aluminum supports and antenna. However after installing the antenna I find that it does not pick up signals. The dtv converter box says "no signal". So I was wondering if any body has ever had to replace one and if so, the replacement part no. I suspect I ordered the wrong one.

Joe

**JohnB** · 08-04-2010, 09:00 PM

Hi Joe

I have only replaced part of the antenna, but have the entire roof parts at home in the box.

I must be missing something. You said you replaced the antenna it self, the bat wing looking thing and the square aluminnum support tubes and now you get no signal inside. Did I understand this right?

H’mm something does not sound right or you have a damaged wire in the roof rotary unit. Before I would tear into the roof mount rotary unit hunting for a damaged wire I would buy or find a piece of antenna cable with crimped on ends on both ends as a test cable. I bought mine at Home Depot but can get anywhere. You just need a long enough cable to screw on up at the roof antenna itself, then hang it down the side of the camper and inside.

Then pull out the wall plate for the power booster, unscrew the existing roof antenna lead and put the temporary lead cord on. If this works, well the bat wing is working and so is the power booster. If it is not working that points to the batwing itself or the power booster. If the batwing is OK and the power booster then the wiring is some how damaged from the Batwing to the booster. Maybe a crimped connection got pulled or did you put new on when you added the bat wing?

Good hunting and hope this helps. Point, make real sure the problem is in the roof rotary head before replacing.

John

awellis3 · 08-05-2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

...Then pull out the wall plate for the power booster ...
John

I have a Winegard on my roof. Ya think I have a power booster? (Inquiring minds ...)

Teach

**Sunline Fan** · 08-06-2010, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awellis3

I have a Winegard on my roof. Ya think I have a power booster? (Inquiring minds ...)

Teach

You should...

I've attached a pic. It's over on your TV shelf.

While the later model coaches have a push button, yours should be a slider to turn it on, as circled in the picture of the blown up wall plate.

Jon

markbrit · 08-06-2010, 06:00 AM

so silly question how should the antenna lay against the roof when not in use? I see indentations in my rubber roof like somebody really cranked it down hard at one time.

I would think almost like an oil filter get it snug then a bit extra? Should it not touch the roof at all?

awellis3 · 08-06-2010, 06:57 AM

Mine has rubber feet on the antenna to lay it on the roof and a metal guide to align the support beams. I crank mine down until I feel resistence. Sitting on the feet, snug in the metal guide, it's not going anywhere.

Teach

awellis3 · 08-06-2010, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

You should...

I've attached a pic. It's over on your TV shelf.
Jon

Thanks, I'll look for it. We have an 18" Sony portable. I was thinking about getting a converter box and putting it on board for local weather and news wherever we stop.

Teach

Steve Collins · 08-06-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awellis3

Thanks, I'll look for it. We have an 18" Sony portable. I was thinking about getting a converter box and putting it on board for local weather and news wherever we stop.

Teach

Don't forget to go into the converter's setup menu and re-scan for channels whenever you arrive at a new location. Otherwise, your converter will be a lookin' fer the channels from the last place you were instead of where you are now.

SanDimasJoe · 08-06-2010, 03:18 PM

Ok, found my problem. I did just as you suggested, John. Ran a seperate lead from the antenna to my converter box inside and it worked perfectly. When I removed the old battered antenna, I had to snip off the RG59 connector so I could pull out the coax through the support tube. When I put on a new coax connector, I didn't do a very good job, crimp was bad. Lesson learned here. Do it right the first time. I also found that the outside antenna coax cable was pulled out of the connector at the wall plate. Must have happened at Sunline when it was built. So bottom line is make sure your antenna is down when you hit the road jack. This is the greatest forum for tt help. Thanks John.

Joe

**JohnB** · 08-06-2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanDimasJoe

Ok, found my problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanDimasJoe

snip.....
So bottom line is make sure your antenna is down when you hit the road jack. This is the greatest forum for tt help. Thanks John.

Joe

Joe, glad you found your problem before tearing into the roof... and that it was that simple.

And oh yeh, for sure make sure the antenna is down. Cindy made up a yarn/canvas tag we hang on the crank inside to hit "me" in the head each time as I walk out the door just so I remember to put it down. The words out of sight out of mind really ring true here..... I have helped a few campers off to the dump station. The antenna was never full down. About 1 foot up. And the first words out of there mouths was , "Gee thanks I thought for sure I had that thing down." Well they do stick some times. I think Winguard makes a lot on replacement parts....

Here is the flag. In our case it is right at the entrance door.

**JohnB** · 08-06-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbrit

so silly question how should the antenna lay against the roof when not in use? I see indentations in my rubber roof like somebody really cranked it down hard at one time.

I would think almost like an oil filter get it snug then a bit extra? Should it not touch the roof at all?

Hi Mark

I'm assuming yours has rubber feet on the bat wing head. And yes it does lay against the rubber roof on those that have a rubber roof. The indentations so to speak I think come from towing down the road. The thing bounces up and down pretty good. I keep an eye on mine and to date other then the marks and slight impression there is no issues. But I am armed with Eternabond to put a reinforcing patch there if needed.

And yes I would say the antenna needs to go full down and not be up an inch. If it is up an inch the thing can then really bounce up and down as it is not resting against anything.

Now you do not have to “crank it” to seat it down. I use 1 finger to crank it down and when it stops, that’s it. Also there is annual maintenance on the crank, rotary unit and gears to spray silicone on the unit. There is even a little black plug you pull out and squirt the rotary mechanism. It is actually listed in the Wingurad instructions. And it does make it go up and down a lot easier. Trailblazer here on the forum tipped me off to that it was even there.

Hope this helps

John

**JohnB** · 08-06-2010, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

You should...

I've attached a pic. It's over on your TV shelf.

While the later model coaches have a push button, yours should be a slider to turn it on, as circled in the picture of the blown up wall plate.

Jon

H'mm learned something new today. Did not know the older ones had a slider switch for the amplifier. Pics are worth a million words.

Thanks

awellis3 · 08-07-2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Collins

Don't forget to go into the converter's setup menu and re-scan for channels whenever you arrive at a new location. Otherwise, your converter will be a lookin' fer the channels from the last place you were instead of where you are now.

DW just pointed out that for about the cost of a box, we could hit HH Gregg and get a small digital telly and be done with it.

Steve Collins · 08-07-2010, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awellis3

DW just pointed out that for about the cost of a box, we could hit HH Gregg and get a small digital telly and be done with it.

Very true, but depending on the model and features of TV that you buy, you may still need to rescan to locate the local channels each time you set up in a new place.

**JohnB** · 08-07-2010, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Collins

Very true, but depending on the model and features of TV that you buy, you may still need to rescan to locate the local channels each time you set up in a new place.

Yes, this is one pain my older analog TV never had. The old analog one we had a setup feature you enter the zip code and all the channels you where going to get, you got programmed quick. This new digital system has to go thru like 400 channels to give me the 5 that work. Sometimes having too much selection is not a good thing. I hope I never see the day we actually receive all 400 channels....

kanyonkitty · 08-07-2010, 07:24 AM

Yep, lose the tube TV and get a flat screen, less weight, better picture. Just make sure it is "Digital" and not just a flat screen as there are some out there that are just flat screens. From my experience with my flat screen digital tvs, the pictures IS much better on them, they take up a lot less space (well, except when you buy a 32 inch and put it in the corner entertainment center) and they weigh a lot less. You won't regret getting a flat screen digital TV.

Kitty

awellis3 · 08-07-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanyonkitty

You won't regret getting a flat screen digital TV.

Kitty

So you just hook 'em up to the existing cable outlet w/ a plain ol' coax cable?

Teach

EMD_Driver · 08-07-2010, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awellis3

So you just hook 'em up to the existing cable outlet w/ a plain ol' coax cable?

Teach

Yup...

Honda03842 · 08-08-2010, 09:11 PM

And the ultimate solution....

Replace the antenna with a satellite dish. Rescanning is never an issue. Aiming the dish typically takes a minute.

As well an LCD TV with a dish receiver draws little power, really fine when off the grid.

If you have a wireless card you can down load from a vast selection of Netflix videos for $9 a month.... you don't even need a DVD player.

Most amazing you can be in the Black Hills, far from any city and still have TV.

Lastly you can be in CA and your home can be in NH and Satellite TV can be available at both locations for the same price.

awellis3 · 08-09-2010, 05:20 AM

I was wondering about that. I have a small sailboat so I subscribe to a sailing mag. They have sat tv for boats that mount in weatherproof domes.

Teach