TV RECEPTION

You mean newer than that batwing on my 2016? The King HD..? How much? Can I do it myself? How easy?

The problem with the older 179s is that the location of the antenna is such that there is no access to the antenna base to rotate it if it is replaced unless it is also relocated, leaving one with a hole in the roof to patch.

I had thought of changing the antenna and modifying the wall to make an opening through which the base could be reached to rotate a King antenna, but we really don't watch enough to make it worthwhile.

I guess we are minimalist.  We took our TV out.  I kept bumping my head on it and we rarely go where there is shore power available anyway.  (Cancelled cable at home, too.)  And, we cut back on gvw by at least 15#.  

Originally posted by StephenH The problem with the older 179s is that the location of the antenna is such that there is no access to the antenna base to rotate it if it is replaced unless it is also relocated, leaving one with a hole in the roof to patch.I had thought of changing the antenna and modifying the wall to make an opening through which the base could be reached to rotate a King antenna, but we really don't watch enough to make it worthwhile.

I'm working on a way to put a King Jack on our 179 and bring the rotation control and signal meter into the front of the wardrobe on our 179. It involves a couple of lengths of 1/2" PVC pipe as drive shafts with 3D-printed end caps and a 90-degree gearbox. I plan to have one shaft come down from the antenna and through a hole in the top of the wardrobe, where it will go into the gearbox. The second shaft will go from the gearbox to a panel I'll mount at the front of the wardrobe, where I'll mount the antenna's control unit.

Originally posted by StephenH Originally posted by TheBum I'm working on a way to put a King Jack on our 179 and bring the rotation control and signal meter into the front of the wardrobe on our 179. It involves a couple of lengths of 1/2" PVC pipe as drive shafts with 3D-printed end caps and a 90-degree gearbox. I plan to have one shaft come down from the antenna and through a hole in the top of the wardrobe, where it will go into the gearbox. The second shaft will go from the gearbox to a panel I'll mount at the front of the wardrobe, where I'll mount the antenna's control unit. I am definitely interested in seeing the results. Do you have your own 3D printer? Is the gearbox in your design also 3D printed?

Yes, I have a cheap 3D printer (M3D Micro+). The end caps are of my own design and printed with my printer; I got the gearbox design from Thingiverse.com and had a friend print it (before I had my printer). I'm not 100% confident that the gears he printed will hold up; I may re-print them in a stronger material or, if worse comes to worst, order them printed by Shapeways. I have the end caps keyed so I can cut a slot in the PVC to prevent rotation within the cap.