SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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Joined: 07/28/2006
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It can be a real PITA for sure. I have been looking at the DigiAir signal meter because it just seemed like it would help the 30min endless signal search that everyone complains about because the TV can take forever do to a channel scan.
I was given a DigiAir Pro last week and decided to come out to the motorhome in the same place I did the Wingman comparison results test several months ago to see how it works.
The unit has a spectrum analyzer that scans the entire VHF & UHF band in just a bit under 2sec. Rather than taking 10-30min pointing the antenna, scanning, re-pointing, re-scan, etc., you can turn on the analyzer and immediately tell if there is anything on any channel in the direction of the antenna, turn it 90 degrees and just watch the meter. You can do an entire 360 degree scan of the entire area in well under 1 min. Also on the analyzer display is a marker line that you can move around and identify a given channel, then switch to a single-channel mode if you want to really fine-tweak that channel. It also has an audible tone, but the meter is really better.
Yeah, it's not cheap at $190 bucks, but I bought something similar 6 years ago and it ran me $4000.
Note in the pix below that there is a 10db difference in a 90 degree swing of the antenna. VERY easy to pin-in any station within range.
PS: Still playing around here. Doing a fine-tune raising and lowering the antenna and watching the meter is pretty cool. I can get the signal to +-.1db easy.
DigiAir with function menu displayed:
Spectrum Display on the Batwing w/Wingman looking at Mt. Wilson.
Note the vertical bar on the display that you can move around to look at any channel. This one is looking at Ch. 34:
Spectrum Display on the Batwing w/Wingman set 90 degrees off of Mt. Wilson:
Single Channel Display:
Multi-Channel Display. There are 3 pages of these and you can set any channels you want in the pages.:
And NO, I don't work for the company 
(edit spelling)
* This post was
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Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
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pete42
Ohio
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Joined: 09/21/2007
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When I was into Amature television (KB8EMD) we had a HP spectrum analyzer that when we tuned the receiver or transimtter to be dead on the signal would be so bad as to not be useable.
A friend gave me a computer spectrum analyzer program and when I used it to tune everything worked great.
I HP was a tech's from HP that he used almost everyday I first noticed it but never said anything because he after all worked for HP when others made the same claim he had it checked out and was found to be right on.
I just went on tuning what looked best if I remember right ATV runs on 439mhz.
Your gadget looks very handy for us gadget nuts.
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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Joined: 02/02/2003
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Jeff,
Thanks for the post. It looks like a real neat product. While the buy-in price does seem a bit steep, I think it would pay for itself in minimized aggravation if one changes location frequently.
We're at the end of our camping season here in the northeast, but I may seriously consider picking one of these up in the Spring. Hmmmm....maybe Santa will bring me one. I'm an electrical engineer and somewhat of a gadgeteer myself and would find one of these interesting from a professional point of view as well as from a RV'ers viewpoint.
Thanks again for the post.
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22 (Class A)
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (15-Angel, Lexi96.org), 1 girl (10), 2 boys (11 & 8).
2001 Honda Odyssey, Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
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SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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Rick Jay wrote:Jeff,
Thanks for the post. It looks like a real neat product. While the buy-in price does seem a bit steep, I think it would pay for itself in minimized aggravation if one changes location frequently.
We're at the end of our camping season here in the northeast, but I may seriously consider picking one of these up in the Spring. Hmmmm....maybe Santa will bring me one. I'm an electrical engineer and somewhat of a gadgeteer myself and would find one of these interesting from a professional point of view as well as from a RV'ers viewpoint.
Thanks again for the post.
~Rick I guess you get what you pay for. People are spending the same amount of money for the Align-a-Sight (or whatever it's called) to line up a DSS antenna, that may once-in-a-while be a problem through trees, but 99% of the time it's so simple it's ridiculous. Finding off-air channels is a completely different bird and you need all the tools you can get. While it has lots of fancy screens that you and I might understand and play with, even the average person can understand a level meter and nail anything in the area in under 60 sec. The speed of this makes it a complete no-brainer. "Even an RV'er can do it"
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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SCVJeff writes "Finding off-air channels is a completely different bird and you need all the tools you can get."
Finding OTA channels is much less of a problem to find than satelite.
OTA, stations are under 100 miles, transmissions VHF/UHF spectrum using 50,000W or more, satelite is 24,000 miles away using MICROWAVE frequency bands 12ghz and up transmitting flea power of 12-25W per transponder.
The problem is with digital ATA is that most folks are used to the idea that with analog you can just lift a RV antenna and turn the TV on a wala! you have some pictures even though they might be very fuzzy.
Folks don't understand that #1 the standard RV antenna is nothing more than a very small loop of wire with a low gain (high noise) amplifier. Add on top of that digital broadcasts are ALL or NONE, no fuzzys, not gonna happen. So therefore the actual service area of the stations has SHRUNK.
This is intentional, it is to reduce overlap and interference of adjacent channels. This allows the FCC to sell more station licenses since the actual service areas are now more defined.
No need to spend a pile of money on gizmos, even if the gizmo shows some signal, there is no guarrantee that it will be enough all the time for a stabil non blocky pix.
Patentience is key to finding stations. Heck I am more than 40 miles away from my closest station and even with unaided plain "rabbit ears" I was able to pull int about 10 OTA channels.
When I connect to my "whole house" MATV system which has a 12Ft long outdoor antenna, 25db gain mast mounted preamp, 50ft of RG-6 and a amplified 8 port coupler my channels are about 28.
The RV antenna is the same thing as a set of RABBIT EARS, the only difference is the fact that the RV antenna is mounted to the RV. You can only squeeze so much out of so little.
Before dropping money into a fancy meter gadget, BUY a BIGGER antenna! Simply put, using a bigger antenna that you can put up on a pipe will result in a much better chance in actually getting some channels.
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mikestock
Vestavia Hills, AL, USA
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Joined: 12/01/2002
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SVCJeff wrote:I guess you get what you pay for. People are spending the same amount of money for the Align-a-Sight (or whatever it's called) to line up a DSS antenna, that may once-in-a-while be a problem through trees, but 99% of the time it's so simple it's ridiculous.
OUCH!!! I am one of the suckers who bought the Align-A-Site gadgets and found that a compass and a cheap signal mater are all I really need to set up for HD DirecTV HD. However, if I ever get in the deep woods and really have a small critical path to the 101 satellite I am ready.
2005 F250 Crew Cab LWB Power Stroke, 2007 Montana 3500RL Fifth Wheel,Honda EU3000IS, Twin Honda EU2000i's, S&W security system
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creeper
Deep South
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Joined: 12/22/2003
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SCVJeff wrote:I guess you get what you pay for. People are spending the same amount of money for the Align-a-Sight (or whatever it's called) to line up a DSS antenna, that may once-in-a-while be a problem through trees, but 99% of the time it's so simple it's ridiculous.
You miss one of the greatest things about align a site. NO NEED TO PLUMB THE MAST. SO, no putting boards under the legs to get the stand of choice level. Oh yeah and it will help you find a signal through the trees. I use it about 50% of the time for shooting holes and 100% of the time setting up. I have it so tweaked that I don't have to do any aiming after initial set up.. So, I don't know where you get the 99% figure. I guess you do a lot of camping in clear open spaces. I've even used the AAS to shoot through RVs at a rally.
But, 190 bucks for OTA? I'm not too sure about that.
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SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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No question that a nice hi-gain antenna with a deep fringe preamp on a 50' mast is a better way to go, but that's not reality in an RV. It takes time to find what you are looking for, and unlike the house it's a new game every time you move. If one is willing to spend the time to do an endless search, than they don't need this. If you want OTA and want to know if you have something to watch in less than a minute as opposed to considerably more time (up to 30min+) playing with a DTV channel scan, then you need the gear to help accomplish that. Even then there is no guarantee, but at least you haven't wasted an evening figuring that out.
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rvten
Crossville,TN
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Joined: 11/30/2000
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I solved the new Digital TV Reception problem.
I STOPPED USING IT!!! 
Would get a nice signal. Start watching a program. Than Poof. Loose picture or sound. Wonder if I can get my $$ back from the Feds if I send them back my conveerter's?
Tom & Bonnie
Crossville, TN.
Aspect 29H 2008 Type C
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J Walker
Oakton, Va
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Jeff, Thanks for sharing the DigAir with us. It is a fantastically low price for its capabilities but still enough to consider the cost. I can see that it has a coax connection so connecting and disconnecting it would take some time. The location of my cables in an overhead cabinet and not someplace I want to reach in and unplug and plug coax connectors. Putting a T connection is a possibility to bring a coax cable out to a more accessible place, but doesn't that give a 3 dB loss? The DigAir is something to keep in mind. I am doing well now with my Wingman and the TV channel scans. Where most or all channels are in the same direction it is pretty straightforward. I can fine tune the direction watching the signal strength monitor on my TV menu. The harder situations is were there are channels in more than one direction.
Jim Walker
2000 34' Damon Ultrasport DP
2009 Malibu
Brake Buddy
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