TV antenna

Jean W

Junior Ranger
Donating Member
I hope to find a TV antenna to use in the TD. Problem is I don't know who makes the device. Hilditch uses one, it is a rectangle, light brown color, clamps to a pole. Who is the manufacturer and where do I find the elusive device?

Jean
 
Jean,

Mine is a Phillips 'MANT940' that I got at WalMart for $40. It can be mounted on a pole, but I mounted it on a small board to sit on top of the tear. The whole thing stores behind the TV (not tow veh.) I don't use a pole.

Works good within 30 miles, fair to 35 miles. Then ~~~~~~~~~

Hilditch
 
For a hunt camp lasting a few days, I set up the dish. This gives me The Weather Channel, The Outdoor Channel and Fox News. I run the receiver off a 100w inverter.
Who could want more?
Steve
 
Jean,

We also wanted some TV capability in our 550 but had read a lot of pessimistic info about how well it would work with small (and low) antennas. We finally just decided to try and see how well it would work for us. We certainly do not want to spend our time watching TV but we did want to catch some sporting events, local news, weather, and just have a little variety when we wanted it.

We bought a ClearStream2 antenna (www.antennasdirect.com or Amazon). The antenna _and_ the cable to connect it to the jack on the 550 weighs about 2.5 pounds We disassemble it (one bolt) and put it in the center area of the forward storage compartment of the 550 (20" by 12").

We do have a pole, a 6.5' aluminum pole and a 5' pvc pole that fits over the aluminum one, along with a hose clamp that gives us a 10' pole to hold the antenna up and a 6.5' pole to store under the mattress, again well under 3 pounds. It takes only about five minutes to pull it all out, attach the antenna to the pole and put it up. We use a couple of hose clamps to attach it to the hitch jack housing.

We have been happy with the number of stations we have been able to see, maybe 20 from our driveway (we are in a very rural area, 30 miles from Lincoln NE and 80 miles from Omaha NE) although half of those are secondary channels from the same station. Our camping trips so far have been closer to big cities than where we live so it has worked well then too, when we have set it up. No promises, remember all the pessimistic advice we got, but it has worked acceptably for us.

We also bought a FireStick (I think I saw one of these in one of Ron's posts?) that also mounts on our pole for AM/FM reception).

All of this is out of sight under the mattress and in the forward storage compartment when not in use. We hardly notice it.

Don
 
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