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Old 02-17-2022, 10:45 PM   #1
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Miramar 35.2
State: Georgia
Posts: 43
THOR #18370
Angry Winegard 360+ OTA Antenna

On my 2018 Thor Miramar I have had the OEM Winegard Razor 21 OTA Antenna. It's "okay" but I was drawn to the hype on the new Winegard 360+ Antenna, thinking that in addition to HDTV capability it would have better signal catching ability. Aaaa... NOT so much! And I've been around and around with Winegard about this!
Here's the Real-Deal on this: I connected it up and LOST several of the channels that I had with the old antenna. And many channels were pixilated and popped in and out.
Here's what Winegard told me: "The Razor is a "Directional" antenna and the 360+ just captures what's available without having to focus the antenna in one particular direction... Therefore, the signal may NOT be as strong as a directional antenna. Sorry 'bout that!"
HUH? What the heck!!
Have any of you had any experience with OTA Antenna's!?
At this point, I would NOT encourage anyone to purchase the 360+!!

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Old 02-17-2022, 11:18 PM   #2
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 24F
State: Ohio
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THOR #16721
Omnidirectional vs directional... take your pick. A directional antenna MAY pick up more distant signals, BUT you MUST have the antenna "aimed" precisely at the transmitting tower. As a result, even close by signals (off to the side) are rejected.

The Winegard antenna you have seems to be marketed as an omnidirectional type - it picks up signals fairly equally in a 360° pattern - at the expense of not being able to receive distant signals. If you're close to a metro area for instance, this may be best. However, if you're out in the boonies, a directional antenna may be your best option.

There are trade offs for each.
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Old 02-18-2022, 11:17 AM   #3
CHS
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2019 Chateau 28Z
State: Tennessee
Posts: 487
THOR #22388
I installed the Winegard 360 a little over a year ago. Very happy with it. Last campground I was at I got over 100 channels. Most all came in clear. The problem with directional was that like others said, you have to have it pointed directly at the signal. The issue is also, sometimes the signals come in two opposite directions. (i.e.) Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. You can only program one direction at at time on the our TV.
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Old 02-18-2022, 12:10 PM   #4
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Quantum JM31
State: Tennessee
Posts: 686
THOR #21926
Most things in life are not black and white and just about everything is a compromise of some sort. We have been rving for 25 years and have tried just about every over the air television antenna there is. I have never found one that will pull in a distant station like the old batwing. Of course the batwing had lots of downsides. Folks often forget to put it down, the gears would break, the O-ring around the crank shaft would leak water when it rained, you had to know where the television transmitters were located and point the batwing correctly. The industry decided to go with low profile units that did not have to be raised up and had simple direct rotation or were omni-directional and could not be rotated. Both of these have the problem of being too low on the roof and things like air conditioners sometimes get in the way. As someone else mentioned the omni directional ones are a compromise on signal strength and only work well when you are near a metropolitan area. Another downside of many of the newer units is that they do not have and adequate antenna for VHF television signals. Take channel 10 for example, which is 156 MHz, is best received with a 1/4 wave length dipole. A 1/4 wave length at 156 MHz is 18.9 inches which can only be accommodated in the old batwing.
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