winegard-rv-antenna-troubleshooting-solutions

Winegard RV antenna is a great product to invest in if you want to enjoy great TV signals while you are riding your vehicle.

Featuring a range of 55 miles, Winegard Antenna is currently installed and in use by hundreds of thousands of RV owners across the country, delivering high performance at an affordable cost.  However, if you have to replace a damaged or old antenna, the Winegard is easy to install yourself so you can quickly get back to watching television. This antenna is also omnidirectional, which means there is no need to aim it because it can pick up a signal from any direction. It even features a wall plate and two TV outputs that deliver UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and VHF (Very High Frequency) to provide a great HD experience. You don’t have to worry about it being outdoors either because the antenna is designed to be weatherproof with the capability to withstand a temperature range of -25°F – 145°F all while taking up little space at only seven inches tall.

Of course, as good as this antenna is, that doesn’t mean there are not any drawbacks, of which there are few. For instance, it can be spotty at times depending on where you are using it, and it will seem like the RV next to yours is getting great signal even though you are struggling to get a signal. 

You may also experience problems in case it gets stubborn when you turn it or crank it up or down. If those issues, happen, then rest assured that you can troubleshoot your antenna from Winegard. The whole process is also easy.

Together with regular maintenance, your Winegard antenna will be capable of providing you with an excellent viewing experience.

Steps in Troubleshooting your Winegard RV Antenna

winegard-rv-antenna-troubleshooting

As mentioned earlier, troubleshooting the antenna is actually easy. It is something that you can do yourself even if you don’t have any experience handling this item. As a start, you can follow all these steps when troubleshooting the antenna:

Step 1 – Check all the cables attached to the antenna. It is crucial for you to check the cable as the problem might be caused by it being loose. Note that the antenna’s cable screws on in a similar way as how the cable found at the back of your television does it.

If it is loose, then it would be best to tighten it as necessary. Also, inspect if there are visible signs of exposed wires, cracks, and damage in the cable so you can have them fixed.

Step 2 – Examine the cable, which attaches the antenna to your vehicle’s interiors. Based on your chosen type of Winegard antenna, its cable may be attached to a simple wall plate. It might also be connected to a wall plate, which is equipped with an amplifier.

Regardless of where the cable is connected, it is advisable to unscrew the plate as a means of reaching the connection found at the back. Tighten it if necessary.

Step 3 – Turn on the small switch in an amplified wall plate. Do this if the antenna is attached to a wall plate, which is equipped with an amplifier. In this case, you may notice a small switch design to turn on or off the amp. Check whether it is turned off. If it is, then it could be the reason why you don’t receive a good signal.

You have to turn it on each time you watch TV. Turning it off might only cause you to be unable to gain good reception.

However, if you notice after the assessment that the switch for the amp is turned on while all connections were tight, then it would be best to install a new cable. Do this if you feel like the cable is causing the problem. Installing a new one will definitely help you get a better signal.

Aside from the steps mentioned above, you can also try this solution on troubleshooting the Winegard RV antenna system. It is different from the previous solution and requires you to follow these steps:

the-winegard-rv-antenna-troubleshooting

Step 1 – Turn on the booster or wall plate switch. Confirm if the light of this booster is indeed on. The light can be either green or red depending on what model you have.

Step 2 – Disconnect coax cable. What you have to do is to go on your RV’s roof where you can disconnect the cable from the head of the antenna. After that, you have to check it thoroughly for corrosion.

Step 3 – Use a 12-volt DC test light or DC voltmeter to calculate the coax cable’s voltage. The ground lead, which is black, should be placed on the outer part of the connector while the positive lead, which is red, should be placed on the coax cable’s center conductor. It should be able to measure around 12-volt DC.

In case that voltage is reached, then it serves as a site that the switch of the wall plate works properly while also ensuring the coax cables are functioning well. In this case, the problem might be a defective amplifier within the antenna head, which then needs to be replaced.

However, it is not advisable to repair or replace the amp’s circuit board on your own. Let a professional do the job. If you can’t seem to get the 12-volt DC at the head of the antenna, then it would be best to do the measurement at the back of the switch of the wall plate.

Step 4 – Take the wall plate switch out of the wall. It is also important to disconnect the cable, which goes to the head of the antenna from the coax connector mounted on the board. It actually refers to the connector, which you can find at the right side when you are looking at it from the back while pointing up the coax jacks.

Step 5 – Measure the jack’s voltage while ensuring that the switch stays turned on. The result should be around 12-volts DC. Avoid inserting the probe of a meter into the jack, though. Just put a tiny wire then insert it into the jack.

You should then put the ground lead on the outer part of the jack. The positive one, on the other hand, should be inserted into the small wire you previously inserted. If at this stage you got the preferred voltage, then there is a great chance that the problem could be on the coax cable, specifically the one beneath the roof’s baseplate.

You can access this specific connection by pulling back the boot from its collar found on the baseplate. You should then pull the cable on until you can access the connectors. Examine the connectors to find out if there is corrosion. Replace if necessary.

If however, you can’t still get the preferred volts on the coax jack found at the back part of the switch of the wall plate, then there’s a chance that the one, which is defective is the switch. In this case, you may need to replace it.

Final Words

Troubleshooting your Winegard RV antenna is actually something that you can do yourself. However, if you are still confused, then it would be best to hire the right person for the job. That way, you can fix any problem with the RV antenna and enjoy excellent reception during the entire duration of your trip.

Last update on 2023-05-06 at 08:29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API