digital signal jack antenna?

[ray fischer]

Is there a way to increase digital signal strength? I don't want to go with satelite as everything at home is on cable. A couple c/gs we visit don't have cable and are 50 miles away from stations or are wooded. Read about the Jack antenna. Will it work at a wooded site? We get reception but loose it too often.

[mazboy]

here is a website for the jack antenna...http://www.rvbusiness.com/2010/03/ja...ital-spectrum/
but being a ham radio operator i don't think you'll be getting anything good 50 miles away, regardless of your rv antenna. as for wooded areas you'll get reception that varies when the branches move. digital is a much narrower line of sight....
good luck. you can also contact wingard, they'll give you their thoughts too.

[mhs4771]

Having worked in HF/VHF Communications for many years, about the only thing you could do at that distance is a tower and a good multi-element directional antenna, not very pratical for RV use. Don't know if they're still made, but several companies made smaller multi-element antennas that would fold up. I know my Dad had one on their old Shasta TT years ago. Digital gives you a nice picture if you've got a strong signal, but if not forget it. Not like the old analog signal where you might get a snowy picture, but it was better than nothing. My might try Stark Electronics (http://www.starkelectronic.com/) They have quite a line of products. Best of luck

[HamRad]

Ray,
I know you indicated at home you have cable but if you're going to be on the road much and you like watching television then you may want to consider switch from cable to satellite. There are very few places we've been that we couldn't receive a sat sig.

Years ago we had cable. But when we started traveling we dropped cable and went with sat. Now when we travel we just take the boxes from the house to the trailer. Works for us. Good luck. Dennis

[ray fischer]

we don't travel enough to justify the switch to satellite. we have phone, internet, and tv on the same cable at a great price. we even replaced the analog tv that came with trailer with a led digital. our reception at our seasonal site is worse since digital switch. I may have to get an antenna just for the season site and look mfor cable on the road. thanks for the replies.

[firetrucker]

There's no difference between digital and analog tv amplifiers as long as they cover the same frequency range.

Most tv broadcast channels use less power for their digital signals than they used for the analog signal, which means the antenna and amplifier are more critical. You can get amplifiers that increase the signal strength by about 10 dB to 24 dB (10 to over 100 times), but you should start with a good antenna, probably one with at least half a dozen elements.

Finally, you should use a website like www.tvfool.com to find out where the transmitters are located and how strong their signals are.

Here at home, I get weak signals in the range of 30 to 50 miles that I've only lost during really heavy weather.

Bob