Hit The Road Jack
Treasure Coast of Florida
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Joined: 10/20/2005
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Antenna
TIA...Jack
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KeninAZ
SE AZ
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Joined: 06/22/2002
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Very cheap for what they are claiming.
But is this supposed to be for an RV? (You don't say and this is a RV forum)
They don't say what that amp power requirements are if you are intending to use it for an RV. If it's 120 volts it could be pain for boondocking. Also they don't show a cable going up the mast for "phase" or pointing control. Do they have to be wired or are they truly remote (wireless).
If they are wireless than means there has to be a battery and receiver for the remote in the head of the antenna. That amp will chew that battery up pretty quick if the heat and cold don't. I would not want to have to take it down to change a battery.
And last if it's for an RV it would appear to be pole mountable only and you will have to carry that stuff with you to mount it.
Not a whole lot of information on the antenna on your link.
It's rather hard to beat the standard Bat Wing.
* This post was
edited 08/17/08 07:58am by KeninAZ *
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Joined: 07/03/2005
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The Winegard Batwing with booster is known to be the best OTA antenna available. It is aimable. That is not. You get what you pay for.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
Trippe-Lite 1800w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
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KeninAZ
SE AZ
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The antenna is able to aim via a remote control if you read about it.
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JimInMA
Littleton, MA
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I've never used one but at $37 including shipping I'll be ordering one later to give it a try.
For those that are interested - the antenna uses a similar setup to the Winegards. The control box you'd install inside your rig is essentially the same as the Wingard power insertion wallplate. Both insert 12v into the coax to power the amp in the antenna head. The DTA-3500 does have the wall-wart to run it on 120v but the output of that wall-wart is 12v so it could be connected directly to your existing 12v system and run that way too. The wall-wart only puts out 12v at 300mA max so the power use on this thing is pretty low. The phasing control signals is also inserted onto the same coax by the control box.
The User's manual with specs and tech info on this thing can be found at:
http://www.funai-corp.com/6pdf/om/DTA3500.pdf
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SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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Joined: 07/28/2006
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Hold the phone gurls..... This is what is referred to as a "Smart Antenna" that several digital converters interface to nicely. When the box does a scan it cycles this electronically steered antenna in all directions to get e bearing on the station, then knows how to get back there when said channel is selected. The means no diddling with the batwing and getting frustrated with limited scans because the antenna was pointed in the wrong direction. I have one of these along with an older prototype converter at the office and it works really well, although doesn’t have the gain I would like to see, but I think mine lacks a pre-amp. Mine also has a weather tight case, not telescopic like this one Might be interesting to buy one and see if one of my current converters with the Smart Ant jack will drive this..
IMO, this is the ideal replacement antenna for the batwing as (if) more TV's become available to auto steer it
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
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kat1958
Henderson, NV
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Joined: 03/28/2006
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The antenna the OP is talking about is not the Smart Antenna version, but the DTA-3500 amplified antenna. The one referred to by SCVJeff is the DTA-5000 Smart Antenna. The DTA-3500 does come with a remote to aim it. I wonder if it is better than the Winegard antenna that you need to crank around? I also wanted to know how big the Smart Antenna is. I've been looking for an installation or user manual online and can't find one.
Kathy
2006 Ford F-150 Super Cab 5.4 Triton/3:73, Hensley TruControl Brake Controller, Ride Rite Air Bags, 2006 Sprinter 2991RLS, Hensley Arrow Hitch, Kipor 2000i, Xantrex RV2012, 1 Lovely Teenage daughter, who is now an U.S. Army Soldier, and 2 Crazy Dogs.
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SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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kat1958 wrote:The antenna the OP is talking about is not the Smart Antenna version, but the DTA-3500 amplified antenna. The one referred to by SCVJeff is the DTA-5000 Smart Antenna. The DTA-3500 does come with a remote to aim it. I wonder if it is better than the Winegard antenna that you need to crank around? I also wanted to know how big the Smart Antenna is. I've been looking for an installation or user manual online and can't find one.
Kathy Take a look at the link I have of mine above if that helps. I can measure it if you need something closer.
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kat1958
Henderson, NV
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I did look at the picture. I was wondering if this would be a replacement antenna for the Winegard currently there. I got a coupon for a receiver that has a smart antenna hook up and thought that would be great for on the road.
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