Dear DTV Viewer -

Many consumers experiencing issues with select channels after the DTV transition are unable to receive 1 or 2 channels in their respective markets. A majority of these issues are because the antenna they have purchased is a UHF only antenna, when 98% of the U.S. markets have at least one channel broadcasting on VHF.

It has been brought to our attention that a popular antenna online importer and reseller has been making claims on their advertising, packaging and manuals that their UHF only antenna is:

 “optimized for the post 2009 digital frequencies”
 “consistently powerful across the entire DTV spectrum”
 “even performance curve across DTV spectrum”
 “powerful across the entire DTV spectrum offering consistent high gain”


Winegard Company, the leading manufacturer of quality television reception products for over 50 years, has been instructing consumers that most will need a UHF / VHF combo antenna and offers several inexpensive product lines to help fulfill those needs.

How do you know if a station is broadcasting in UHF or VHF?
First, visit http://www.antennaweb.org and input your location information.
On the right hand column under “RF Channel” you will see a series of numbers. Any station listed from 2 – 6 requires a Low VHF antenna, and any station listed 7 – 13 requires a High VHF antenna. Please note, even if a station comes through on your television or converter box as channel 14+, it may be broadcasting on a lower channel.

For further information on DTV reception, antenna recommendations or Winegard products we offer an extensive array of information options.

Winegard Website (http://www.winegard.com)
Antenna Selector (http://www.winegard.com/kbase/antenna_selector.php)
Antenna Listing (http://www.winegard.com/offair/antenna_list.php)
Winegard Forums (http://www.winegard.com/phpbb3/)
Knowledge Base (http://www.winegard.com/kbase/index.php)
Contact Technical Services (http://www.winegard.com/about/contact_form.php?q=2)

Thank you,

Winegard Company

Dear DTV Viewer -

......A majority of these issues are because the antenna they have purchased is a UHF only antenna, when 98% of the U.S. markets have at least one channel broadcasting on VHF.

Now, I've used Winegard antennas and think they are fine products. However, I think if they are going to complain about overblown marketing claims by competitors, they have to take a look at a few of their own. I may have missed a few or counted some twice, but I find that 32 markets (out of 250) have no VHF channels. That would change Winegard's claim of 98% down to something like 87%. I was surprised that the number was even that high, but you only have to have one VHF station in a market to count it.

Now you could spin the numbers by saying "markets covering 98% of the US (or US population)" but that is just marketing weasel-wording.

Good points hphase! I agree that winegard makes good antennas but they certainly are not free from misleading marketing claims. For example, IMO, Winegard should take some hits for claiming high vhf performance on their HD1080 antenna. Gain on high vhf includes: ch 7 (-11 dB), ch 9 (-8 dB), and ch 11 (-1dB). A winegard employee suggested that I replace my DIY mclapp 4-bay with the HD 1080. No reply when I asked why it makes sense to replace an antenna with +4 dB gain for channel 9 with an antenna with a large negative gain?

winegard:

Welcome to the forum.

I think your antenna descriptions are more honest than some other companies.

I haven't noticed Winegard making the claim that a UHF-only antenna is suitable for VHF. An engineer with integrity would never make such a claim, but a marketing man without integrity might.

For further information on DTV reception, antenna recommendations or Winegard products we offer an extensive array of information options.

Thanks for the links to further Winegard info. They will help me when giving antenna advice.

At first glance, your links led to several interesting topics. The first was about the length of coax after a preamp that recognizes the difference in conductivity of copper-clad vs solid copper:
How far can you power a Pre-Amp
http://www.winegard.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=322

The second was about Winegard videos:
http://www.winegard.com/videos/

And in particular about Troubleshooting A Winegard Power Supply:
http://www.winegard.com/kbase/show_vid.php?vid_num=2

I agree that winegard makes good antennas but they certainly are not free from misleading marketing claims. For example, IMO, Winegard should take some hits for claiming high vhf performance on their HD1080 antenna.Yes, but I give them credit for at least listing detailed gain specs on their products. The 1080 is just as good on VHF-HI as the overpriced Clearstream C-4.

Good point Glenn! I'll give you that one... :)

We have 3 VHF DTV stations locally. Needless to say, "Brand X"'s antennas have a high return rate. I saw several open box specials the last time I was in Best Buy.

What is Burger King selling?


http://hotair.cachefly.net/images/2009-06/bk-blow.jpg

We have been using Winegard's H76 series antennas (7-69) here in my market. People who use them here are very happy with them. They work in the air or in the attic.

We have 3 VHF DTV stations locally. Needless to say, "Brand X"'s antennas have a high return rate. I saw several open box specials the last time I was in Best Buy.

There are a lot of "Brand X" antennas that are not working and I can personally attest that the FCC is making a list of those antennas that claim one thing and do something else and they aren't very happy about it either. They are going out into the markets that are having reception issues and taking notes of which antennas work and which ones don't and how the antennas were marketed and who sold the antennas. That seems to be a good chunk of reception issues.

As a FCC Field Engineer told me last week, the best antenna they have found that works (indoor type) is a $19 antenna. The worst one was over $100.

Winegard,
I put up a HD 8800 just before the 12th, and I love it!! It pulls channels every day that are approximately 90 miles away or further. Very pleased with your product.

Antennas that look like antennas work. Antennas that look like a piece of plastic more than metal don't.

winegard:
I think your antenna descriptions are more honest that some other companies.I agree.

Another company brought their DTV dog & pony show bus through our area, making some of the same claims about their antennas mentioned in this thread. They sold antennas to locals who found out later that they wouldn't work for all the channels in our area, unless they lived close to the transmitter. Of course, by then, the bus was long gone.

Looks like the return of the Traveling Medicine Shows from a time gone by. Sounds like they need to be brought to the attention of some consumer action groups.

Wait a minute, why not enlist the aid of the "'X' on your side" or Action News 'X' consumer reporter? A TV station might have an interest in TV reception issues and unhappy viewers...

I have exclusively bought Winegard antennas and amps for over 20 years. One thing I like about them is that they list their antenna specs for all their products. You don't have to guess as to how they will work. I have seen few if any other antenna products that do this. Before the internet I saw the antenna spec sheets in the store.

Rick R

We appreciate all of your replies. We have taken a stand on the quality of our product, the quality of our technical support and the quality of our informational resources and will continue to do so.

As a U.S. manufacturing company and not just an importer of antennas we take great pride in our products and go to great lengths to produce the highest quality product possible.

------

Note, the 98% of markets quoted in my post above is the current data we are given from the FCC and the way they line up said markets.

Keep up the good work.

Its a shame that Channel Master closed its American antenna manufacturing operations.

Last fall I replaced an older and slightly larger Winegard with an HD 7084P and am getting excellent results. The old Winegard had been put in service in 1993 and had suffered through a few hail storms, ice storms, and at least one lightning strike that wiped out the transformer box. It was missing several of the longer elements that had fatigued and broken off over the years. It was on top of a 50 foot tower well above the trees so it received no protection at all.

The 7084P occupies the same location so imagine my frustration when one morning one of the rear elements was drooping due to (I assume) a large bird attempting to roost on it. Fortunately, the element is still in place and the antenna is working well. I do wonder how long it will be before fatigue sets in and the longer elements fall off.

I would really like a commercial grade three-band TV antenna with a heavy-duty boom and oversized elements that could handle an owl roosting or an inch of ice. Yes, I'd be prepared to pay a premium for such an antenna if I knew I could expect a 25 year life-span. CATV antennas do come to mind, but are generally channel cut so that leaves their installation more complex as we have stations on all three bands and require a rotor.

Hopefully it will be ten years or longer before I have to change out the antenna again. Regardless, Winegard will be among the first lines I look at.

Keep the manufacturing here in the US!
Amazing, a once popular antenna could be had for $50 when it was made in the USA. Now, it is made in China and is selling upwards of $80. What's wrong with this picture?

That's what happens when some other unrelated company comes in, buys up an existing name and cleans house. Just another example of my sig.

Keep the manufacturing here in the US!
Amazing, a once popular antenna could be had for $50 when it was made in the USA. Now, it is made in China and is selling upwards of $80. What's wrong with this picture?

That's what happens when some other unrelated company comes in, buys up an existing name and cleans house. Just another example of my sig.

You need to fix your signature. It's lose, not loose. As for the antenna, everything costs more than it did 20 years ago.

everything costs more than it did 20 years ago.20? I'm talking one year. Actually, I'm talking a few months!

Sig typo fixed.

As for the antenna, everything costs more than it did 20 years ago.Computers are cheaper. HDTVs are cheaper.

As I have posted on other threads I am currently using a Winegard 7015 VHF/UHF antenna in my attic with a Winegard 8275 VHF/UHF preamp. I get perfect reception on all digital channels. This is in spite of being behind a 2700' peak 3 miles from me directly between the transmitters 35 miles away. The 7015 I consider to be a real value at $37.99 from solidsignal.com.

I recently moved only 2 miles and before I used a Winegard 8200 VHF/UHV antenna with the 8275 VHF/UHV preamp.

Rick R

Winegard Company, the leading manufacturer of quality television reception products for over 50 years, has been instructing consumers that most will need a UHF / VHF combo antenna and offers several inexpensive product lines to help fulfill those needs.

Dear Winegard,

Thank you for offering a selection of combination VHF/UHF American made DTV antennas.

One suggestion:
Please include the sq ft wind load data for every antenna on the spec sheets. This essential information will allow better planing of an installation including the most appropriate support system for the specific antenna as well as one's home and local weather conditions.

One question:
Since the FCC (as of 6/12/09) has limited UHF to channels 14-51, when might Winegard offer combination VHF/UHF DTV antennas that have been optimized for channels 7-51?

Keep up the good work!

a FCC Field Engineer told me last week, the best antenna they have found that works (indoor type) is a $19 antenna. The worst one was over $100.
Could you tell us what that $19 antenna was?

Rick R

Could you tell us what that $19 antenna was?

Rick R

http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2265519w345.jpg

Radio Shack 15-1874 NON AMPLIFIED $11.95

Sorry to break up the Winegard Lovefest, but I disagree.:p I think that based on my experience that some of the Winegard gain claims from specs may have been overinflated. The PR-9032 and the HD-8200P are examples. Good antennas, yes, but not as good as the gain figures would suggest. I'd like to see an American-made, uhf-only, corner-reflector antenna with equivalent performance to an xg-91/Funke/Televes/Triax model. I'd also echo the earlier suggestion of an option for an antenna optimized for both uhf 14-51 and combo 7-51.

I love my PR8800. I find its UHF performance to be great. It doesn't claim to be a VHF antenna as far as I know and I don't use it as such.

Some people do use it for VHF though.

- Trip

I'd like to see an American-made, uhf-only, corner-reflector antenna with equivalent performance to an xg-91/Funke/Televes/Triax model. I'd also echo the earlier suggestion of an option for an antenna optimized for both uhf 14-51 and combo 7-51.
Agreed, both a 14-51 UHF and combo 7-51 models would be a great idea.

Sorry to break up the Winegard Lovefest, but I disagree.:p I think that based on my experience that some of the Winegard gain claims from specs may have been overinflated. The PR-9032 and the HD-8200P are examples. Good antennas, yes, but not as good as the gain figures would suggest. I'd like to see an American-made, uhf-only, corner-reflector antenna with equivalent performance to an xg-91/Funke/Televes/Triax model. I'd also echo the earlier suggestion of an option for an antenna optimized for both uhf 14-51 and combo 7-51.

I agree that Winegard is overrated in some respects. I am not a fan of their UHF antennas, but I will say that I like their YA-1713 highbander.

If I didn't own a pair of Funke psp.1922 highbanders, I would most likely have the 1713s.

Bill