Television antenna extension
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4845
Printed Date: 09 Jun 2025 at 10:59am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Television antenna extension
Posted By: Markus5
Subject: Television antenna extension
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 5:55pm
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OK. We're 5 and 7 miles from broadcast towers and only get reception from the 7 mile tower. What's up with that? Antennaweb.org says I should get great reception for several channels. The booster is on. I tried a different antenna - cheap rabbit ears / loop - and got the same thing (marginally worse). I'd really like to raise the antenna higher. Any one done that? How about a better or additional booster? Any ideas are welcome. |
Replies:
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 6:17pm
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Simple reason, the antennas are really crappy! ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 6:18pm
The r-pod antenna is directional- you can rotate it for best signal if you don't mind reconnecting the tow vehicle etc Pretty sure they went low bid on the antenna... ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: Markus5
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 7:13pm
| It also doesn't help that I'm wedged in between two jacked up monsters. Faraday cage. And the antenna rattles. <sigh> Maybe at home I'll take a look up there... |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 7:27pm
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I was really curious about the antenna FR uses and took mine off the roof to look at it...one tip- there is a way for windblown rain to get in around the bolt securing it to the short mast- when I reassembled mine I silicone caulked the bolt and another pair of open cross holes. I seriously doubt FR had the foresight to caulk the roof penetration in the base..a few drops get in here and there- then the mysterious ceiling stain appears and it gets worse from there.  ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 9:07pm
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Really? I get 35 mile range with my r-pod's Winegard antenna - which I consider pretty good, given that its only 10' off the ground. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Markus5
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 10:21pm
| It certainly worked fine in the big city. |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2014 at 5:12am
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If only the current antenna FR uses was a Winegard, they are actually a halfway decent brand. The no-name Chinese antenna FR supplies isn't very good. IMO much of the problem is it can't be rotated to peak a signal and or null interference/multipath etc. The old industry standard Winegard Sensar antennas, while not great, certainly had clear advantages with being able to rotate and raise/lower to find that sweet spot for a particular station. Often altering the height or orientation meer inches makes a huge difference. BTW I just ran the antennweb prediction for DTV channels where we camped for a week. They show we should have had 20+ channels. We had 4. ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 10:58am
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Are you supposed to run the "scan channels" program on the tv everytime you set up?
We dont watch a ton of tv while camping, but have found it would havw been usefull a few times. Is there a better alternative/after market antnnae to buy? ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: Markus5
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 11:15am
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Yes. You must scan channels every time you set up in a new location. I haven't shopped for an antenna for a while. But, there are good ones. My home one is like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eagle-Aspen-DTV2BUHF-DirecTV-Approved-2-Bay-UHF-Outdoor-Antenna/21152494 - http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eagle-Aspen-DTV2BUHF-DirecTV-Approved-2-Bay-UHF-Outdoor-Antenna/21152494 It works well. But, I'd like to have something for the pod that mounts on the current pole, can be raised and rotated. |
Posted By: cody91
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 4:15pm
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I saw this antenna on camping world. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/jack-digital-hdtv-antenna-replacement-head/68415 - http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/jack-digital-hdtv-antenna-replacement-head/68415 It looked kinda cool and had good reviews but I wasn't sure if it would on the roof because of the AC/Fan configuration.
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Posted By: Markus5
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 4:26pm
| Kinda hard to see how that would mount on a pod to replace the existing antenna. I'm curious about how the current antenna is mounted. When I can, I will start unbolting things. Two bolts to hold the antenna to the post, IIRC. Then I'll see if I can rig up an extension that can be rotated. I'm hoping that some PVC pipe will slide inside the post. Or outside. Or something. Anyway, it'll be a while before I get to it. |
Posted By: Markus5
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 4:30pm
The base of my post, IIFC, has about a gallon of caulk gooped around the bottom. There was no attempt to economize or be neat. But, I will check the bolts securing it to the top of the shorty post. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 4:52pm
I think part of the problem is many stations are dropping their OTA broadcast due to high maintenance cost, shrinking markets, and competition from cable. Most TV broadcast web sites use an FCC database which may still list the transmitter/antenna as owned or licensed, but doesn't show it's no longer active. I can find several stations listed within 15 miles of my house, but they ain't there. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 5:39pm
Yes AROUND the post but how about IN it? I admit I haven't looked but even if they did seal the penetration with another gallon of goop I still don't want water accumulating in there! I thought about making mine rotatable as well but it would be complicated as the base is over an enclosed cabinet, no easy way to turn it even if it extended through. I miss the old Winegard with the pull down disk and crank handle, at least I could adjust it for best performance. ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 10:12pm
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we have an antenna at home that can be rotated from a control inside the tv cabinet. . There is a fixed shaft securely attached to the edge of our house roof. A small rotating motor is attached to the fixed shaft. The motor holds the antenna . You rotate the antenna by turning a dial on a small control panel. It requires 110v to the motor and a control wire connection between the motor and the control panel. Seems to me that IF the pod tv antenna could be unbolted/removed from the existing shaft , then you could use that shaft as a fixed base. attach the rotating motor and antenna to the existing shaft. .The only roof penetration would be for the power wire and control wires. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2014 at 10:12am
This is what we had on the farm when I was a Kid. It's what we got when we replaced the system where a kid took the vice grips went out the mast and turned it by hand until a parent yelled out the window to stop. Primitive remote control. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2014 at 1:24pm
I still have that system at home -- only I don't have the remote! TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |