Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-05-2012, 09:52 PM   #1
Member
 
Grumpytrkr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Urbana, Illinois
Posts: 86
Digital TV

OK, somebody please help me understand this. And keep in mind, I still have 8 tracks and cassettes! Why is it that I can get a better signal at times with the TV antenna all the way down, rather that raised? And, it depends on which campground we are at. Sometime the signal is better with the antenna up and pointed in the right direction, sometimes better laying flat on the roof.

Ahh, the good old days of fuzzy pictures would of been just fine with me!!!!!

Thanks,
__________________

Rick "Grumpy" Bond
2004 Dodge 2500
2012 Jayco Eagle 330RLTS
NRA Endowment Member
VFW Life Member
Grumpytrkr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 10:04 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
dg1971's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: West Texas
Posts: 2,114
Rick, I wish I could help you but I have the same question myself. I also have 8 tracks at home. Didn't install the 8 track player in the RV, but I would if I had the room. It needs to be somewhere other than packed in a box as it is a piece of history.

Maybe someone else that understand radio/tv signals will give us an answer.
__________________
Dan
2016 Chevy LTZ - Duramax/Allison
2008 Eagle 30.5BHS
dg1971 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 10:31 AM   #3
Member
 
Grumpytrkr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Urbana, Illinois
Posts: 86
Quote:
Originally Posted by dg1971 View Post
Rick, I wish I could help you but I have the same question myself. I also have 8 tracks at home. Didn't install the 8 track player in the RV, but I would if I had the room. It needs to be somewhere other than packed in a box as it is a piece of history.

Maybe someone else that understand radio/tv signals will give us an answer.
I sure hope so. There are just some things I don't understand.
__________________

Rick "Grumpy" Bond
2004 Dodge 2500
2012 Jayco Eagle 330RLTS
NRA Endowment Member
VFW Life Member
Grumpytrkr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 11:04 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Seann45's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,714
When the co-efficient of the electrical drag times the square root of pie over 16 is equal to one or less you get a better picture with the antenna down....ROTFLOLsorry but as you can tell I dont have a clue... if it works FINE...
__________________
Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days boondockinig in2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12

Seann45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 11:30 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
dg1971's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: West Texas
Posts: 2,114
Hey, I think Seann has it....sounds as good as any other explanation.
__________________
Dan
2016 Chevy LTZ - Duramax/Allison
2008 Eagle 30.5BHS
dg1971 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 11:50 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
mrnoyb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 184
The self contained Flux Capacitor determines which position is best and engages to provide optimum reception.
mrnoyb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 12:46 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North Idaho/Arizona
Posts: 5,446
I too wondered about that. Thanks for the explanation Seann. I will sleep a lot better tonight.
__________________
2011 Eagle 330RLTS with just about every option.
2017 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3 with tow package. (no, we don't tow the Jayco with it.)
2018 Surveyor 265RLDS well equipped.
Life in the slow lane is still life.
clutch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 01:33 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
tinlizzie23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Luray, VA (central Shenandoah Valley of VA)
Posts: 1,430
Seann - the only thing I didn't understand about your explanation is - are you expressing the electrical drag in amps per gallon, or in angstroms per liter ??
__________________
2003 Ford F-350 V-10 Crew Cab 4WD Long Bed
2004 Jayco Designer Medallion 29 RLTS 5th wheel
Bill, Gayle, Teddy (Jack Russell terrier), and Honey (Beagle)
Retired at last !

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
tinlizzie23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 06:01 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Central PA
Posts: 1,236
Where the antenna works best depends on where the best signal is. Moving it an inch or two can change the quality of the signal.
__________________
No I am NOT retired. I work full time.:D

Tracy from Central PA

2010 Jayco 17Z Ex-Port
2004 Ford Explorer V8 with the tow package
2010 Camping Stats
Nights Camping 132 - Nights Camping in My Z 102
2011 Camping Stats
Nights Camping 107
2012 Camping Stats
Nights camping 133 - Nights camping in my Z 128
2013 Camping Stats
Nights Camping 66 Nights
tlhdoc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 07:47 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Seann45's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,714
Quote:
Originally Posted by tinlizzie23 View Post
Seann - the only thing I didn't understand about your explanation is - are you expressing the electrical drag in amps per gallon, or in angstroms per liter ??
Newton meter per watt squared...
__________________
Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days boondockinig in2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12

Seann45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2012, 11:11 PM   #11
Member
 
Grumpytrkr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Urbana, Illinois
Posts: 86
I just want ya'all to know that I'm very happy it had nothing to do with the gel blinker fluid that I have been using. Thought maybe that might suck the signal down! I did rotate the air in the tires, and that didn't help either. That lead me wonder if I should get up on the roof, and try using a left handed metric adjustable wrench to tighten things up? Hay, I'm willing to try........
__________________

Rick "Grumpy" Bond
2004 Dodge 2500
2012 Jayco Eagle 330RLTS
NRA Endowment Member
VFW Life Member
Grumpytrkr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-16-2012, 04:21 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 114
See if this helps ... get a plastic clothes basket and cut the side so as to mount/place around the antenna; then firmly secure the cut ends of the basket. When up on the roof with your left-handed metric wrench and a couple of cold ones, toss your discarded beer/soda cans in the basket to enhance your signal, where the basket "doubles-up" as an out-of-sight recyclable bin -- don't forget to empty before departing.
WIBadger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-16-2012, 09:13 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Boston
Posts: 664
I too wish I could figure this out. Its a pain to run the auto program on the tv then move the antenna and inch run it again and so on until you get the best signal.You could work on setting that up an entire weekend. So all we do is put it up, run the auto program and whatever we get is it for the weekend. If we get nothing then the antenna goes down and we don't use the tv.
__________________

2013 White Hawk 28 DSBH
2011 Jay Feather X23J (traded-in)
2011 Ford F-150 XLT w/towing package
RoadMaster Active Suspension
Reese Trunnion Bar WDH w/Dual Cam sway control
jdorant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2012, 01:39 AM   #14
Member
 
Grumpytrkr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Urbana, Illinois
Posts: 86
Something else I don't understand about this digital TV thing is that different times of the day means different signal quality. Almost like sun spots are causing the signal to change.

I'm still trying to figure out what was wrong with the old signal. At least you could watch the news at night, even if it was snowy.

Regards,
__________________

Rick "Grumpy" Bond
2004 Dodge 2500
2012 Jayco Eagle 330RLTS
NRA Endowment Member
VFW Life Member
Grumpytrkr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2012, 07:08 AM   #15
Site Team
 
norty1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,771
Apparently you don't know the proper curse words to make it work!
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
norty1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2012, 09:30 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
RoyBraddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: King George
Posts: 2,761
I still carry a good set of rabbit ears for my POPUP - just set them on top of the roof outside the front door. Then a squirrel will knock them over running across the roof.

The best antenna I played with was one of those $80 HD VHF/UHF high gain antennas from LOWES mounted on a pole to the side of our POPUP. This did great but was much longer than our popup was and would hit the trees when moving it around looking for TV signals. It also didn't last long as I had to take it down and fold it up before transporting so I finally broke off a couple of elements doing this and had to quit using it... Always got alot of looks from fellow campers... Looked like this photo...


Others tell me this type of antenna works real good with the new digital Natl Broadcast Television signals. Havent tried one yet. I'm still using the BATWING up on a pole and it does pretty well.

sample photos from google images

Roy Ken...
__________________
Roy and Carolyn
I claim Horse Creek Country in Southern Ill - Momabear is from North Texas
We live in King George VA
RETIRED DOD DOAF DON CONTRACTOR Electronics Tech 42YRS

"We're burning daylight" - John Wayne
2008 STARCRAFT 14RT OFF-ROAD POPUP with PD9260C and three 85AH 12VDC batteries
2010 F150 FX4 5.4 GAS with 3.73 gears - Super Cab - Towing Package - 2KW Honda EU2000i Gen
K9PHT (since 1957) 146.52Mhz
"We always have a PLAN B"
RoyBraddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2012, 09:42 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central NY
Posts: 203
After reading the previous explanations I think I have found a home here on JOF with fellow thinkers and like minded folks. I am a little frightened, but smiling.:hihi:
__________________
hausknwa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2012, 10:12 AM   #18
Site Team
 
FPM III's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Fayette Ridges of PA, USA
Posts: 5,252
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grumpytrkr View Post
Something else I don't understand about this digital TV thing is that different times of the day means different signal quality. Almost like sun spots are causing the signal to change.

I'm still trying to figure out what was wrong with the old signal. At least you could watch the news at night, even if it was snowy...


I use indoor antennas on my HD televisions at home and have observed that even wind affects signal reception. Sometimes, it only causes pixelation problems (square blocks displayed in parts of the image), but when it's more severe, one or more of these conditions can occur:
  • The picture freezes
  • The screen goes dark
  • We lose the sound and can only get it back when we momentarily change to another channel and change it back

Extreme signal problems (and this has only occurred several times) have caused the television to completely "lock up" (just like your home computer) and we have to reboot the television (turn it off/on) to recover. If that doesn't work, we unplug/plug it.

I think as time has gone on, the reception on HD TVs has been improving due to better technology. We had to move the antenna for almost every channel on our bedroom HD television that was purchased back in 2008. Last summer I replaced it (I put the old set in our TT) and we've yet to move the antenna for any channel we've watched. It also has far fewer signal problems than the television it replaced- we can actually watch it on a windy night. It used to be so frustrating, just when something important was about to happen, "POOF" went the picture and sound. Interestingly, this never seemed to occur when the commercials came on.
__________________
MODERATOR

TV: 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD | Crew Cab | Std. Box | 4WD | Duramax/Allison
RV: 2000 Jayco Eagle 266 | FBS | TT
PREVIOUS: 1986 Coleman Laramie pop-up -- Still in the family!!!

FPM III is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2013, 11:28 AM   #19
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 4
Digital antenna

Back in the analog days, higher was better and the antenna design just seems to have carried over to the digital age. The digital antennas are far less reliant on height for a good signal, and when you raise them, you are allowing them to move more side to side, say as you walk around in your Jayco. When left close to the roof, this minimizes the amount of shaking and makes for a better picture.
Jflurry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2013, 05:14 PM   #20
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 6
Wink

The signal you receive is influenced by MANY things. The short answer is ......if you get a better signal with the antenna in a different position other than fully extended then use that position. The long answer........Electromagnetic waves travel from the transmitting antenna and if left alone would produce a nice wave pattern. However things like reflection, refraction, absorption, diffraction, and scattering create what is called multipath signals. These signals create havoc among the good signals you want to receive. Sometimes the signal gets to your antenna at a perfectly delayed time 180 degrees out of sync and cancels the original signal (bad thing). Other times the multipath signal arrives at a good time and actually boosts the signal (good thing). If you have ever experienced the "ghost" image back when CRT tv's were popular that was multipath waves being displayed on the tv. (usually down and to the right of the good image). Back to the topic...the waves need to reach your antenna above a threshold that is predetermined in order to actually receive the signal. So to recap...if the waves are arriving to your antenna with too much jumble or without the proper amount of power you will experience a bad signal or no signal at all. Because the waves are extremely small there are times that moving your antenna slightly will produce a better picture because you have changed the angle for the way the multipath signals are being received.
Cheeseburger is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:08 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.