Tv reception

sledge

Banned
Feb 21, 2013
77
14
8
Sunbury
I have the snowflake in a new 2013 expanda and whilst we have only been out once on the labour day weekend can say it worked a treat. We were parked in a gully amongst scrub and trees on the foreshore at Rye and with putting it straight up and not worrying about direction fluked 32 digital channels. Will try it out again at Nagambie in a couple of weekends to see if I get the same results.
 

Sterlo1

Member
Aug 27, 2012
31
5
8
Narellan Vale, NSW
We have the old one with the Wingman fitted.
A couple of weeks ago we had a issue when we were in Wangaratta.
We watched the afternoon news then went out for dinner at the pub. When we got home I could not get a signal or any type of reception on the tv. Same thing happened the next day.
The problem turned out to be with the lights. Whenever the LED lights were turned on the signal went. The chandelier over the table was halogen and there was no problem when only it was turned on.
 

malibu

Banned
Apr 5, 2013
34
5
8
central coast nsw
Some ideas.
Some modern LED lights incorporate an electronic starter which can generate RF causing problems.
Maybe there could be a bad joint or connection at one of the leds to so try removing each globe if possible and try
it then.
Another possibility if you run your set on DC is the voltage getting low for some reason when the leds are on.
 

Sterlo1

Member
Aug 27, 2012
31
5
8
Narellan Vale, NSW
Thanks malibu,
Also the radio cuts out whenever any of the LED lights are turned on. Makes no difference if we are plugged into 240v or not.
At the last service we complained to Jayco about it and their reply was that "it is a known problem and they do not have a solution".
I would be very interested to see if anybody has a solution.
The TV problem probably was not caused by low voltage as even though it was on 12v we were plugged into the power in the van park.
 

malibu

Banned
Apr 5, 2013
34
5
8
central coast nsw
1,LED TV's sometimes is not screened well enough against RF so try a different Tv if you can. My first guess now.
2,Maybe try an external aerial ? The van should be wired with quad shielded cable but maybe not, this could be an issue.
3,All connections to the aerial ,eg behind the wall plate should be checked(all supplies off and Battery disconnected before checking) as my Jayco had multiple problems with connections and crimping being very poor.

Jayco, needs to wake up and get a proper technician to look , a cro could analyze the d.c and see if there is anything
there that shouldn't be. It's not difficult.
There are certain certifications that electronic devices need to get to ensure they don't radiate electrical noise.
Any diode which can be 2 dissimilar metals, diodes are well known causes of EMC/RFI .


If you have a recent van it should be possible to contact the lamp supplier Jayco will know who ,me I'd ring the factory (Camec?) to see if there are any reported problems and maybe caravans plus and ask if they have had any similar problems with the winegards reported to them, they are a knowledgeable bunch.
Mine has the newer oval style multi LED lamps and I replaced the Od Batwing and amp with the new one neither have a problem with the lights on.
PS we hit the road tomorrow!!Woohoo!!!!
 

Capt. Gadget

Obsessive & Compulsive Gadget Man
Dec 1, 2011
1,894
1,843
113
60
Busselton W.A.
bbmwa.com.au
Yeah as Malibu said check connectors I too have had several wires fall out all mine are now crimped and soldered dodgy Earths can cause some weird and wonderful problems
P.S I'm not hitting the road tomorrow but malibu is
 

malibu

Banned
Apr 5, 2013
34
5
8
central coast nsw
Reality check on snowflake!We are at beechworth lake sambal.The owners provide a lead that connects to a 5 metre mast and an amplified yagi style antenna.
I tried the snowflake and got all channel 7 ,eg 6,61 etc very clear but nothing else(pointed opposite to the owners one),the owners aerial gave many more channels although sometimes drops out.(I got nothing pointed the same direction as his)
So my top aerial is vertical signals and my bottom one horizontal ,I rotated the top to horizontal and got all the channels(pointed in the same direction as his) but lots of dropouts.
Keep in mind a few places have both horizontal and vertical polarization on the same tower.
To me this means the lower aerial may be too low, the aerial does work and the owner said most people parked where I am get little or no signal.
It seems to me the wanderer DT* may have an advantage as it uses just one connection where the snowflake use a splitter the only disadvantage is having to develop a way of fitting it to a winegard winder.

Ok if you go to the acma digital tv site and download the KMZ file (assuming you have google earth)then click on the file it should load google which will now show deatails including polarization of the aerials .Most of the east coast and Victoria are horizontal but most snowflakes have this on the bottom so I for one am reversing this putting the hrizontal on top.easy to do with a screwdriver.
 

Brad

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2012
2,645
723
113
Rowville, Victoria
I have the snowflake in a new 2013 expanda and whilst we have only been out once on the labour day weekend can say it worked a treat. We were parked in a gully amongst scrub and trees on the foreshore at Rye and with putting it straight up and not worrying about direction fluked 32 digital channels. Will try it out again at Nagambie in a couple of weekends to see if I get the same results.
So that's a plus for snowflake. I have camped on rye foreshore and have only succeeded in a smattering of channels with the older style Jayco wind up antenna.
 

bigman0510

Well-Known Member
Apr 9, 2011
1,754
1,019
113
45
Moranbah, Queensland, Australia
moranbahweather.com
some
Reality check on snowflake!We are at beechworth lake sambal.The owners provide a lead that connects to a 5 metre mast and an amplified yagi style antenna.
I tried the snowflake and got all channel 7 ,eg 6,61 etc very clear but nothing else(pointed opposite to the owners one),the owners aerial gave many more channels although sometimes drops out.(I got nothing pointed the same direction as his)
So my top aerial is vertical signals and my bottom one horizontal ,I rotated the top to horizontal and got all the channels(pointed in the same direction as his) but lots of dropouts.
Keep in mind a few places have both horizontal and vertical polarization on the same tower.
To me this means the lower aerial may be too low, the aerial does work and the owner said most people parked where I am get little or no signal.
It seems to me the wanderer DT* may have an advantage as it uses just one connection where the snowflake use a splitter the only disadvantage is having to develop a way of fitting it to a winegard winder.

Ok if you go to the acma digital tv site and download the KMZ file (assuming you have google earth)then click on the file it should load google which will now show deatails including polarization of the aerials .Most of the east coast and Victoria are horizontal but most snowflakes have this on the bottom so I for one am reversing this putting the hrizontal on top.easy to do with a screwdriver.
Something to keep in mind, thanks!
 

thomo67

Member
Oct 30, 2012
63
4
8
I have the snowflake aerial I am still to make a judgement on it yet as one of the places I stayed I thought I should have got better reception
 

NCarey

New Member
Dec 8, 2012
17
2
3
I use one of these badboys, works pretty good. Just turn the antenna until I have the most LED's light up and BAM! Reception..
LT3332__60482_zoom.jpg
Bigman, where did you get your hands on this beauty please...
 

malibu

Banned
Apr 5, 2013
34
5
8
central coast nsw
During the short trip we just did and speaking to owners of various aerials the most effective seems to be a phased array with a pole mounted 35 db amp mounted next to the aerial, the higher the better .This solution is relatively cheap but not as convenient as the roof mount systems and can only be effective for horizontal or vertical at one time ,where the snowflake does both.
The in van amps are usually no more than 20 db
If I was ordering a new van I would probably go this way now.

We used van park supplied leads to plug into their aerials in the alps.