Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-10-2021, 06:59 PM   #1
rksolid
Established Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Mandan
Posts: 11
M.O.C. #26214
Omni-Directional Antenna

We have a 2020 Montana with the Omni-Directional TV antenna is their any way to boost the signal.
 
rksolid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2021, 07:03 PM   #2
mhs4771
Montana Master
 
mhs4771's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,657
M.O.C. #9969
To be Omni-Directional it's a trade off: Less gain to not have to rotate the antenna
__________________
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.
mhs4771 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2021, 07:06 PM   #3
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
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.
__________________
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
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2021, 07:53 PM   #4
scuba dude
Montana Fan
 
scuba dude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Park Hill
Posts: 166
M.O.C. #10841
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.
scuba dude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2021, 08:52 PM   #5
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
Quote:
Originally Posted by scuba dude View Post
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.

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.
__________________
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
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2021, 06:10 AM   #6
psomers
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northport
Posts: 624
M.O.C. #12724
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.
__________________

Paul Northport,AL W4XH
2013 358 RLT Mountaineer
2008 Silverado Duramax
psomers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2021, 06:58 AM   #7
MikeandJo4
Established Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Stacy
Posts: 14
M.O.C. #24879
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).
__________________
2020 3120rl
MikeandJo4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2021, 03:49 PM   #8
Daryles
Montana Master
 
Daryles's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,654
M.O.C. #24086
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.
__________________
Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
Daryles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2021, 05:14 PM   #9
firetrucker
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Gardnerville
Posts: 749
M.O.C. #2165
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.
firetrucker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2021, 07:21 PM   #10
ChuckS
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mountain Home
Posts: 831
M.O.C. #20949
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
ChuckS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2021, 05:34 AM   #11
psomers
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northport
Posts: 624
M.O.C. #12724
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.
__________________

Paul Northport,AL W4XH
2013 358 RLT Mountaineer
2008 Silverado Duramax
psomers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2021, 08:02 AM   #12
ChuckS
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mountain Home
Posts: 831
M.O.C. #20949
Quote:
Originally Posted by psomers View Post
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.
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
ChuckS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2021, 04:58 PM   #13
gordo
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Caldwell
Posts: 72
M.O.C. #21136
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daryles View Post
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.
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
gordo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2021, 05:36 PM   #14
Carl n Susan
Site Team
 
Carl n Susan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,323
M.O.C. #4831
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordo View Post
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
Do A Google Search on "Winegard RV Antenna Parts" and you will find replacement parts are readily available.
Click image for larger version

Name:	Winegard RV Antenna Parts.jpg
Views:	46
Size:	90.8 KB
ID:	9427
__________________
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

Carl n Susan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2021, 05:50 PM   #15
Daryles
Montana Master
 
Daryles's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,654
M.O.C. #24086
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordo View Post
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

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
Daryles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2021, 08:11 PM   #16
jsb5717
Montana Master
 
jsb5717's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordo View Post
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
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
jsb5717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2021, 11:13 AM   #17
Butch & Kathy
Montana Fan
 
Butch & Kathy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: West Melbourne
Posts: 310
M.O.C. #18980
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
__________________
Butch and Kathy
2016 3160RL Legacy, Sailun S637, Centramatic Balancers, 2-T105s, Amish Refrigeration, ARPrv, SoftStartRV, FlexArmor roof
2016 F350 6.7L SRW
Butch & Kathy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:34 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.