We’d originally planned to write about a new gewgaw “app” from Winegard called the “RV Halo.” Most of us have a Winegard antenna up on top of our rigs, so the company name has gained some trust over the years. So when Winegard put out a press release touting itself as the producer of “The world’s greatest range of Smart Wireless Solutions” and announced “the launch of RV Halo, a smart RV platform that allows users to control all Winegard devices from one app,” we thought, well, hey, we’d best listen up. This must be something new. But the more we tried to listen up, the more we hit the walls of the new corporate “Know Nothings.”
1850s history review time
For those who have a dusty memory of high school history classes, the original Know Nothings were members of an 1850s political movement. The actual party name was the Native American Party, later known as the American Party. Party adherents had some views that were definitely not mainstream, and so were instructed that if anyone outside of the movement asked about it, they were to say, “I know nothing.” The colloquialism stuck. While the party is long gone, sad to say, the attitude has been revived, and more and more in the RV industry.
A simple question that needed answers
As we say, we were trying to bring you more information about Winegard’s RV Halo app. The app, said the flashy press release, “equipped with an AI-enabled voice assistant, RV Halo helps RV owners set up and run a smart home environment whether they are on the road or at home.” Smart home? What’s that mean?
“RV Halo empowers RV owners to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to their vehicles. RV owners can now be instantly notified if the temperature drops, a fridge becomes unplugged, or a door opens instead of finding out hours, days, or even weeks later. A simple voice command can automatically trigger an RV to set up the awnings, turn on TVs, or notify the user of tank levels.”
Well, who wouldn’t want to be proactive when it comes to their RV security? But what has it to do with Know Nothings? Here are the catchwords that set this off. RV Halo “allows users to control all Winegard devices from one app.” Nowhere in the press release is there much of a description as to what “Winegard devices” are available to control with this fancy app. Our imagination suggested it might somehow control a Winegard satellite dish system. But monitoring holding tanks? Putting out the awning?
We look for answers to the RV Halo mystery—and find Know Nothings
We dialed up the number of the media contact listed at the bottom of the release. The contact name was associated with a firm called Firecracker PR. Well, Winegard’s Firecracker PR folks turned out to be duds. A very generic voicemail picked up after 10 rings or so. We left a message. Never heard back. We dug through as much information as we could find on the internet—most of it led nowhere. Found a year-old video touting Winegard RV Halo voice control. Kind of like “Alexa” for your RV. Probably a kin-folk to this new Halo app, but still, no help as to what Winegard devices it controlled.
So we called Winegard’s home office in Iowa. As you might expect, we were greeted, not by a human being, but by an electronic voice offering us a menu of choices. The first choices didn’t apply, but the last, “for all other matters,” did actually shunt us to a human being. They first demanded to know who we were. After that, we got to explain the reason for our call. “Trying to reach your media contact folks,” was the explanation. “OK, well, let me forward you to our reception desk, they’ll help you.”
The reception desk turned out to be a second-round electronic menu, again with no help to finding those elusive media contact folks. We were finally shunted back to someone else who could help us. That’s right, back to the initial multi-choice-and-none-that-work menu. Back to the first human we talked to. We restated the issue. “Well, I can forward you to our reception desk,” was the offer. Again, we explained that didn’t help the last time. The call was put on hold, while Human 1 sought advice from a supervisor. After a ponderous wait, Human 1 told us that they could only send us to the reception desk, that they just didn’t know what else to do.
Know Nothings.
More and more, a corporate culture of Know Nothings
If we had a buck for every corporate RV entity where we ran into the Know Nothings, well, we could probably retire to Cabo San Lucas and drink margaritas for the rest our lives. In the last year or so, the ratio of helpful “let me tell you what your readers need to know” companies have been vastly dwarfed by the Know Nothing companies that either give us the runaround, or, more often, just don’t bother to return phone calls or emails.
Maybe corporations are falling to the siren call of artificial intelligence. Let AI write the press release. Pump it out on the internet and wait for gadzillions to buy whatever useless pablum the media releases tout. Do potential customers need more information to make a more informed purchase? Send them to the Know Nothings.
How they can stay in business is one of life’s great mysteries.
##RVT1118
The appearance that Artificial Intelligence will advance the resolution of problems has only proven that instead of improvements, the likely result will be more degeneration of service.
The corporate circle jerk.
Unfortunately, this is the current trend. Voice mail h**l. Plus, whomever has the telephone answering job does know nothing.
Hell we don’t need AI. We have are government, I had the same thing happen when I filled a complaint with the FCC against Xfinity/Comcast. Never had a human name signed to their eMails. Plus my congressman’s office was no help either.
I am NO fan of all this phone-controlled technology. New RV’s touting how your phone can control every electrical (or electronic) device in your RV. I’m a fan of buttons on the wall – near whatever it is that they’re controlling. This Winegard thingie is a good example of it. Thank you Russ and Tiña for this report.
I actually refer to the corporate entity as “the untouchables” . They like to tell you you can get your answers online possibly from the frequently asked questions section. Makes one wonder who ask the questions to begin with? You must not be qualified to ask questions? I know I’m not .
I’m with Tommy on controls!
Maybe the person you finally reached only had “Artificial Intelligence “ and not common sense. Seems to happen and exist more often than not.
Saw a joke the other day that said:
“Before we work on Artificial Intelligence why don’t we do something about Natural Stupidity!”
🙂
🤣 Good one! Sadly, very true. Thanks, Mikal. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I believe they are one and the same.
It’s not artificial because it is programmed by humans to search a certain database of information for words or phrases, then to formulate a response based on human programming parameters based on the programmer’s desires. It is not intelligence in any way, shape or form because it is merely aping out what the program tells it to do. So, that means Artificial Intelligence is a lot like Grape Nuts. As you know, Grape Nuts isn’t Grapes and it isn’t Nuts. Following the instructions of Artificial Intelligence may well lead you down the same path as following Google maps into the middle of nowhere until you run out of gas. As Mark Twain said, “Beware of reading Health Books, you might die from a misprint”. Be very careful where you get your advice and recommendations. I must also tell you that my free advice comes with a full money back guarantee!
I believe most of the problems we experience is generational. This is not related to a RV, but several years ago my physician referred me to a heart Dr. for a test of blood flow in my carotid arteries. Upon arriving I checked in with the young lady at the reception desk. As she took my name and other pertinent information she asked for my birthdate. I responded the way I had always done; 5/16/43, her response was “is that 1843 or 1943”. My response was if it’s 1843 you better call Ridley’s Believe it or Not because you’ve got a 175 year old man standing in front of you. Embarrassed she said oh I’m sorry. Perfect example of todays younger generations. No Common Sense! Since that day I always say 1943 so there’s no confusion. Lol
I was once asked for my email address. It has a number in it. I was spelling it out and I said: “….numeral 2….” as opposed to “too, to, or two” of course. The young lady asked: “How do you spell “numeral”? I wonder how she would have spelled ” 2, to, too, or two”? I have since substituted “numeral” with “the number”, when asked. I guess my days in “this” world must be “numbered”.
But one time I tried to buy a boarding pass and told the ticket clerk ourname 2 @ yada yada – BTW that’s not spelled out it’s ourname the number two, @ yada yada. When I called to ask where my boarding pass was a few days later they were indignant at me, saying it went to the email you gave us. I asked them to tell me the email, and guess what! It was ourname the number two @ yada yada. Now if lucky enough to get a live person I just ask them to read me back what they just wrote down to doublecheck.
Thank you for the information. Sorry that Winegard = know nothing. By the way, may John Banner rest in peace. I enjoyed Hogan’s Heroes more because of his character.
Not only do they not answer the phone, the website instructions to find help are not correct, usually two revisions out of date.
A Raspberry Pi with Home Assistant installed controlling WiFi modules (switches, sensors and dimmers) can pretty much blow away anything Winegard will offer without limiting the purchaser to a tiny selection of proprietary hardware.
The “I know nothing” phenomena exists in all of us and has been used by every one of us at one time or another to avoid perceived consequences or reaction. You know, “Who left the light on or fed the dog from the table? Sorry momma, I know nothing….”
Selective marketing (sell the steak’s sizzle, not a description of dead flesh) is a cornerstone of capitalism even if it creates the optics of being unintentional or self defeating. WineGard’s hurdles of information dissemination are by design. Stupid design? Maybe. Intentional? Most probably.
I have the Wingard Hybrid Trav’ler DISH network satellite antenna and use the Halo app all the time to activate, Store and troubleshoot issues that may occur. Owners need to contact Wingard Technical Support not some PR firm. Engineers are the ones who designed the functional capabilities and interfaces to Wingard products not a PR firm…..
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