Finding DTV broadcasts with a Sensar antenna

[lastone]

My motorhome has the standard amplified Sensar antenna. When arriving at a campground, my routine has always been to crank up the antenna, put my TV into auto channel search mode, and then rotate the antenna to get the best picture on the channel I want to watch, readjusting as necessary when changing channels. I have found that with an increasing number of stations broadcasting in digital, channels are often not found using this procedure, unless they just happen to be in the direction that my antenna is pointing as it is raised. With analog, at least the TV channel search will find snowy pictures that can be better tuned by rotating the antenna. With digital, it either finds a good picture or nothing at all, so channels are not detected unless you know where to first point the antenna. As broadcasting goes 100% digital by June, will directional antennas like the Sensar become obsolete for mobile uses? Is the channel search solution going to require an omnidirectional antenna such as the RoadStar RS-2000?

[Winegard-Mobiletech]

In an RV, you will almost always be happier with a directional antenna vs an omnidirectional antenna.
Directional antennas are able to bring in channels from much further away.

What I would recommend is to do a little bit of research before you travel.

1. Find the zip code for the areas you plan to camp
2. enter each zip code into our antenna selection program http://ota.winegarddirect.com/
3. Print the screen off.
4. Take the sheets with you when you travel.

This will give you a map of where each broadcast tower in each area is.

[David Weekley]

Hi lastone,
Most of the DTV stations are in the UHF frequency range.
Winegard has an adapter, Model # RV-Wing, that quickly and easily attaches to your Sensar antenna.
It can double the UHF signal strength. Winegard's online price is $30. So, don't pay more.
Here is the URL: http://www.winegard.com/kbase/upload/2452167%20%20RV-WING.pdf

The business of rotating the antenna to find station is an art; don't be discouraged.
The Sensar is a great antenna and gets very good reviews.
I figure this will help.

Sincerely,
Dave Weekley

[lastone]

Hi Dave,
I've been rotating Winegard batwing attennas for 10 years and have never had a problem until digital broadcasting came along. I had thought about trying the Wingman adapter, but then I read a review on the Camping World website: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/it ... gman/44021. Then I thought it might be better to look for more reviews before buying one. Do you have one? Anyone else??
Larry

[Winegard-Mobiletech]

The Wingman improves the Sensar's UHF Range considerably in part by making it more Directional.

This means that you will have to aim the antenna a bit more accuractely but since in most cases all of your channels are coming from 1 or 2 locations this will not be a problem. The Link above will help you determine where the channels are coming from and should make finding them easier.