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06-10-2021, 06:59 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Mandan
Posts: 11
M.O.C. #26214
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Omni-Directional Antenna
We have a 2020 Montana with the Omni-Directional TV antenna is their any way to boost the signal.
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06-10-2021, 07:03 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,659
M.O.C. #9969
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To be Omni-Directional it's a trade off: Less gain to not have to rotate the antenna
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Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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06-10-2021, 07:06 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,470
M.O.C. #23668
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I swapped out our broken directional Winegard Razyr for a Winegard 360+. The 360+ pulls in about the same number of stations as the old one. I'm not aware of how it could be boosted.
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-10-2021, 07:53 PM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Park Hill
Posts: 166
M.O.C. #10841
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Unless you are within 30 to 40 miles with clear lines,no mountains you are out of luck with that antenna. Thats comes from winegard.
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06-10-2021, 08:52 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,470
M.O.C. #23668
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scuba dude
Unless you are within 30 to 40 miles with clear lines,no mountains you are out of luck with that antenna. Thats comes from winegard.
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It's supposed to have a 50-55 mile range, but I'm sure that requires a fairly open straight shot. I haven't really done any comprehensive testing to prove that. I think most of the standard omni-directional antennas that are for RV's are about that range.
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-11-2021, 06:10 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northport
Posts: 624
M.O.C. #12724
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Not exactly answering rksolid's thread but everything being equal a directional antenna picks up weaker signals better than an omni-directional. A batwing is not true directional but is bi-directional. It is basically a dipole antenna that has two lobes perpendicular to the antenna. Turn the antenna for max strength and you should be able to turn it 180 degrees and get max again. To be directional it needs additional elements like directors or reflectors. Satellites use only reflectors.
Sorry for the hijack.
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Paul Northport,AL W4XH
2013 358 RLT Mountaineer
2008 Silverado Duramax
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06-11-2021, 06:58 AM
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#7
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Stacy
Posts: 14
M.O.C. #24879
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I've found nothing that will boost the signal for these. I've been back and forth with Keystone about reception from day 1. They do not care but did replace the antenna, with no improvement of course. I've found at our home if I park backwards, we get better reception because the AC unit is not in the way I'm guessing.
I think the best solution is a good old fashioned crank-up and rotate antenna, get rid of the Keytv nonsense and redo the cable ends for a good clean path. They just plain work better. Of course they require a touch more labor to install, but cheaper seems to be Montana's game plan (imho).
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2020 3120rl
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06-11-2021, 03:49 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,703
M.O.C. #24086
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We have the low profile directional antenna you have to point by using the knob in the ceiling of the bedroom.
However, it picks up TV signals better than the house antenna on a pole in the back yard. The TV station is 75 miles away.
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Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
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06-16-2021, 05:14 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Gardnerville
Posts: 749
M.O.C. #2165
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There are several ways to increase signal strength:
Make sure all the cable connections are tight and the booster is on (if there is one). One loose connection can seriously degrade the signal, and I'd almost guarantee loose connections.
Get an amplifier and put it as close to the antenna as possible. You can use it even if there's already one installed. This will also amplify any noise, but is less of a problem with the digital signal.
Replace the antenna with a directional antenna (also called a gain antenna). The gain is how much stronger the antenna signal is compared to an omnidirectional antenna. Don't believe the numbers you see in the ads, talk to someone who knows antennas, like a local ham or a reputable dealer. More gain means a bigger antenna.
As everyone has said, there are trade-offs with each approach. You can test different antennas by feeding the signal into the external cable connection. Again, find a local ham, they can be very helpful.
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06-16-2021, 07:21 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mountain Home
Posts: 839
M.O.C. #20949
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The Omni directional antenna on your roof already has a preamplifier inside the dome.. that ps why it requires 12 volt DC to power the “active” section of the antenna so that it will work.,
Adding an additional amplifier is not gonna do much except amplify noise and you are also most likely gonna then have issues with RFI from the interior LED lighting
The best directional antenna ever made… IMO is the Sensar IV… that’s what I’d do if OTA TV stations are what you are after and are at the fringe limits of the TV station antenna..
And yes.. I am a ham radio operator and have been for over 40 years now
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06-17-2021, 05:34 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northport
Posts: 624
M.O.C. #12724
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73 to you Chuck. Also ham. Licensed since 1962. Extra class W4XH. Yea I've played around with a lot of antennas in my younger days.
GE.
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Paul Northport,AL W4XH
2013 358 RLT Mountaineer
2008 Silverado Duramax
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06-17-2021, 08:02 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mountain Home
Posts: 839
M.O.C. #20949
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psomers
73 to you Chuck. Also ham. Licensed since 1962. Extra class W4XH. Yea I've played around with a lot of antennas in my younger days.
GE.
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Yea these Omni antennas are junk…IMO.. along with the KeyTV multi source controller module…
The Sensar IV antenna will outperform all of these Omni antennas .. hands down…
73s WB7TXG.. also Extra Class
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06-17-2021, 04:58 PM
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#13
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Caldwell
Posts: 72
M.O.C. #21136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daryles
We have the low profile directional antenna you have to point by using the knob in the ceiling of the bedroom.
However, it picks up TV signals better than the house antenna on a pole in the back yard. The TV station is 75 miles away.
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I have that one too. Unfortunately, the plastic rod that runs from the knob to the antenna broke. I have no idea as to where I can buy this part. ANY advise would be great.
It just looks like a piece of 1/2 inch plastic tubing..GRRRRRR
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06-17-2021, 05:36 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,371
M.O.C. #4831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gordo
I have that one too. Unfortunately, the plastic rod that runs from the knob to the antenna broke. I have no idea as to where I can buy this part. ANY advise would be great.
It just looks like a piece of 1/2 inch plastic tubing..GRRRRRR
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Do A Google Search on "Winegard RV Antenna Parts" and you will find replacement parts are readily available.
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Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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06-17-2021, 05:50 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,703
M.O.C. #24086
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gordo
I have that one too. Unfortunately, the plastic rod that runs from the knob to the antenna broke. I have no idea as to where I can buy this part. ANY advise would be great.
It just looks like a piece of 1/2 inch plastic tubing..GRRRRRR
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Here's a link to the installation instructions.
Looks like you should be able to replace the broken tube
https://winegard.com/products/hdtv-digital-antennas/vhf-uhf-antennas/rayzar/rayzar-z1-white
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06-17-2021, 08:11 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,470
M.O.C. #23668
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gordo
I have that one too. Unfortunately, the plastic rod that runs from the knob to the antenna broke. I have no idea as to where I can buy this part. ANY advise would be great.
It just looks like a piece of 1/2 inch plastic tubing..GRRRRRR
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That's where mine broke. I didn't want to replace a part that broke spontaneously by just bouncing down the road. It didn't hit anything and was barely used...still broke.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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06-23-2021, 11:13 AM
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#17
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: West Melbourne
Posts: 310
M.O.C. #18980
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I just installed a Wingman on my Winegard Sensar antenna. Costs less than $30. What a difference! 44 channels before, 74 after install. Hopefully this will eliminate pixelation frustration on Sundays watching golf.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Butch and Kathy
2016 3160RL Legacy, Sailun S637, Centramatic Balancers, 2-T105s, Amish Refrigeration, ARPrv, SoftStartRV, FlexArmor roof
2016 F350 6.7L SRW
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