King antenna continued issue

[TexasUmpire]

Very old topic, but looking for any new solutions to the age old awful problem of extremely poor reception using the King antenna. Old camper had the old “wing” antenna and would get 5-8 local channels in same camping sites at one park we use 6-8 times a year. The most I can get with the new trailer and King antenna is 3 and normally only 2. They have rewired from the antenna to the signal booster and out to both TVs. Works good if I’m like no more than 20 miles from tv towers. I’ve used phone apps to point the antenna. Also used the King signal strength meter. Nothing helps. Will add the AC unit is not blocking the antenna from the direction of the desired tv towers. Help!

[traveldawg]

I think this has been covered before. And I'm pretty sure I comment then on it too. But (IMO) there is no substitute for hight when it comes to antennas. And why GD decided to put the antenna just next to an AC unit is simply because it was easy to get to on the inside (why care about reception - GD's version of fluff over stuff).

I cam really close today to buying a Winegard RVW-395 Sensar IV antenna. I though Camping World had one at a great price but found it for $98 on Amazon. So I think I'll just order that and put it on.

[GENESIS]

I too have searched the interweb high and low for honest to God reviews and pretty much gave up. One thing I learned in speaking to a tech at a store that sells pretty much only antenna's and parts for them is, for all practical purposes, there's no substitute for height - IOW's even though that crank up thing is a PITA to remember, it gets the antenna up where it can do its thang. Another thing he said that it was their experience that the Winegard's tended to pull in more and/or further stations than the King counterpart.

Tom

[TexasUmpire]

I think this has been covered before. And I'm pretty sure I comment then on it too. But (IMO) there is no substitute for hight when it comes to antennas. And why GD decided to put the antenna just next to an AC unit is simply because it was easy to get to on the inside (why care about reception - GD's version of fluff over stuff).

I cam really close today to buying a Winegard RVW-395 Sensar IV antenna. I though Camping World had one at a great price but found it for $98 on Amazon. So I think I'll just order that and put it on.

I agree with you, but still hoping after several months someone has found a solution. I always carry my dish, but need the local channels for the bedroom. Not going to buy another receiver just for that when the darn antenna should work. Come on Grand Design! It’s a Solitude not a cheap entry level trailer.

[Hwktlg8]

https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...-Antenna/page3

You might check out this thead as well. We had good reception of 15-20 channels that went down to 2 only. An internal rg6 cable inside the antenna easily breaks and i posted my repair beginning in post #24 of this thread.

[TexasUmpire]

https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...-Antenna/page3

You might check out this thead as well. We had good reception of 15-20 channels that went down to 2 only. An internal rg6 cable inside the antenna easily breaks and i posted my repair beginning in post #24 of this thread.

Thanks, I've seen that thread and many like it about the rg6. I think I just need to print off all these threads on issues found and take it to the dealer. Unit is still under warranty.

[GENESIS]

Thanks, I've seen that thread and many like it about the rg6. I think I just need to print off all these threads on issues found and take it to the dealer. Unit is still under warranty.

Speaking of which.....and you're not gonna like what I say - hell, probabably many of you are not gonna like what I say.

When I dropped the coroplast belly to do my tail light mod, amongst the wires were three coax cables and they each had a coax splice connector (screw on type). Two of the three were lose enough I could easily screw them off the connector with my fingers. So I got some pliers and made sure all the connectors were tight. Why in the Sam Hills GD has so many coax splices is beyond me. All I know is that just about every where I've come into contact with a coax termination - splice and/or wall plate - I've found the connection loose. And my paranoia makes me wonder where else these coax cables are spliced that I can't see.

Tom

[CoChris]

Speaking of which.....and you're not gonna like what I say - hell, probabably many of you are not gonna like what I say.

When I dropped the coroplast belly to do my tail light mod, amongst the wires were three coax cables and they each had a coax splice connector (screw on type). Two of the three were lose enough I could easily screw them off the connector with my fingers. So I got some pliers and made sure all the connectors were tight. Why in the Sam Hills GD has so many coax splices is beyond me. All I know is that just about every where I've come into contact with a coax termination - splice and/or wall plate - I've found the connection loose. And my paranoia makes me wonder where else these coax cables are spliced that I can't see.

Tom

^^^ 2x
My experience has been the same ... and my thoughts also match your's. I wonder when I am going to finally find all of the loose connectors.

Chris

[eoguinn]

Had the same problem. Several connections were lose, even on the booster. turned out to be a bad booster and all worked after the dealer replaced it.

[gbkims]

Read thru some of the amplified antenna specs. You'd think the King Jack would be on top b/c of it has the highest amplifier gain.
I expect antenna height trumps the gain. Doesn't help King Jack uses the sub-minature/thinline coax that has higher signal loss than RG6 coax.

Amplifier Gain - https://www.solidsignal.com/t.asp?ta...enna-amplifier

LOW PROFILE
King Jack OA8200 • OA8201 - Gain: VHF 20 dB, UHF 25 dB
OA8200 WHITE • OA8201 BLACK Owners Manual

LOW PROFILE
AntennaTek LPDA 100 - Gain: VHF 20 dB, UHF 22 dB, FM 20 dB
http://www.antennatek.com/antenna_lpda100.php

Crank Up
AntennaTek LPDA 200 - Gain: VHF 20 dB, UHF 22 dB, FM 20 dB
http://www.antennatek.com/antenna_lpda200.php

BATWING Crank Up
AntennaTek Model 550 - Gain: VHF 16.5 dB avg, UHF 21.0 dB avg
http://www.antennatek.com/antenna_mdl550.php

BATWING Crank Up
Wingard Sensar IV - Amplifier Gain VHF 15.5 dB average UHF 19.5 dB average
http://www.winegard.com/kbase/upload...%20Wingman.pdf