Bat-wing Digital TV Antenna
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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=5390
Printed Date: 18 Jun 2025 at 1:27pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Bat-wing Digital TV Antenna
Posted By: Podster
Subject: Bat-wing Digital TV Antenna
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2014 at 9:14am
| Up on a ladder checking out the top of the POD last night, I noticed the bat-wing antenna is loose. It tips up and down from side to side a full inch on its mount. I tried to tighten the bolts only to realize they were at max tight, presumably a bottomed out partial thread on the bolt. So it appears its looseness is by design. I'll keep an eye on it and see if it stars to crack the mount or housing. I do wonder if other PODs are the same. |
Replies:
Posted By: ChinookPod
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2014 at 6:12pm
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Our antenna also has a fair amount of movement. Our first night the rattling in the wind kept us awake. Henceforth it has borne two bungee cords to hold it still. We ordered our pod without a television, but it still came with an antenna... ------------- 2014 RP171 HRE 2010 F150 |
Posted By: Blue's Pod
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2014 at 8:13pm
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We were washing our pod yesterday for the first time and Hubby noticed our antenna does what you just mentioned. Don't know if it is by design or not. Could be like the tree that bends doesn't break. Would be interested in knowing if anyone else has the moving antenna.
------------- |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2014 at 8:10am
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mine does a well. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2023 F150 2017 HD Streetglide CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: 2McPods
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2014 at 7:50pm
Our 2015 171 is the same way  ------------- Everything Happens 4 A Reason Pat & Viki McCartney 2015 171 {2McPods} 2014 F150 Pittsburgh, Pa |
Posted By: NLPod
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2014 at 9:32am
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My 2014 176 has antenna movement as well. ------------- RV --> 2014 RP176 TV --> 2009 Toyota Tacoma V6 4X4 |
Posted By: MissyBuck
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2014 at 9:14am
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Instead of starting another thread - anyone know if the antenna movement is "normal"? Ours wobbles in the wind and makes a rattling noise. We had a windy weekend this weekend and about drove us nuts at night. IS bungee cords the answer? ------------- Melissa (and Buck) 2015 RP 178 aka Podimus Minimus 3/4 Ton Suburban TV |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2014 at 9:18am
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We had a tech tell us it was loose by design. I agree it does make a lot of racket in the wind. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 30 Nov 2014 at 10:00pm
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I just know that I traveled with mine for 10,000 miles or so. It was a bit loose, it is a bit loose. It's never been a problem.Watching too much TV is a problem. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: JStrube
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2014 at 12:05am
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Fr sent me one to replace the old round antenna on my 2012 181g. Have not installed it yet, as it kind of interferes with the radio antenna... Might need to patch a hole and re-do... Not happy to hear it moves around, as I lost the old one on the road. ------------- 2012 181G |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2014 at 8:36am
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We have found that the new bat wing one works a ton better than the old one. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Littlegun410
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2015 at 4:37am
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Does anyone know if the white round antenna that comes stock on the 2012 R177 is digital? I get zero channels on a scan. The power booster is on, I pulled the cover plate off and verified the coax connectors are all good and securely connected. I even switched TV's and did several scans for air/ broadcast channels and got absolutely none. I am in the city limits of Las Vegas so signal strength should not be an issue. Any thoughts?? Thanks in advance. ------------- 2012 R177 2003 F350 |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2015 at 6:58am
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It should work. You can test by connecting any antenna directly to the TV. The antenna does not have to be "digital" per se, to receive and gain digital signals. When testing sometimes I use a piece of stripped coax and it works good. ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2015 at 10:54am
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No such thing as a digital antenna, frequency is all that matters. If the booster is on and you are still getting zero channels something is wrong. Since you already tried 2 televisions then the coax could be bad somewhere, or the antenna itself could be bad but that is unlikely. I would pull the booster out of the wall, the coax from the antenna will be connected to it. Extend that coax with a cheap female-female adapter and see if you get any signals then. You may even find that the coax isn't connected to the booster! ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2015 at 1:22pm
Not even connected? How can this be, Doug? Aren't they following the master shop electrical diagram?  ------------- 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: Littlegun410
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2015 at 2:44pm
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As I mentioned in the original post, I did pull the booster and verified the coax connections from antenna to booster and booster out are secure. I disconnected them from the booster and looked for a bent pin then reconnected. I haven't used a broadcast signal since 1985 so haven't dealt with the issue since the swap to digital in 2009. So a regular TV antenna is sufficient as long as you have a tuner capable of receiving a digital signal? Second question; is there any way to test the booster to see if it's working? Thanks again for the assistance. ------------- 2012 R177 2003 F350 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2015 at 3:44pm
|
Yes, any television antenna will work. I've even recommended here to get a weatherproof antenna and using a rope to hang it 20 feet up in a tree in camp. Height is critical, even more so with digital signals. I think the first step is to make sure you are getting something from the antenna (pre-booster) by extending that line with some extra coax and the adapter. If you are close enough to a station you should get something when you do a scan.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Littlegun410
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2015 at 5:35pm
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Thanks for the information, I've got some troubleshooting to do. ------------- 2012 R177 2003 F350 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2015 at 5:45pm
Yes, version 456398285768 which was only in effect for 3 1/2 hours. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2015 at 6:07pm
Thanks, Doug. I missed that rev. ------------- 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: Webstas
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 1:10pm
| anyone know the model number of the wing antenna ? |
Posted By: Webstas
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 1:10pm
| anyone know the model number of the wing antenna ? |
Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 2:34pm
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The flying saucer antenna on my 2010 RP-171 works great, wonder why they changed it? Perhaps cost? ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |