Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Class C Motorhomes: B+ motorhomes

Print | Close

Topic: B+ motorhomes

Posted By: Gene in NE on 05/19/09 08:06pm

As long as we are commiserating the transition to digital, I am sympathizing with the people who would allow their kids or grandkids to watch TV as they travel. We would always get a fairly decent picture while in motion. With the switch to digital, you cannot move the RV without pixellating.

And...."ron.dittmer" has it correct - If you don't know which way to point the antenna, how do you scan for stations.

2002 Trail-Lite Model 211-S w/5.7 Chevy (click View Profile)
Gene

Posted By: SCVJeff on 05/19/09 10:11pm

Gene in NE wrote:

- If you don't know which way to point the antenna, how do you scan for stations.

Antenna Web

Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350

Posted By: jailbird on 05/20/09 02:19pm

I get perfect HD reception (8-10 local channels, better than cable) at home using only set-top rabbit ears. For kids watching on the road--keep it simple--DVD's or Tivo

Posted By: Gene in NE on 05/20/09 08:57pm

SCVJeff wrote:

Gene in NE wrote:

- If you don't know which way to point the antenna, how do you scan for stations.

Antenna Web

I'm not quite sure how this will help me at every campground I might stay. There are times we stop at a rest area or spend the night in a "Flying J" and want to watch what TV has to say about the stormy skies. How am I going to know which direction to aim the wineguard antenna? The home TV is not a problem, I know where the station towers are located.

Posted By: SCVJeff on 05/20/09 10:39pm

Gene in NE wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:

Gene in NE wrote:

- If you don't know which way to point the antenna, how do you scan for stations.

Antenna Web

If you know where the local transmitter site is you don't need Antenna Web. But I suggest you back and see what it really does. Enter an address and it will tell you what you can see from your campsite and what direction to point the antenna. Your investment is a simple compass. If you only boondock miles from any recognizable site, then you need a GPS to feed it Lat & Lon.

BTW- This site is not a toy. The plots and signal strengths shown are calculations derived from the stations license and takes into consideration transmitter power, antenna HAAT, and pattern. It's surprisingly accurate.

Posted By: Gene in NE on 05/21/09 11:38am

SCVJeff - Thank you for your clarification, but I must be a little dense. If all I know is that I am camping tonight at Harlan County Lake near Republican City, how do I know which way to turn the antenna? Tomorrow, I will be anywhere from 200 to 400 miles west of here. When I don't have access to the internet, what do I do? Never have that problem with analog signals. If I get out my trusty map, I do not know where the closest towers might be located. Maybe "Rand McNally" will start putting digital TV tower locations on their maps.

I guess, I could call someone that is at home, ask them to enter a location on this site and then get back to me. [emoticon]

Posted By: SCVJeff on 05/21/09 01:46pm

Once you tell it where you are either by address or GPS coordinates, it will come back and give you a list of channels that are above a calculated level for reception. Along with that are compass headings to point your antenna.

Here is what you should see:
[image]

Posted By: ron.dittmer on 05/21/09 04:38pm

It's a science project to watch the evening news.

My wife and I pile in the DVD movies, and have resorted to leaving the antenna cranked down. In a major city, we'll play with digital signals, but it really isn't worth messing around. By the time we got something on the screen, we are ready to get out a favorite movie.

It's surely worth the research if you are planted in one place for a while, but for us on the move, it isn't worth the trouble.

* This post was edited 05/21/09 06:58pm by ron.dittmer *

2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow

Posted By: Gene in NE on 05/21/09 09:56pm

SCVJeff wrote:

Once you tell IT where you are either by address or GPS coordinates, IT will come back and give you a list of channels that are above a calculated level for reception....

I think I go it now. When I have found my camp site for tonight, I then drive to the closest town, see if the libary is open, get on the internet and find this website, ask the librarian what zip code we are in, tell "it" where we are and finally we will get a list of stations and location from us. Then drive back to the camp site and do a scan in that general direction. And...if the libary is closed, we are screwed until tomorrow night.

Doesn't sound like too much fun.

Posted By: cheeze1 on 05/21/09 10:46pm

Unless you have a laptop with a broadband wireless...like I USED to have...oh well.

Chas Morristown, NJ
Trail Lite
">

Print | Close