TV antenna

[Kylealdridg]

Hello I was shopping for a new RV (2018 Hideout 28RKS). I noticed that there was no crank or knob to aim the antenna. I asked the sales person and he said the it is stationary. My question is how good is the reception or should I try to get an aimabel antenna as part of the deal?

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum.
TV reception is dependent on a few factors. First is distance from transmission towers. Then terrain may be an issue, after that placement of the antenna in relation to other objects on the roof can affect reception.

If you buy an RV with a “fixed” antenna, changing it for a rotating type may be a challenge as you will have to drill through the ceiling. If the fixed antenna sits over cabinets, then you may not have a choice. I doubt the dealer will change it as “part of the deal”.

[gregrc75]

My last camper had the batwing antenna. Parked in the driveway at home, I could get 60+ channels after the auto scan. My new camper has the Omni directional antenna and it only gets about 20 channels parked in the same spot.

I purchased a batwing style and I am going to replace it in the spring.

[fourfourto]

My last camper had the batwing antenna. Parked in the driveway at home, I could get 60+ channels after the auto scan. My new camper has the Omni directional antenna and it only gets about 20 channels parked in the same spot.

I purchased a batwing style and I am going to replace it in the spring.

I had a batwing on my car :hide: in the 80,s with a 12 volt black and white tv I got all 11 channels:D

[PARAPTOR]

If I recall there are more positive comments on the batwing (directional) versus the omni direction antenna. The batwing antenna when cranked up is higher off the roof than the fixed omni directional ones. Chuckster.. has some good points to consider when converting one to the other. Location Location

[Kylealdridg]

I don't want to spend 20 to 30 thousand dollars on something and have to turn around and have to replace the antenna. Maybe I should be looking at another brand.

[chuckster57]

I don't want to spend 20 to 30 thousand dollars on something and have to turn around and have to replace the antenna. Maybe I should be looking at another brand.

You might find the same antenna on several different brands.

[notanlines]

Kyle, I think you were on the money when you suggested changing brands. $20K won't get you an RV that will pacify you if you already aren't happy because of an "unamiable" TV antenna.

[Tinner12002]

Ours is fixed, we don't have any issues with tv reception. I think it all depends on where your at and how important watching tv is when your camping. If I found an RV that suited my needs there wouldn't be a tv antenna made stand in the way of my purchase, but then watching tv isn't on my top things to do when camping. Reception quality is going to be a matter of location.

[ctbruce]

No matter the antenna, it's in a trailer, not a sticks and bricks home. The reception quality is never going to be the same. If you want HD you may want to scrap over the air and get a pay as you go satellite deal instead.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

[dblanch57]

The omnidirectional antenna is a 35-mile antenna. I placed the second amplifier in line just before the tv and it helped a little. I now have a made a pole out of 3 sections of PVC pipe and used my step ladder
(which I have with me for cleaning off the slide outs) and put the pole thru the tool tray on the ladder and connected the 100-mile antenna to the cable input. The amp in line before the tv and the directional capabilities of this antenna are amazing. I have seen this type of set-up on motorhomes with the pole attached to the ladder. I got the idea from a youtube video.

[JRTJH]

Older Airstream trailers had a Channel Master antenna mounted to the front of the trailer wall/A frame. It was a "foldable model" that stored against the front wall of the trailer for travel and "folded up" to extend above the trailer when in use. When unfolded, it was about 8' long and about 5' wide and sat on a pole that was about 6' above the trailer roof. That antenna was markedly better at pulling fringe stations than the "bat-wing roll-up" antenna that replaced it. Even with the "high tech" (for the 80's) electronic head, the batwing just doesn't work as well as the "mass of the big Channel Master". Now the Omni-directional roof mounted antenna is beginning to replace the "stepdown bat-wing" that replaced the Channel Master.

My guess is that as more and more of us go to satellite TV systems in our RV, the TV antenna will become as scarce on RV's as it is on house rooftops in "suburbia"......

Time was when everyone had an antenna on the roof, now, it's either a "cable entry" or a "satellite dish".... Gone (for the most part) is that big old aluminum gadget on the tall pole beside the chimney.

[chuckster57]

I don't think the OTA antennas will ever disappear. Since the major networks are required to broadcast OTA signal that ANYONE with an antenna can get, the quality of the antennas will be the only thing that changes. I see different brands/styles of the omnidirectional antennas on various brands of RV's and their placement on different parts of the roofs. FWIW, I have found the "triple vision" used on the Tiffen motor homes is very impressive. Winegard RAZAR does a pretty good job also. and is aimable from an electronic panel inside the coach.

[JRTJH]

The old antennas were based on analog TV broadcast standards. As such the antenna size (1/2 or 1/4 wavelength) either improved or degraded reception capability. The current TV broadcast standards are digital and significantly different from the old standards. The antennas used with digital broadcasting are much smaller and contain much more "signal enhancement gadgets and amplification" than the older style analog systems.

Just like tires, bearings, air conditioners and trucks, there are different "quality" products on the market. I don't have much experience on which brands are best and which brands should be avoided. I do know that with the very short elevation most of them have above the roof of the RV, placement is critical. Putting an antenna "in the shadow" of the air conditioner, for example, will essentially "kill all reception" from that direction.

Granted, there are some "electronic wizardry" to compensate for part of that shadowing, but placement still is probably the most important factor in good reception inside the RV.

[chuckster57]

We (DW) also use the Winegard carryout and Directv for the main room, I am relegated to the bedroom and whatever I can get OTA or park cable.