RV TV Antenna Maintenance (Winegard Sensar Batwing)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- In this video, I demo how I maintain our Keystone Cougar trailers Winegard batwing style TV antenna.
Our rig has the standard Winegard bat-wing style, hand crank TV antenna. The manual states to lubricate it twice a year with silicone spray. It is important to use silicone lubricant because the crankshaft has a rubber O-ring seal in it. Silicone is safe on rubber and will lubricate the O-ring. Other types of lubricants may damage the rubber seal and cause possible leaks when it rains hard.
It takes a few trips to the roof and back, but it gives me a chance to check the other sealants up there anyway.
Helpful link for finding Over the Air TV signals - tvfool.com/ It shows stations in your locations and where to point the antenna.
Products Mentioned in the Video:
3 in One Silicone Lubricant - amzn.to/2SVEHQj
Winegard Sensar Antenna - amzn.to/2CoTI6c
Winegard Digital Addon - amzn.to/2CqREKW
New Winegard Low Profile Antenna Winegard RZ-6000 Rayzar - amzn.to/2M97DC2
Dicor Lap Sealant - amzn.to/2VTw36X
Eternabond Roof Tape - amzn.to/2SVELQ3
Allen Keys - amzn.to/2Fwm1mx
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Love your videos. I didn't even know there was maintenance to perform on my antenna. Thanks to you I'll be lubriczting mine when we get our Winnebago trailer out of storage this spring and I'll be installing that digital upgrade as well which hopefully will result in more channels. Paul from Toronto, Canada.
I'll be doing that tomorrow Ray. No doubt the o ring is dried out on my old rig. I had to replace the $9 handle and it turns a bit stiff. Thanks so much for showing me how it comes apart and goes together! - Hal
As usual Ray, you’re the best in maintaining your rig.
Thank you for this instruction and you snd Anne enjoy the winter in Arizona.
You're welcome. Looking forward to the temperatures starting to warm up now as we get closer to February. :)
Hi Ray, good information. We're in Tuson now, headed to Gilla Bend tomorrow. Finally good weather. Safe travels.
Thanks Ray for the info on the TV antenna, I never thought about checking mine out on my Cougar. I will now. Thanks again
I appreciate your maintenance tips. I'm definitely climbing up and doing mine come spring! Thank you!
Our antenna connection with the booster button is buried out of site in our camper. I start scanning, especially the first camp-out of the year, get frustrated 'cause I'm not getting anything, and then I remember the little green light needs to be on. . .DOH. . . .!! Nice video! Again, we learn a lot about something!! :-)
Wow, is there nothing you can’t do?
I enjoy watching your videos Ray, they are so helpful, thanks again!
Thanks Ray. Your videos are great - you explain everything in detail. We haven't entered the RV world yet but I have a much better idea of what to expect from following your channel !
You're welcome Joe, nice to hear, Cheers! Ray
Thanks Ray! I just finished maintaining the antenna and it works better than it ever has!! Just a week before the 1st camp out of the year for us!!!
Awesome. :)
Just lubricated our antenna today. Excellent video. Thanks.
Thanks Ray! Didn't know to do that!!When spring gets here I'll lube my antenna up!!!
Nice maintenance tips Ray. I have that same antenna and haven't done anything to it yet. Now I know what to do.
I have the low profile omnidirectional winegard and like it. All the cables are internal so there is less chance for water intrusion. It seems to work pretty good. Thanks for another great video. These small things are not thought of by us part time rvers
Great video! Followed the procedure and now the antenna is SO easy to crank up & down. Thanks for the help!
Glad it helped!
Great video as always. On my last RV I discovered a leak around the little rubber collar that goes around the coax cable where it enters the RV. I saw you touch it and mention it looks okay. I found the rain water would build on the cable and work it’s way past the rubber seal. It was enough of a leak to stain the ceiling. I now put a dap of caulking around that seal/collar whenever it’s looking like it needs it.
Thanks, good tip.
Excellent maintenance video Ray!!
Thanks for all your great videos!
Thnx for vid... I agree with other posts here... keep the batwing antenna... our new RV has the low profile style... just not as many channels. I did add the LED signal meter & that helps pinpoint strongest signals. Enjoy the desert !
thanks for sharing very useful information and easy to understand and follow safe and enjoyable adventures
FYI.... for anyone doing this, the "C" clips and pins should not have to be removed unless there is a raising/lowering problem you are trying to fix... for genreal maintenance, the black plastic plug on the top is all the access you need... remove this plug and use pliers to grab the end of the shaft and unscrew it up out of its seat to remove it very easy and quick... lube the o-ring and the gears and reassemble, the opposite way that you took it apart..
ANOTHER thing to check is the coax connection into the antenna, which can work loose if it wasnt tightened properly, and if the little rubber boot leaks or is missing, it can corrode a little bit, weakening the signal thats allowed to pass... I use silicone grease liberally (aka; dielectric grease) on the connection while its apart, then assemeble it and slip the rubber boot back on (if the boot is missing or damaged, it can be purchased seperatly)... the silicone grease will fill any voids within the connection preventing any moisture in, preventing any corrosion... because the boot by itself helps, but it seldom will seal out the moisture by itself....
ALSO.... if anyone needs to replace the rubber boot on the coax, it can be done simple, without cutting the coax... using a rope fid... get a fid (or make something similar) that is the same size (very slightly larger is ok) as the largest diameter of the connection, which is usually the retaining nut itself, and then grease up the boot and slowly slide it onto the fid, which will stretch it open big enough that while you hold the fid next to the connector, you can slide the boot off of the fid and onto the connector.... which you can then slide it fully on to the cable.... MAKE SURE you put it on it the correct direction, which would be the SMALL end on first, so that the big end can be slid up on to the connection after you get it connected and tightened......
Great learning experience. Going on a vacation in March to the flordia keys. Will check my antenna. Thanks
Gorgeous place, have fun!
We have the low profile HD antenna on our 5th wheel. Fantastic reception when we use local channels.
Love my one way WIFI. Gets 45 miles easy. Years ago got rid of my file cabinet for manuals and put everything on Dropbox
Excellent, Mine was binding pretty bad amazing what a bit of silicone will do.
Thanks for the help. While fully lowered my antenna caught the wind and the head was damaged. I have the replacement head. I really wanted the head with the Wingman UHF addition but my antenna sits between the A/C and the refrigerator roof vent so there is no room for it.
'Old' antennas like that seem to work a lot better than the new ones. I've had both.
Thank you for another helpful entertaining video.
I use plastic compatible grease on the antenna gears and seals. Being heavier bodied than silicon spray, it reduces friction more and does not evaporate as quickly. The nylon worm in the gear train is prone to stripping its teeth. Although Winegard and Antenna Tek antennas look very much alike, their internal parts are not interchangeable. Be sure the get the right make parts. (I learned this the hard way.)
Great video. If I ever need to lubricate the internal mechanism of my antenna now I know how to disassemble it. Once or twice in the past in haste I shot some WD-40 down from the top on the gears. Luckily it's never leaked but from now on I'll use the silicone spay.
Good job on the maintenance the WInegard requires. But that's why I replaced mine with the Jack antenna. Works about as well as the WInegard as far as I can tell. And I never forget to put it down. Don't ask how I know about that . . .
01:23 - I keep all my manuals. In fact I search for them online and then download them and keep them as PDFs on my computer. Nearly all manuals are available online these days.
Thanks for the video Ray oh, I was running out of things to do. Up to the roof I go
haha, glad to help!
I just feed magnets to the wife, wrap her up in aluminum foil and have her sit on the roof next to the batwing.
I don't get any more channels but i sure laugh and laugh. 😁
Thanks. Great information.
I really need to do that yo my antenae. I don't emember ever lubing it and it is getting hard to crank.
Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you Ray!!
Thanks Ray, I bought my class C last year, and it had been parked for a number of years, been busy changing fluids and any other maintenance that needs to be done, and every time I look up at the antenna handle in the coach, is says to lubricate twice a year but the documentation that was included with the antenna does not tell you what points need to be lubricated or any other maintenance, I will be up on the roof tomorrow 😎
You're welcome. :)
Very good. Thanks
Thanks Ray.
Low profile = low reception.
We have a King Jack antenna mounted to the roof where the broken Winegard used to be. Gears were broken and it wasn't digital. So, we bought a low profile. I'll be purchasing the winegard risers to attach the King Jack to. If that doesnt help, I'll get the Winegard Digital head installed.
Is there a device that helps locate the stongest signal, using your antenna, before you program your TV?
cool if you made a dial you could align with the compass of your rig and use the website to help find a specific channel. then you will know which way your antenna is pointing.
Hi Ray. I read in the comments that you'd like to replace this antenna with the Winegard RZ-6000 Rayzar. The RZ-8500 is significantly more expensive, but it's the same height, has a great amplifier, automatically rotates and is maintenance free. Since your ConnecT 2.0 videos were popular, hopefully Winegard would be willing to send an RZ-8500 for review.
Looks pretty slick!
Thank you for videos Mr Ray. I remember you had video with the heating water tanks. My question is the fifth wheels equipped with the heating element or you have to do it? I plan to stay in winter up north. Please advise. Thanks Ray.
Most fifth wheels have a special underbelly heating duct or they have electric tank warmers. Mine has the heating duct from the propane furnace so when its cold I run the furnace a lot to keep the underbelly area warm.
@@LoveYourRV I see. Thank you. So the tanks warmer are after market option right?
For the most part, I think some of the true four seasons RVs come with them included.
You will like that little bat wing
A few years ago my Batwing bit the dust & I replaced it with a King Jack antenna...which worked great until one day it tore loose from its mount while driving down the road.
The Jack was then replaced with a Winegard Razar Automatic antenna. Initially the Razar worked great but then started having problems with the motor...kept throwing an error and wouldn’t go through its rotational station scan. After going through *3* warranty replacements, including a “redesigned” version the antenna still had the same problem. Winegard’s diagnosis was that the motor was stopping due to excessive current draw but had no solution other than to send me a new antenna. After thinking about it I wondered if the “excessive current draw” was due to friction as the antenna sits on a spindle with a gear-driven connection to the motor. I removed the cover and antenna, applied a light coating of lithium-based grease to the spindle shaft and gearing and then reassembled the unit. I haven’t had any problems with the antenna since then and have been very satisfied with its performance. Turn it on, push a button to start the scan and after a couple of minutes the antenna is positioned at its optimal orientation and displays the number of stations found. Like the WI-Fi unit you added (looking forward to getting one of those!) the antenna is in an enclosed housing to protect it...and I never have to raise or lower it 😉.
Given the caveat about lubrication I highly recommend the Winegard Rayzar Automatic antenna.
Thanks, Brad, for the little review and tips. Cheers! Ray
Sometimes old fashioned still gets the job done! Let us know what you choose?!
VALUABLE info - thanks! Are you anywhere near the Cavecreek/Carefree area?? (been awhile since I've been out there).
No, we are down south of Phoenix near Maricopa. :)
I replaced the Winegard batwing on my parent's rv with low profile King unit. We checked the channels before and after we replaced it and it picked up the same number of channels that the Winegard did.
Thanks for the feedback, Les.
after reading some of the comments, there is one other thing I feel a need to mention....
any type of grease that you use that is NOT silicone grease will NOT be waterPROOF...
yes, silicone grease is the only commonly available grease that is WATERPROOF and will NOT dry out or break down/separate...... rather than like other grease types, which are only temporarily water resistant, then, when exposed to the atmosphere for awhile it will dry out as it separates the oil from the fillers in the grease, then get stiff and gummy ....
regular grease is hygroscopic, due to the ingredients that its made from... SILICONE grease, which is identical to the much more expensive "dielectric grease"... marketing is the only difference.... its a good idea to keep some silicone grease AND silicone DRY spray, as the silicone is what is used as a rubber dressing to protect all types of seals and rubber products..... and any of the grease or spray that remains "wet" and exposed, will collect dust, so the use of either the wet grease or the dry spray will be determined by the application and exposure... but its also good to remember that ANY lubrication is better than no lubrication at all.....
keep the regular grease for use on the chassis and wheel bearing where extreme heavy duty lubrication is needed, and only use silicone grease on the coach and body parts and pieces.....
Interesting
great video ray, did you ever replace the batwing
No, haven't so far, last 2 times south we had unlimited internet so could stream all we wanted so never used the over the air TV. During the summers we hook up to cable.
Love Your RV
I have a 2005 travel trailer, I am sure it is just VHF, how can this be upgraded to digital? It is winegard)
I added a digital addon, no tools were required, clipped on - amzn.to/2IAtJ1Y Increases UHF Reception Up To 100% - Optimizes your Sensar Batwing RV TV antenna for all digital channels in all markets.
The antenna you have is tons better than the low profile wing ones. If the one you have goes bad, I would recommend you replace it with a new sensor antenna.
Interesting, have you done a side by side comparison. I was looking at this one - amzn.to/2ClinIX Winegard RZ-6000 Rayzar I looks like they put the digital Wingman addon inside a plastic cover with the booster. Cheers, Ray
Can you tell me the name of the county park. Heading that way in March and need some ideas on where to stay. Thanks
West Pinal County Park www.pinalcountyaz.gov/OPENSPACETRAILS/Pages/KortsenPark.aspx Right beside Interstate 8 so has road noise. Huge campsites, easy access, no hookups, has some portapotties and garbage bin. Good part $10 a night and for Passport America Members $5 for the first 2 nights. I'll likely do a video review. Cheers, Ray
Hey Ray did you replace the TV that came with your RV or is that the one that came with your rig?
Yes, its a replacement. The rig came with a 32" LCD TV. A couple years ago my sister and her husband bought us this 43" Vizio 4K as Christmas gift. Being it has LED backlighting it actually draws less power than the old 32" and almost no bezel so fits nicely in the TV spot. Cheers, Ray
@@LoveYourRVthat's awesome and good to know. I've been thinking about replacing ours. Thanks for the quick response. Safe travels...
Ray, don't change your antena. I have had rigs with both types of antennas and perfer the high rise crank up old style over the low mount. Reason : Better reception over all and more channals.
I've heard nothing good about the low profile type. Keep the old style
@@randyvallis4973
Same here. Old has large fins, new has small fins.
you tubes ""i'm not Chuck:: demonstrates how to find tv stations using this kind of attenna
Don't change your antenna to those low profile one RoadStar RS-3000
It only has a 30 mile to 35 mile range. You're antenna picks up more channels.
I was looking at this one - amzn.to/2ClinIX Winegard RZ-6000 Rayzar I looks like they put the digital Wingman addon inside a plastic cover with the booster. Cheers, Ray
I have a low profile one and never can pick up anything. I always have to use my phone and stream to the tv.
you managed to get a analog channel on your tv? Jeesh, you don't see the much anymore, I was surprised that you even managed to get the channel, I wonder if it's either one of those low power channels or a channel from Mexico or something. I know that supposedly that all high power analog channels were supposed to shut down by June 12th 2009, and I think all low power analog channels were allowed to shut down by September of 2015. Which, I didn't even realize that that was going to be so, I thought ALL over the air analog channels were supposed to shut down by June 12th 2009. Anyways, as for the video and the antenna, I never thought much as for antenna maintenance ray, you gave me something new to do if and when I do get a camper of my own. :P
I still see a few now and then. I sometimes use them to point the antenna as they have a snowy signal that I can watch improve as I rotate versus the digital that blanks out. Cheers, Ray
@@LoveYourRV jeesh, is that just around the u.s. ray? Where I live just outside of albany ny, I don't think there's any analog TV channel left, at least, I haven't been able to pick any up and watch any analog channels in years. In fact, I don't think I've seen ANY analog channels not long after the switch in June of 2009, unless you count the vcr channel 3/4. I forget what channel it was, but I think it was channel 45 or something, but that channel went down I think it was no more then a week or 2 after the June 2009 switch. So, like I said, I personally haven't seen any over the air analog TV channels since, but I have seen analog cable TV channels, but not in at least a couple years or so. As weird as it sounds, I don't think I would nessessarily mind too much of watching over the air analog.
I usually see them in California, though I don't pay attention much as the content on them is usually crap. Likely Low power TV stations. Looks like they have until 2021 to switch to digital - lowpower.tv/2017/04/15/lptv-digital-transition-has-until-july-2021/
@@LoveYourRV yeah ray, I agree with you on the fact that what is on is rubbish these days. In fact, I really don't think that when I do get my own place of residence, I don't think I'm ever going to (at least ad of right now) get subscription satellite or cable or fiber tv at all. And I have my 23rd birthday in may this year. I pretty much haven't touched the tv remote to turn in months as in regard to the subscription tv deal, I don't remember the last time I touched the remote at my mom's.
Just out of interest I just got to Tucson, AZ and scanned the channels, picked up an analog station on channel 29 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPCE-LP
Can't I just unhook my co ax from my roof top rv antenna and screw in my new outdoor house antenna and use the bedroom hook up for tv
Should be able to do that but there is also an amp inline, so you'll have to figure that out, whether you want to use it to boost the signal or not. That will depend where you unhook the coax.
Oh man I'll take it loose from the bat wing go into it i got the new antenna has built in amp
@@LoveYourRV that amp button is in the living rm that's rt have to take the outlet loose and disconnect it in living room thank you for that
Is available at amazon? Item number? Cost? Thanx
Yes, here is the base antenna - amzn.to/2XDdfg8 and the addon digital antenna amzn.to/2X0LIFP
Cheers, Ray
What kind of TV is that?
Vizio 43"
We can read the label
Hate to tell you but if you check the label on the silicone spray cans they have a lot of petrochemicals and very little silicone. It will eat away the rubber in time. Try dow dc4 or a good pool store lub for pool gaskets.
"3-IN-ONE RVcare Slide-Out Silicone Lube is quick-drying and long-lasting, and is safe to use on metal, *rubber* , vinyl and plastic." "Surface Compatibility Safely lubricates, waterproofs and protects metal and non-metal surfaces such as *rubber* , plastic and vinyl." 3inone.com/product/3-in-one-rvcare-slide-out-silicone-lube/
They have to make it safe for rubber as its used around slide out seals
If you read the specs it contains petroleum distillates. It says it won’t affect rubber under normal circumstances and also says not to submerge rubber. I’m sure it won’t cause catastrophic failure, but it may make a 10 year part only last 5-8. Usually the black ink like stuff on old rubber parts is a breakdown in the rubber. The petroleum will speed that process. Dow DC4 much better. I use it on aircraft.
Ray I upgraded to a King jack batwing antenna ( KING OA8500 Jack HDTV Directional Over-the-Air Antenna with Mount and Signal Finder - White www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1MLFGK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_TdMpCbMNEDEV1 ) and I regret it now. I had the old type like yours and thought I would like the low profile, well low profile also means that I can not get the reception I would with the raise type. Which I have a 30’ travel trailer and we camp a lot in the north georgia mountains which is where I have the most problems. Just wanted you to consider that, it was something I did not consider until after the fact.
Thanks for the feedback, weird how just a few feet can make a difference. It sure gets good reviews on Amazon. Cheers, Ray
Love Your RV yes the reviews where good and it may work great on a fifth wheel model camper but with my TT I am just over 8’ tall so that could be my problem. Thanks for all the great videos I have been a big fan for a year or so now.
Cool, thanks for watching. :)
I like to think of myself as a person of average height (5'9"), but my raise and lower handle seems like its at the highest point in the fifth wheel. If I don't have my shoes on, I can't reach the damn thing. Thank goodness I tower over my wife by 7", which makes my ego feel a little better. She has to use a step stool.
Luckily ours is right above the fifth wheel steps up into the bedroom.