RV Antenna

[kenneth1938]

In area's close to the transmitter I get great reception. In outer area's I get snowy pictures while RV's next to me get good reception.

[Winegard-Mobiletech]

There are many things that can cause this.

If you are using the same style antenna, is yours aimed the same way?

If it is aimed like the ones around it and still not pulling in the same signals, you may have a non-amplified version or may have a problem with the cable or the antenna.

If you have someone that is able to get on the roof, have them check to see if you have 12VDC on the coax going to the antenna head. If you have this voltage, next look at the antenna.

Is it symmetrical? It is easy to tell which type of antenna you have with this unit by looking in the "W" shaped hole in the bottom of the antenna head.

If you see a circuit board you have an amplified antenna head. You may need a new antenna head.
If you see a decent sized wire you have a head with a smaller amplifier. You may need a new antenna head.
If you see nothing or a couple of tiny wires... your antenna head is not amplified. You need a new antenna head AND a power supply.

[kenneth1938]

I do have an antenna head problem. I used my neighbors antenna and got good reception with my P/S and TV. I have another head at home so I'll wait til then to continue the fix.
Thanks

[stephenkrueger]

I have much the same problem as this post. I went up on the roof and looked into the "W" and it appears to have a circuit board, but I don't have power running to my mast. I just have a coax cable. That cable comes into the coach's roof and then terminates into an antenna booster/splitter that distributes signals (antenna, VCR, aux) to the various TVs through out the motorhome.

This last weekend, I had intermittent HD signal and after going up on the roof and playing around I had no reception. I ran a coax from the head straight inside and still had no signal, yet my uncle in the next camp site had 28 stations.

The question is... if I buy a power amplified antenna, would I turn off the booster inside? Or should I just replace the head with another non-amplified head?

[Winegard-Mobiletech]

If you have the circuit board, you have an amplified antenna and MUST have 12VDC on the coax connected to the antenna head.

Without this voltage you are not likely to get much if any signal. If you have a power supply in the coach, you need to try to find why you are not getting 12VDC to the antenna. If you do not have one, you should be able to find one at your local RV dealer.