Thanks for the insights on the crankup antennas but after years of cranking, rotating and cussin', we discovered the joys of a digital antenna. Just before health issues forced us to sell our Foretravel, we had installed a Jack digital antenna and loved it! I was just wondering how the PC Winegard might compare with the Jack. Anyone know what model Winegard Rayzar is used?
Tom-good point, but with our RV habits, it's a rare occasion for us to be in the shadow of what the Casita trailer owners call a "sunblocker". DW is a news junkie and is politically active, so missing news programs makes it a less than enjoyable day...and "if Mama ain't happy...".
Common misconception, there is no such thing as a" digital" antenna. In very simple terms, an antenna is designed for frequency of the signal and polarization of the signal. The change that came in going from analog TV to digital TV was that most TV stations moved from VHF (old TV channels 2 to 12) to UHF (old TV channels 13 to 69), which simply meant your RV antenna needed to cover UHF better. The original Winegard crankups were mostly designed for VHF. When didital came around, they added a UHF element to the bottom.
They are still considered high quality for reception because they are directional... You have to point it at thr station transmitter. That also made them kind of a pain to use.
The newer Winegard are directional too, but point themselves, as best they can. Since they have no idea which channel you are watching, they search fir the strongest signal. Which may or may not be the station you wish to watch. That concept works well in urban areas where typically all station transmitter towers are located near each other, or even on the same tower.
But when you are between 2 urban areas, the antenna will point to the strongrst signal area, and you may not receive the other at all.
So your choice is really... Self-aiming (easy) or swivel the crankup.(more stationsl. Digital TV has nothing to do with it.
