Fitting a Winegard Sensar IV on a 2003 RoadTrek 200 Popular

[2jackmans]

What are the location measurements of the fantastic roof vent in relation to the sides and rear on the outside top of the 21 ft 2003 RoadTrek Model: 200 Popular? I need to install a tv antenna that when lowered flat onto the roof for traveling meaosures 46.25 in long 15.25 in wide. I'm hopeing it will fit between the roof vent and the rear of the unit (partly over the air conditioner). My 81 year old body wont let me climb safely ontop of the RV.... The antenna is a:

Winegard RVW-395 Sensar IV Amplified Outdoor RV Antenna - Crank-Up Batwing HDTV - VHF/UHF, Digital, 4k Ultra-HD - Rotation Aiming 65 Mile Long Range - 48 Inch Raised Height​

Any comments on this antenna before I purchase it?

 

[IBTripping]

Another option would be the Winegard Rayzar Automatic Amplified HD TV Antenna. It takes up only a little space. The one I have works well for me.

 

[OldWEB]

If you are travelling to areas that have great signals (Which you can determine with apps), then use the Rayzer style. But if you are determined or need the Batwing style for fringe signal areas, I would have the installer determine the proper location as you have a very small area for a Batwing footprint.

 

[Tom_M1]

The Winegard Sensar IV is considered the best RV antenna. About 25% of TV stations are broadcasting in the VHF band. With its wide arms the Sensar IV receives the VHF channels well.

 

[Bearcatrp]

I got tired of OTA tv. Most places I camp, reception sucked. Bought a VseeBox. Can use WiFi if your campground has good WiFi, or use my phone hotspot to watch tv.. worth the money.

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[2jackmans]

I appreciate your responses; THANK YOU. I checked the reviews on the Winegard Rayzar Automatic Amplified HD TV Antenna and it appears to have some technical issues. I like the fact that it is small and can be placed just about anywhere, however I don't need issues.
I'm not giving up on the Winegard RVW-395 Sensar IV crank-up batwing for now. It has great reviews. In spite of these reviews, I would still like the dimensions I have asked for to see if I have to rule it out.
I remain open to more suggestions for installation of this antenna as well as referrals to other models of antennas.

​

 

[2jackmans]

I got tired of OTA tv. Most places I camp, reception sucked. Bought a VseeBox. Can use WiFi if your campground has good WiFi, or use my phone hotspot to watch tv.. worth the money.

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Please explain how to connect this box and use it to receive TV? I'm not to high-tec savy. I do have a cell phone and our campground of choice has wi-fi.
If wi-fi is not available, how do I use it with the cell phone to get TV. Your help is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[DonTom]

Please explain how to connect this box and use it to receive TV? I'm not to high-tec savy. I do have a cell phone and our campground of choice has wi-fi.
If wi-fi is not available, how do I use it with the cell phone to get TV. Your help is much appreciated. Thank you.

Most cell phones can be used like a portable Hotspot. Go to settings and look for "Network & Internet" and then "HotSpot & tethering" (or words close to such) and turn it on and then use your cell as a portable hotspot to your computer via wireless.

I have not watched OTA TV for years. But I watch TV via web often even at rest stops or wherever, Works everywhere I go. Are you familiar with stuff such as FireStick? I even use the same at home. You just need the web signal which I can get anywhere there is some sky with StarLink when my Verizon portable Hotspot is out of cell range (rare).

Forget about the OTA TV, IMO. It works poorly at many locations if it works at all.

I also never bother to connect the TV cable at the few RV parks that have such.

Grass Valley? I started this trip from my home in Auburn, but I also live in Reno.

-Don- Baker, NV

 

[Ex-Calif]

Please explain how to connect this box and use it to receive TV? I'm not to high-tec savy. I do have a cell phone and our campground of choice has wi-fi.
If wi-fi is not available, how do I use it with the cell phone to get TV. Your help is much appreciated. Thank you.

Actual over the air (OTA) tv into an antenna connected to the tv pretty much sucks and you are hostage to the quality of reception wherever you are. Also because it's broadcast frequency you have to retune (search channels) every time you move.

Broadcast is so 1950's.

Today it all starts with the internet. Either a wired connection like Comcast or via cellular data networks.

With xFinity (at home) I get a broad selection of free tv. Nothing premium but a good selection.

The tv is more like a phone these days. Plug in apps give access to various content suppliers - channels. XFinity gives me peacock (NBC) free so I have the Peacock app.

My tv is an LG. LG gives free tv as well. So the home screen has LGTV.

Then there are all the boxes. They all pretty much work the same. They receive wifi - at a camoground say, and plug into an HDMI port. Some of the latest connect to tv via wifi but it's critical to have a newer wifi enabked tv so caution there.

I use google tv but there is firestick, apple and others. These bypass the native tv interface (LG for example), act say like a dvd player and will almost always provide a free tv selection.

Then it's all about subscriptions which run $7 to $13 a month typically.

Through the google tv interface I download the netfix app and subscribe.

There is a twist. I use Amazon video app. What this does is bundle a bunch of different subscriptions into the Amazon app interface. What's nice (for me) is I manage my subscriptions in one place (Amazon). I have Prime, acorntv, britbox, pbs, paramount+ and HBO Max through Prime Video. I have Appletv, Netflix, peacock separately. I only have appletv so I can get Formula1tv as they have the us broadcast rights.

It's all not as confusing as it sounds but it's definitely not 1955 anymore.

So. It all starts with internet. I have xfinity fiber. They provide wifi for the house.

On the road I get wifi at campgrounds but where wifi is sketchy or unavailable there is cell data. Most all phones can recieve cell data and transmit as a wifi hotspot. All the cell providers make stand alone hotspots. These require a separate cell account but free up the phone.

There is also sattelite but that's enough for now grasshopper.

What's cool is I just bought a TT and it has an older non smart tv with no wifi.

I just pulled my google tv dongle from the guest room and plugged it in to an hdmi port. It was all setup so basically plug and play.

Edit - I forgot to mention there are also free apps supported by ads. Roku, tubi, googletv freeplay, and pluto are good ones. There is also youtube free and youtubetv.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Please explain how to connect this box and use it to receive TV? I'm not to high-tec savy. I do have a cell phone and our campground of choice has wi-fi.
If wi-fi is not available, how do I use it with the cell phone to get TV. Your help is much appreciated. Thank you.

Hook it up to your tv via hdmi port. Comes with a hdmi cable. Use your phone to see if the campground has good WiFi to your camper. If it does, go into network settings and select the campground WiFi. If it doesn’t have good WiFi, fire up your phone, turn on hotspot, the connect to your hotspot name. Check your cell phone plan before using hotspot. The box is different than any box I have used over the years. With this box, you can watch tv from most states. You can also go back earlier in the day to watch something you missed. All free after buying the box. All sports are on it too. If the game is played in another state, you can watch that too.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

All the proponents of internet TV clearly don't camp where I do. OTA TV often works where there are no bars. I modified my setup so I could patch my batwing antenna to the FM radio in the dash (via the BOM improving stationary reception of radio as well. I've gotten TV from up to 40 miles away. Probably not the same success in the flatlands but at least around here internet-cell TV is a non starter unless you're always staying near a city.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[DonTom]

All the proponents of internet TV clearly don't camp where I do. OTA TV often works where there are no bars. I modified my setup so I could patch my batwing antenna to the FM radio in the dash (via the BOM improving stationary reception of radio as well. I've gotten TV from up to 40 miles away. Probably not the same success in the flatlands but at least around here internet-cell TV is a non starter unless you're always staying near a city.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Starlink doesn't need any bars and works great far from all cites. Only needs sky and works great on TV, telephone as well as for forums.

But I am using my Verizon Hotspot now, in the middle of nowhere, with 5 bars of 4G.

-Don- Broder Inn, NV (Hwy 50, AKA the "Loneliest Road in America,"

 

[Larry N.]

All the proponents of internet TV clearly don't camp where I do. OTA TV often works where there are no bars.

Of course it helps that the TV station antennas in your area are on Sandia Peak -- tall antennas indeed.

The Forest of Steel:

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Antennas @ 10KftASL are a wonderful thing. Same can be said for sat antennas 200 miles up. I'm OK with terrestrial comm's, I'm just a weekend warrior and consider radio silence a feature. Gives me all the more excuse to get on 20M, or work V/U through SO-50 or the ISS. The last thing I want to do after schlepping the 10 ton tin teepee untold miles to some tranquil alpine glen is set on my arse watching effluvium on a screen. Take a hike, cook over a fire, turn beer to pee. Leave the connection to society for the remote working folks.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM