Any Comments on This Antenna?

[Janet Wilder]

We have an HDTV in the RV and a regular Winegard batwing antenna with
booster. We don't have much luck in fringe areas getting reception and
someone in our club told me about this:

http://tinyurl.com/9pvltf3

It's made by King Controls who were pretty good to deal with when we had
the King Dome.

It appears to me that this item will boost the signal as well as lock
onto it, but I'm not that tech on this stuff.

Any thoughts?
--



Janet Wilder
Posting from the Netbaby

[Lone Haranguer]

SureLock Single Finder

Just what you need if you're looking for a date.

LZ

[Ralph E Lindberg]

In article <506d86b9$0$1212$c3e8da3$5077...@news.astraweb.com>,

I've read good things about it, but it probably does not work much
better then the old bat-wing

--
--------------------------------------------------------
Personal e-mail is the n7bsn but at amsat.org
This posting address is a spam-trap and seldom read
RV and Camping FAQ can be found at
http://www.ralphandellen.us/rv

[Paul Flansburg]

Janet,

The one good thing about Amazon is that if you don't like it OR it
doesn't work they will take it back no questions asked. And they will
pay for the return shipping!!! This is why when I buy from Amazon I
always look for the product to be shipped and sold by Amazon. So, I
say buy it, try it and if it works great, if not, ship it back.

-paul

[dm_callier]

We bought the 8000 unit to replace a broken Winegard unit...it bolted into place on the Winegard mast and was basically "plug and play"...can't compare to the old Winegard unit as it was broken when we bought our present RV; however, in sporadic use, we've been happy with this basic unit's ability to pull in signals...from our driveway in Napa we can pull stations from Sacramento and the Bay Area...

[dm.callier]

I looked on the King site and noted that this antenna is "fixed height",
i.e. , does not need to be raised and lowered as it sticks up just shy of
12" from the roof surface of your RV...don't know if that's either a plus or
minus for you...

[nothe...@not.here]

Here is the lnk to the manufacturer:

http://www.kingcontrols.com/jack/jack_aftermarket_antenna.asp


Looked at the antenna and installation manual. It looks like there is
more to the installation than just dropping it in place. There is a
link on the page. They call it the Jack but the model numbers match.
Frequency Bands:

VHF (47-230 MHz) - 20 dB gain
UHF (470-860 MHz) - 25 dB gain

Look at the Wineguard

No spec on gain.

Did download the manual because it listed the maintenance I should
have been doing. ;-)

Don't know.

The changeover will not be that clean as you will need to get power to
it as well as routing the cables coming back. The installation costs
could well exceed that of the antenna. You may also need the power
plate and roof adapter.

FWIW - I would ask around if you see any in use and see if folks are
getting better range. I would not bet either way other than the
signal meter is nice. Both of you should probably read the
installation manual befor dropping money.

[Frank Howell]

That's true as just an hour ago, I took back a Roku that I bought from
Amazon, to a UPS store with the pre-paid postage.

--
Frank Howell

[Janet Wilder]

Plus because one doesn't have to worry about lowering it.
Plus because it has no wires to snag on tree branches.
Minus because it will need lots of caulking on the roof when replacing
the batwing.

One of the guys here has it and he swears by it, but most people who buy
something won't admit if they made a mistake.

[Janet Wilder]

On 10/4/2012 9:24 AM, Ralph E Lindberg wrote:
> In article <506d86b9$0$1212$c3e8da3$5077...@news.astraweb.com>,
> Janet Wilder <kellie...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> We have an HDTV in the RV and a regular Winegard batwing antenna with
>> booster. We don't have much luck in fringe areas getting reception and
>> someone in our club told me about this:
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/9pvltf3
>>
>> It's made by King Controls who were pretty good to deal with when we had
>> the King Dome.
>>
>> It appears to me that this item will boost the signal as well as lock
>> onto it, but I'm not that tech on this stuff.
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>
> I've read good things about it, but it probably does not work much
> better then the old bat-wing
>

King says it will. Maybe I should call King Controls first.

[Janet Wilder]

except that it has to be installed and that would be a bear to install
it, take it out on the road then find it's no good and have to deinstall
it, reinstall the batwing, etc., etc.

[Frank Howell]

Right, as they would be an unbiased source( :-) ), but consider these
reviews, or maybe you already did, from camping worlds site
http://tinyurl.com/9g72bny quite good.

--
Frank Howell

[JB]

Thought that I would comment to you (Janet and all) about this
antenna, for I do have it on my 2009 Fleetwood Icon.

First off there are two models of the King Control Jack.

OA8000 - White and OA8001 - Black - This one is a replacement
for the Wingard Bat and installs right on the top of the Wingard Mast.
Most Wingard antenna have a booster to them, so this means you
would not have to run wires for DC.

The Wingard that came on my Icon made it real hard for me to receive
and signal when camping up in the mountain (I do like to get my even
news). Granted due to being in the mountains you only get channels
that may be broadcated on a repeater station. With the King Jack, I
was able to pick up three stations on repeater (granted you may have
to rotate the antenna to get between the stations).

The mounting on the mast is straight forward and the documentation
they provide was good.

I really wanted to get the King Jack that is mounted at a 12 inch
height, but could not, which will be stated below in a minute.

OA8200 - White and OA8201 - Black are the 12 inch pernament installed
King Jack.



With this one you will have to remove the complete wingard Bat system
all the way down to the roof if you are going to install this model.
Directions looked much more complicated and I was not able to use this
model for one big reason.

The hole that was made for the Wingard Bat antenna was fairly close to
my Icon Air Conditioner and instructions detail that you need to have
a particular amount of room around the King Jack. My AC did not allow
for this. The only option that I would have had was to leave the old
Wingard Bat on the roof and drill another hold somewhere else for the
new King Jack. Nope that wasn't going to happen.

If one could not use the old Wingard hole, then this also means you
now have to run DC wires to the new whole. This is well beyond most
RV owners knowledge.

Last point to make. The King Jack that goes ontop of the old Wingard
Mast does not come with a Signal direction finder. OPnly the
pernament height mounted Jack has that feature. Reason being is with
the Mast mounted King Jack, nothing inside of the RV is changed. With
the 12 Inch King Jack, every thing is replaced and the Direction
signal indicator is on the inside portion of the Turn handle.

King Control however does make a stand alone Direction signal device
that I have installed and located in the Cabinet next to where my TV
is. You turn in on and then as you turn the Antenna you will see
lights come on the indicate higher signal. Once you find the
direction to the highest signals, you then turn it off.

The King Jack works for me, but that does not say everyone will find
it an improvement for them.

Sorry to be a little wordy, but wanted to try and cover everything.

JB
Colorado Springs

[clau...@makariosrv.com]

Janet,

These work great, we sell tons of them http://makariosrv.com/jack-digital-off-air-antenna-with-surelock-built-in-king-control-oa-8200/ and have had only good things said about them. We will match the amazon price of $38.00 shipped to your door or RV wherever you are and I guarantee we have much faster shipping and better customer service than Amazon!!!

Claudia Haddix
MakariosRV.com
Your Best RV Parts and Accessories Online Store!!

[Janet Wilder]

Thanks for the link. I'm really leaning towards getting one.

[Janet Wilder]

$38 is a pretty good deal for what costs $138 on your web site.

--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

[Janet Wilder]

On 10/5/2012 5:09 PM, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:

> You are **NOT** going to find a better antenna than a Winegard!! The performance of Winegard RV
> antenna systems is absolutely incredible.

Stan, if my Winegard was all that good, I'd not be searching for a
replacement that worked.

[Janet Wilder]

On 10/8/2012 12:08 AM, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:

> On Sun, 07 Oct 2012 22:24:37 -0500, Janet Wilder <kellie...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> On 10/5/2012 5:09 PM, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:
>>
>>> You are **NOT** going to find a better antenna than a Winegard!! The performance of Winegard RV
>>> antenna systems is absolutely incredible.
>>
>> Stan, if my Winegard was all that good, I'd not be searching for a
>> replacement that worked.
>

> Maybe you need a new head, which contains the signal amplifiers:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-RVW-205-Sensar-Antenna-Replacement/dp/B003ZOH63W/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
>
If I were going to replace the head, I'd do it with the King Control
head which is less than the Winegard your link shows.

Do you have stock in Winegard?

[Janet Wilder]

On 10/8/2012 10:30 AM, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:

>> On Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:06:45 -0500, Janet Wilder <kellie...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> If I were going to replace the head, I'd do it with the King Control
>> head which is less than the Winegard your link shows.
>>
>> Do you have stock in Winegard?
>

> It's just that I am familiar with Winegard: they are good products and know what to expect. Although
> performance of both antennas is probably similar, it is quite possible that King Control is better.
> If one is better than the other, then the obligation of the respective marketing manager would be to
> provide comparative data on tests done with both units. ?
>

Stan,

I have experience with both companies. I can tell you from first-hand
experience that King Controls is much nicer to deal with.

[nothermark]

On Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:30:31 -0400, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:

>>On Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:06:45 -0500, Janet Wilder <kellie...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>If I were going to replace the head, I'd do it with the King Control
>>head which is less than the Winegard your link shows.
>>
>>Do you have stock in Winegard?
>

>It's just that I am familiar with Winegard: they are good products and know what to expect. Although
>performance of both antennas is probably similar, it is quite possible that King Control is better.
>If one is better than the other, then the obligation of the respective marketing manager would be to
>provide comparative data on tests done with both units. ?

It is interesting that King reports gain numbers, Winegard does not.

[Hank]

On Thursday, October 4, 2012 8:53:13 AM UTC-4, Janet wrote:

The facts I know about antennas are...

1. The higher it is, the better reception.
2. Any obstruction will affect performance.
3. In fringe areas, you won't know which one will work and which one won't anyway. Maybe neither would work.
4. If you're in your RV watching TV, your not having fun. :-)

Hank

Hank

[Ron]

"Hank" wrote in message
news:26396478-d3c0-40de...@googlegroups.com...

++++++++
I will agree with numbers 1-3 for regular over the air TV and number 4 in
the case of weekenders and vacationers. Those of us who spend considerable
time in our RVs (we use ours about 8 months a year) have fun and still watch
TV, but usually it is satellite TV. ;-)
Ron
++++++++

Hank

Hank

[Janet Wilder]

On 10/9/2012 3:05 AM, Hank wrote:
> On Thursday, October 4, 2012 8:53:13 AM UTC-4, Janet wrote:
>> We have an HDTV in the RV and a regular Winegard batwing antenna with
>>
>> booster. We don't have much luck in fringe areas getting reception and
>>
>> someone in our club told me about this:
>>
>>
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/9pvltf3
>>
>>
>>
>> It's made by King Controls who were pretty good to deal with when we had
>>
>> the King Dome.
>>
>>
>>
>> It appears to me that this item will boost the signal as well as lock
>>
>> onto it, but I'm not that tech on this stuff.
>>
>>
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Janet Wilder
>>
>> Posting from the Netbaby
>
> The facts I know about antennas are...
>
> 1. The higher it is, the better reception.

I don't believe that is as true now as it used to be since the system
went digital.

> 2. Any obstruction will affect performance.

Again, I believe the digital system fares better with obstructions.

> 3. In fringe areas, you won't know which one will work and which one won't anyway. Maybe neither would work.

Strong possibility you are correct, but a higher gain antenna will be
more likely to pull in a signal in a fringe area.

> 4. If you're in your RV watching TV, your not having fun. :-)

When we want to watch TV in the RV, we have already had our "fun"
sightseeing and traveling. We are stopped for the night and would like
to catch some news, local weather, etc.

[Janet Wilder]

I noticed that, too.

[Tom J]

Janet Wilder wrote:
> On 10/9/2012 3:05 AM, Hank wrote:
>> 1. The higher it is, the better reception.
>
> I don't believe that is as true now as it used to be since the system
> went digital.
>> 2. Any obstruction will affect performance.
>
> Again, I believe the digital system fares better with obstructions.

Unless you are in an area with no hills and heavy growth forest, height may
make no difference. When digital cane along we lost all but 1 channel at
home. I raised the antenna 20 feet and we now get over 30 stations off air
in the Atlanta area, except when it rains and loads the maple tree leaves
next door with water, then we lose all buy 3 or 4. My conclusinon is
obstructions do make a big difference.

Tom J

[Hank]

I think Janets mind was made up before her original post. Nothing we say will make any difference. :-)

Hank

[nothermark]

On Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:26:57 -0400, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:

>>>> Posting from the Netbaby
>>>
>>> The facts I know about antennas are...
>>>
>>> 1. The higher it is, the better reception.
>

>>On Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:24:50 -0500, Janet Wilder <kellie...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>I don't believe that is as true now as it used to be since the system
>>went digital.
>

>Not so.
>
>With the higher UHF frequencies used by the new digital system, higher is definitely better, and
>direct line of sight is even more critcal than ever before. The higher these radio waves become in
>frequency, the more their characteristics become like a beam of light. Even a foggy day can screw
>your UHF reception.

>
>>> 2. Any obstruction will affect performance.
>

>>On Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:24:50 -0500, Janet Wilder <kellie...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>Again, I believe the digital system fares better with obstructions.
>

>Nope. Still based upon the beam of light analogy, the new system fares MUCH worse in the presence of

>obstructions.
>
>>> 3. In fringe areas, you won't know which one will work and which one won't anyway. Maybe neither would work.
>

>>On Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:24:50 -0500, Janet Wilder <kellie...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>Strong possibility you are correct, but a higher gain antenna will be
>>more likely to pull in a signal in a fringe area.
>

>For sure, higher gain cannot be considered an impediment; although there are many other factors that
>can effect reception in fringe areas, such as atmospheric conditions, sunspots, summer-vs-winter
>leaves on trees, etc.

>>
>>> 4. If you're in your RV watching TV, your not having fun. :-)
>>

>>On Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:24:50 -0500, Janet Wilder <kellie...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>When we want to watch TV in the RV, we have already had our "fun"
>>sightseeing and traveling. We are stopped for the night and would like
>>to catch some news, local weather, etc.
>

>Same here!
>
>I couldn't help but notice the new camping ideal when recently spending a week with my < 6 year-old
>grandchildren. Mid-day, one of them was in the back bedroom watching videos on her
>what-ever-you-call-it; and the other one was up front playing Angry Birds on some sort of tablet
>thingy! :-) Can we ever go back?? Nope!

When they were doing the switchover one of the points to local
"experts" were making was not to buy an antenna until one tried out
their indoor "rabbit ears". It seems digital is also more prone to
overload problems. The result is one needs enough gain to get the
signal but not too much gain or it causes other problems. Something
else to worry about when setting up. ;-)

[gregz]

<stan....@hotmail.com> wrote:

>> On 9 Oct 2012 17:33:01 -0500, nothermark <nothe...@not.here> wrote:
>> When they were doing the switchover one of the points to local
>> "experts" were making was not to buy an antenna until one tried out
>> their indoor "rabbit ears". It seems digital is also more prone to
>> overload problems. The result is one needs enough gain to get the
>> signal but not too much gain or it causes other problems. Something
>> else to worry about when setting up. ;-)
>

> Not a problem where I live, with all of the stations being 50+ km away.
> So we can use a full 30db
> amplifier along with our high gain 35 element antenna without risk of overload.
>
> http://www.digiwavetechnologies.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=481
>
> A really great amplifier for $13.00!

That looks like something like I got with a little antenna I bought for $20
. My antenna is just a box with little or no gain. I have to try another
antenna. I think I might be able to pick up one or two stations. I pick up
five stations on the cable in the trailer, but it's not really connected.
I'm getting feed through, but it looks analog.
Got snow.

Greg