I am fed up with my Winegard antenna with the two blades that is as useless as a hip pocket in a singlet. I have modified it by putting vertical mesh bars which helped slightly. Now I've had enough, I'm going to lash out & get a new antenna completely that is the latest & greatest, but which one is the question. I am divided between the new Majestic UFO X, that has a 30db boost, or a Winegard Freevision HV. Both have their good & bad points, so being undecided, I'm sure that there is someone out there who has had experience with either or both that could give a report on which is better. We live in Adelaide & have a Winnebago Leisure Seeker which we use a lot, mainly within the state, but two or three times a year go interstate including Qld. TV is not the only thing in our lives, but if it is there, it's gotta work, or it's no use. Looking forward to some useful info
Baggie.
Life is too short to be miserable.
-- Edited by Baggie on Tuesday 10th of March 2015 01:38:11 PM
DeBe said
02:05 PM Mar 10, 2015
Unless theres a reasonable signal neither of them are going to be any good. The 30db gain is from the amplifier, the Majestic antenna is round & small Omni directional, so there will not be mutch gain or signal from the antenna to amplify un less you are in a strong signal area. The Winegaurd free vision looks slightly better. These RV type antenas are at best a compromise. And the antenna gain is only 1 or 2 db. I use a phased array type antenna that's directional & has a gain of 10-14db without an amplifier, far better antenna & cheeper about $60 then add an Amplifier if you feel you need it. May not look as COOL as an RV type but its a proper antenna.
-- Edited by DeBe on Tuesday 10th of March 2015 02:08:20 PM
I have to agree with Aussie Paul, the vast system is far better than any antenna on the market, i have tryed a lot ( i was in the television antenna industry for over 30 odd years ) of antennas and the vast set up wins hand down.
The antenna that DeBe has pointed out and while a good antenna does not adress the VHF side of things and would preform poorly at these frequencys. A lot of areas still use vhf as well as uhf and now that we have had the restacking of channels happen, every thing has moved around to other channels EG; where i live ( Mildura ) all of the UHF channels moved to the VHF channels last August ( 2014 ).
Once you get your head around satilight television and what it intails and get over the learning curve of the setting up you are good to go. The vast reciever,dish,cable,stand,and a good cheap meter will cost a bit more than a new antenna and possible an amplifier as well BUT the vast system will work all over Australia
Hawk7 said
01:05 AM Mar 11, 2015
Hi Baggie . Instead of blaming the Winegard please make sure you are using it correctly .It is directional in that the signal is received on the side of the antenae opposite the support pole .The amount of people I have seen who just wind 'em up and hope for the best is amazing. When in a caravan park check the direction of the fixed antenaes on the cabins [ not on other caravans ]. Another option is to get 'Antenae Mate ' app on phone or ipad . Cheers ! Hope this helps . Alan
I also have VAST.
-- Edited by Hawk7 on Wednesday 11th of March 2015 01:07:43 AM
-- Edited by Hawk7 on Wednesday 11th of March 2015 01:08:50 AM
Flags2 said
10:34 AM Mar 13, 2015
We are finalising the optional extras for our rig and, after much research, have gone for VSAT (not roof mounted though) and will use the smartphone app for optimum positioning.
Cheers
Robyn
Dunmowin said
08:02 PM Mar 15, 2015
Go Vast. you can then pick up a signal wherever you are. normal antenna will not, there are still plenty of black spots.
I am fed up with my Winegard antenna with the two blades that is as useless as a hip pocket in a singlet. I have modified it by putting vertical mesh bars which helped slightly. Now I've had enough, I'm going to lash out & get a new antenna completely that is the latest & greatest, but which one is the question. I am divided between the new Majestic UFO X, that has a 30db boost, or a Winegard Freevision HV. Both have their good & bad points, so being undecided, I'm sure that there is someone out there who has had experience with either or both that could give a report on which is better. We live in Adelaide & have a Winnebago Leisure Seeker which we use a lot, mainly within the state, but two or three times a year go interstate including Qld. TV is not the only thing in our lives, but if it is there, it's gotta work, or it's no use. Looking forward to some useful info
Baggie.
Life is too short to be miserable.
-- Edited by Baggie on Tuesday 10th of March 2015 01:38:11 PM
Unless theres a reasonable signal neither of them are going to be any good. The 30db gain is from the amplifier, the Majestic antenna is round & small Omni directional, so there will not be mutch gain or signal from the antenna to amplify un less you are in a strong signal area. The Winegaurd free vision looks slightly better. These RV type antenas are at best a compromise. And the antenna gain is only 1 or 2 db. I use a phased array type antenna that's directional & has a gain of 10-14db without an amplifier, far better antenna & cheeper about $60 then add an Amplifier if you feel you need it. May not look as COOL as an RV type but its a proper antenna.
-- Edited by DeBe on Tuesday 10th of March 2015 02:08:20 PM
I would be going with the VAST system.
Aussie Paul.
Hi Baggie;
I have to agree with Aussie Paul, the vast system is far better than any antenna on the market, i have tryed a lot ( i was in the television antenna industry for over 30 odd years ) of antennas and the vast set up wins hand down.
The antenna that DeBe has pointed out and while a good antenna does not adress the VHF side of things and would preform poorly at these frequencys. A lot of areas still use vhf as well as uhf and now that we have had the restacking of channels happen, every thing has moved around to other channels EG; where i live ( Mildura ) all of the UHF channels moved to the VHF channels last August ( 2014 ).
Once you get your head around satilight television and what it intails and get over the learning curve of the setting up you are good to go. The vast reciever,dish,cable,stand,and a good cheap meter will cost a bit more than a new antenna and possible an amplifier as well BUT the vast system will work all over Australia
Hi Baggie . Instead of blaming the Winegard please make sure you are using it correctly .It is directional in that the signal is received on the side of the antenae opposite the support pole .The amount of people I have seen who just wind 'em up and hope for the best is amazing. When in a caravan park check the direction of the fixed antenaes on the cabins [ not on other caravans ]. Another option is to get 'Antenae Mate ' app on phone or ipad . Cheers ! Hope this helps . Alan
I also have VAST.
-- Edited by Hawk7 on Wednesday 11th of March 2015 01:07:43 AM
-- Edited by Hawk7 on Wednesday 11th of March 2015 01:08:50 AM
We are finalising the optional extras for our rig and, after much research, have gone for VSAT (not roof mounted though) and will use the smartphone app for optimum positioning.
Cheers
Robyn
Go Vast. you can then pick up a signal wherever you are. normal antenna will not, there are still plenty of black spots.