Television antenna extension

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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.

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Markus5 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 02 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Topic: Television antenna extension Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 5:55pm
	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.

kymooses Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 01 Aug 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky Online Status: Offline Posts: 1807	Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 6:17pm
	Simple reason, the antennas are really crappy!
	RPod Rallies RPod Owner Map

Budward Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2014 Location: SC/NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 438	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!

Markus5 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 02 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	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...

Budward Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2014 Location: SC/NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 438	Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 7:27pm
	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!

Outbound Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767	Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 9:07pm
	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

Markus5 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 02 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 10:21pm
	It certainly worked fine in the big city.

Budward Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Apr 2014 Location: SC/NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 438	Posted: 16 Jun 2014 at 5:12am
	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!

wingnut2312 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Aug 2013 Location: MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 231	Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 10:58am
	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

Markus5 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 02 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 17 Jun 2014 at 11:15am
	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 It works well. But, I'd like to have something for the pod that mounts on the current pole, can be raised and rotated.