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Issue 1404
Welcome to another edition of RV Travel’s Daily Tips newsletter. Here you’ll find helpful RV-related and living tips from the pros, travel advice, a handy website of the day, tips on our favorite RVing-related products and, of course, a good laugh. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate you. Please tell your friends about us.
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Today’s thought
“Luckily, I always travel with a book, just in case I have to wait on line for Santa, or some such inconvenience.” — David Levithan
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Vinyl Record Day!
On this day in history: 1851 – Isaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine.
If you are a member of an RV club or are affiliated with an RV-related event would you please let us know if its gatherings, meetings, etc., are cancelled or postponed because of the coronavirus? We’ll pass along the info to our readers. We appreciate any news related to RVing that’s being affected by the virus. Please submit it here. Thank you!
Tip of the Day
Replace the bat-wing antenna for more entertainment
With Mark Polk
RV EDUCATION 101®
If your RV has the old-style bat-wing antenna, and you use the antenna frequently, I suggest replacing it with an over-the-air (OTA) HDTV antenna. You can use the existing antenna location to do the installation. If you are not comfortable installing the antenna, have it installed by your local RV dealer. The end result is, it can receive VHF/UHF and FM signals, and you can watch HDTV anywhere you go camping for free.
ONLINE VIDEO TRAINING COURSES BY MARK POLK
• Motorhome RV Orientation.
• Travel Trailer & 5th Wheel Orientation.
Do you have a tip? Submit it here.
Luxury motorhome comes with helipad and helicopter!
Now, this is not your everyday motorhome, not by a long shot. You won’t find too many RVs with a retractable helipad — and helicopter to go with it — a roof hot tub, and a smart toilet that can determine if you’re planning to go #1 or #2 so it can adjust its lid accordingly. Read more and take a tour in the short video.
Yesterday’s featured article: The mystery of the melting RV cover
Reader poll
As a child, how much of a role did your grandparents play in your life?
Please tell us here.
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION.
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION.
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
• CURRENT WILDFIRE REPORT.
• LATEST RV RECALLS.
• DIRECTORY OF RV PARKS WITH STORM SHELTERS.
Did you buy a lemon RV? Here’s more about RV lemons and lawyers who will represent you if you need help.
Quick Tip
Another possible cause for sticky tank valves
All hard-to-open-and-close gray and black water tank valves may not be due to sticky valves. Often the cable gets dry or corroded. When the handle is pulled out (the tank valve is open) liberally spray a lubricant on the exposed wire. Run the handle in and out and do this several times. You’ll likely find this makes opening and closing the valves much easier. —Thanks, George B.!
This book is a must-have for state park campers!
This newly published book, “50 States: 500 State Parks,” is a must-have for all state park campers and explorers. The beautiful book takes you on a journey through America’s best state parks. Whether you’re looking for stunning vistas, rare wildlife, a dose of history or an enjoyable hike, state parks offer an array of experiences. Learn more or order.
Website of the day
Tips to surviving summer heat (without an AC)
If you don’t have an AC this handy list of tips is for you. Learn everything you need to know about staying cool in the hot summer months.
Popular articles you may have missed at RVtravel.com
• Police searching for artist who turned famous Chicago “Bean” into Airstream! (Hint: It’s a joke!)
• And the longest RV combo is…
• RV Shrink: New RV furnace failure fiasco – Factory refuses to fix.
#928-1
Trivia
Humans are the only living thing that enjoys eating spicy foods. No other animal will eat anything spicy.
*In the U.S., how many people eat fast food on a daily basis? See the high number in yesterday’s issue.
Readers’ Pet of the Day
“These are Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka litter sisters Niki and Roza.” — Anne and Craig Howlett
Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in our Saturday RV Travel newsletter.
Time to cool off!
This compact, battery-powered, highly rated (the highest rated one on Amazon!), low-noise fan is just what you need to stay cool in your RV this summer. The rechargeable battery charges quick with a USB and will keep you cool for up to six hours at a time. Clip it to your table, bedside, driver or passenger seat or by your chair outside to stay cool. Learn more or order.
Leave here with a laugh
My husband thinks I’m crazy, but I’m not the one who married me.
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY!
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Senior editor: Diane McGovern. Social media director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
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Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
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This newsletter is copyright 2020 by RVtravel.com
I had a dog who always begged at the table. Growing tired of his antics, dancing on his hind legs, rolling over, sitting up, etc. I tossed him a hot yellow chilli pepper. He gobbled it down and went through his entire reproitore. If the Chilli’s came out, he was there, waiting. He also loved balls and one Christmas we bought new velvet covered balls for the tree. He kept grabbing one from the tree, so I rubbed Cayenne pepper on the ornaments. He pulled every one off the tree, stripped them clean and ate the Velvet.
I disagree with your trivia on spicy food! Years ago we had an issue with squirrels eating the bird seed we had out. I was told to put cayenne pepper in it as the squirrels would then leave it alone and the birds wouldn’t be able to taste it. Well, I doused the bird seed with cayenne pepper. The birds didn’t care but neither did the squirrels! They jumped out of the bird feeder, rubbed paws over their mouths, but went right back for more! We gave up and let them eat.
Your trivia says that no other animal will eat spicy food. Humans are not animals. We were created in the image of God and are therefore a totally different creature, with no relation to the animal kingdom.
Mr. Cornelison, I cannot even fathom your response but to say each to his own but you seriously cannot believe that???
I question your exegesis.
The standard analog bat-wing antenna can be easily and at low cost be converted to receive digital Tv signals by adding a small digital attachment – takes about 15 minutes and screwdriver! See the Wingard website. Or you can reduce some weight by removing the bat-wing antenna head; using the existing cable, crank up arms etc. by installing just the head of a King Digital antenna in place of the bat wing head. Check the King web site.
About 15 minutes with a screwdriver and a pliers. I have modified and used both – and both modifications work well and are low cost easy to do. Just don’t fall off the roof!
sorry. the batwing antenna is neither analog or digital. it simply detects TV transmissions in the appropriate band of frequencies as determined by the fcc. the detected signals are then sent via coax to the receiver inside the tv set. the receiver determines analog or digital (hd or sd).
the Wingman attachment enhances reception of UHF transmissions. when the switch was made from analog to digital many TV stations migrated to UHF frequencies. like the battwing the Wingman cannot differentiate between analog and digital.
Absolutely correct on everything
But they can receive the higher frequency more efficiently as the digital signal is broadcast on a higher frequency. That’s why the added smaller elements are added to the existing longer bat wing element.
It does improve the antennas ability to receive UHF. Most TV broadcasting is on UHF channels 14 through 25 with some broadcast on RF channels 7 through 13. There are very few broadcast on channels 2 through 6.
I have 2 of the King antennas in the storage shed. Took of the bat wing and replaced with the King. 1st one was crappy and the 2nd one didn’t work near as well as the old bat wing. Took it off and re installed the old bat wing. Very happy with it. $200 plus down the tube!
I have found that the so called experts on subjects don’t always research their info before opening their computer and beginning to type. I have found the two definitions of experts applies many of these times: Expert= A stranger in town carrying a briefcase. Expert= An ex being a has been, and a spert being a drip under pressure.
I always thought your second one is the spot on description for an expert
I always heard that as X an unknown quantity and spurt a drip under pressure. So an unknown drip under pressure.
My English Bull Terrier eats spicy foods. Shiloh loves dry Wasabi peas and also jalapeño cheese poppers.
I thought I saw videos here that showed mice eating spicy bait…
About the TV antenna, your batwing will receive all the signals just fine. The antenna doesn’t know whether it’s a HDTV signal or analog, the TV determines what it sees. I bought a very inexpensive addition to the antenna the snaps onto the front of the batwing that extends the range up to about 60-70 miles with a perfect picture on a HDTV. Don’t be fooled by the advertising gimmicks that say you need a new HDTV antenna.
What is the ‘inexpensive addition’ you have. Thanks
Yes I’d like to know also, I’ll check back by the end of the day to see if Bob p answers! Thanks in advance Bob p…
Here you go: https://winegard.com/products/hdtv-digital-antennas/outdoor-antennas/sensar-rv/wingman-uhf-booster
thank you JIm
This is the “booster” that I attached to my Winegard antenna that came on our RV: it’s called the Wingman https://winegard.com/products/hdtv-digital-antennas/outdoor-antennas/sensar-rv/wingman-uhf-booster
You can buy it on Amazon, too https://amzn.to/33RsB31
I ordered it from Wineguard. Inexpensive plastic extension ($35.00) works pretty darn well, happy with purchase.
thank you Dave P.
And it’s very easy to install!
Why are the polls not loading for me….again? Have you changed your program or something. I never used to have this problem. I view the Tips on my phone.
If you have an iPhone make sure you don’t have something blocking pop ups. I had an app called Dr WiFi that for some reason included a pop up blocker. Once I got that turned off I started getting the polls.
Hi Penny,
Many phones now come with ad blockers And script blockers built in. Our polls run through our partner, Opinion Stage. Since they show up as opinionstage.com many of these ad, pop up, and script blockers see this as something to block.
Check your settings for your browser and make sure that Ad blockers, pop up blockers and script blockers are not running while visiting rvtravel.com. I know that means you’ll see our ads now and then but we do try to keep them focused on the RV industry the best we can.
Kim
The old bat wing antenna are far better than the new so called HD. I have replaced 2 of the newer ones with the old in the last year.Both types can receive the HDMI signals but IMHO the old type is much better at pulling in long rand signals.
Birds will eat spicy food. I buy bird seed with cayenne pepper to keep the squirrels away. I don’t know if they enjoy it as humans do, but they do eat it!
My understanding is that they lack the ability to detect the heat.
Many, if not all, birds eat spicy hot peppers.
So do chickens. We grew hot peppers just for our chickens. They especially liked Thai chili peppers. A lot of the vitamins supposedly got passed on through their eggs. It made the yolks a deep orange color.
Beautiful little Russian girls, are they hard to understand? Ha ha ha. I never saw my father’s dad. I spent very little time with his mom. My mother’s mom didn’t like me and would hit me so I didn’t spend time with her. My mom’s dad wasn’t allowed to look at any girl so I didn’t know him. Yep, I come from a crazy family, don’t we all.
there is no such thing as an “HD TV antenna” for an RV, single family home, apartment, condo or anywhere else. a TV antenna is designed to detect a range of frequencies…period. how those frequencies are decoded is done within the set’s receiver. ads for HDTV antennas are nothing more than snake oil.
You are correct, I learned that when the FCC changed it all over to HD. But a lot of companies made a boatload of money selling HD antennas! (or is it antennae?)
A goat I once had would dispute the trivia statement that only humans like spicy foods. My goat would spend days working on the weakest point in her pen. Finally, when she would break free she would make a beeline for the porch where she knew she’d find a bowl of dog kibble. As I saw that she was about to be able to break out of her pen, again,I dumped a whole can of cayenne pepper on top of the kibble to discourage her. I snickered as she sprinted to the porch. My goat had the last laugh, though. She wolfed down the entire bowl of food pepper and all, licked her lips and the glint in her eyes told me that she thought it was the best bowl she’d ever eaten. (She also loved to eat poison ivy.)