Background; new camper, has worthless omni disk antenna picks up nothing. Already have Directv but want locals at camp site. Seasonal site, camper will not be moved.I had asked previously how to get better signal. Best answers were to get residential antenna. I'm ready to get an antenna now, but what to I do about the OEM powered switch by the tv? Do I leave it off? Or will that prevent signal from passing through? Or do I have it on, but where does the power go then? I don't think I want to send power to an aluminum antenna with no booster on it? Thanks for any help.

When we traveled I also carried a regular TV array antenna for those areas whne TV signals were marginalAntenna was mounted on a 5' pipe that I would set up in flag pole mounts I had on ladder.I would then connect coax cable from antenna to 'cable' connection on rig.Then turn 'booster' switch OFF (DC voltage interferes----only needed for OTA antenna)

Old-Biscuit wrote:When we traveled I also carried a regular TV array antenna for those areas whne TV signals were marginalAntenna was mounted on a 5' pipe that I would set up in flag pole mounts I had on ladder.I would then connect coax cable from antenna to 'cable' connection on rig.Then turn 'booster' switch OFF (DC voltage interferes----only needed for OTA antenna)I have my Directv hooked up to the cable input.I don't want to hook up a splitter at cable input because I've heard the satellite won't pass through a splitter, but also because I use a SD sat box and have it hooked to tv through coax on channel 3. And I want sat on channel 3 and all the OTA channels on their own. So I don't have to do rescans all the time. Kind of screwy.Does that make sense?

I have a 55 (plus) year old aluminum UHF antenna (they were a square wire design back in the 1960's) that my mother had stored away in her garage attic. (my dad was a TV repair man and he installed antenna's and when UHF came out, he installed them. So this is one that he never sold and was never outside.) When we canceled DishTV at the house and decided to go over the air instead, I got that old antenna and put it on a pole outside my house. It has no booster or anything. The coax wire it's connected to is the wire that DishTV installed. It runs to a splitter and feeds to 8 different rooms in the house. From antenna through all the wire, there must be strung through the house and under the house, at least a total of 500 feet of coax, and the signal is great on every television! No booster!Here is what I suggest. Set up your pole outside your camper. Attach the antenna. Run the coax from the antenna to the coax attached to the Omni. Use a joiner (double end threaded connector) to join both wires together, and then use your television inside the camper as normal. You can still flip on the booster or turn the booster off. I suspect, if you turn the booster on, you'll get many more available stations.At our hosue, and we live in the country, we get about 55 stations from all directions, North, South, East and West. (remember, no booster). In the camper sitting in the drive way with the bat wing antenna, we get the same stations from all directions, but the booster has to be on. So, if you simply connect to the existing wire that attaches to the Omni, you can experiment what what works best witout disturbing anything original factory installed on your camper. That's what I'd do.

DutchmenSport wrote:I have a 55 (plus) year old aluminum UHF antenna (they were a square wire design back in the 1960's) that my mother had stored away in her garage attic. (my dad was a TV repair man and he installed antenna's and when UHF came out, he installed them. So this is one that he never sold and was never outside.) When we canceled DishTV at the house and decided to go over the air instead, I got that old antenna and put it on a pole outside my house. It has no booster or anything. The coax wire it's connected to is the wire that DishTV installed. It runs to a splitter and feeds to 8 different rooms in the house. From antenna through all the wire, there must be strung through the house and under the house, at least a total of 500 feet of coax, and the signal is great on every television! No booster!Here is what I suggest. Set up your pole outside your camper. Attach the antenna. Run the coax from the antenna to the coax attached to the Omni. Use a joiner (double end threaded connector) to join both wires together, and then use your television inside the camper as normal. You can still flip on the booster or turn the booster off. I suspect, if you turn the booster on, you'll get many more available stations.At our hosue, and we live in the country, we get about 55 stations from all directions, North, South, East and West. (remember, no booster). In the camper sitting in the drive way with the bat wing antenna, we get the same stations from all directions, but the booster has to be on. So, if you simply connect to the existing wire that attaches to the Omni, you can experiment what what works best witout disturbing anything original factory installed on your camper. That's what I'd do.When you say "joiner" are you talking about a splitter? Two inputs on one end-omni plus residential, and one output to stock camper coax? If so, how does power go from switch by TV to the omni? Isn't it through the coax? Or is it a seperate wire from switched amp to omni booster?Thanks.

Sorry, should be a little clearer. My terminology is not the best:Not real sure how an Omni works, but the signal is amplified at the booster. Nothing feeds back to the antenna. It's like a vacuum sweeper. The motor is sucking the air into a hose. The booster is sucking the signal into the wire (boosting it). Any "power" needed (if it uses any) should go through the coax cable, same as a Satallite Dish - like the Tailgater for DishTV.) There is a coax connection at the antenna on your camper. simply unscrew it and use the connector, above, and run longer length to your new antenna. If you have one of those square (as seen on TV) in-house antennas they advertise, or anything like that, you can plug it into the existing wire that attaches to the Omni and see if you get signals. Really, that might be sufficient to pull in all kinds of channels.

Residential tv antenna with powered amp? | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

rk911
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
srt20 wrote:
It's a TT/park model. 16 Keystone Hideout 38FKTS.
We are a ways out in the boonies, but everybody else gets radio and tv reception there. Of course I'm the only one with an omni antenna. The rest are all bat wings.

I'll get up on roof and get behind the stereo next time I'm up there.

We just got it in May so now I'm starting to fix/improve the stuff that bugs me or I don't like.

Thanks!

something else you should consider that may solve both your TV and radio problem. assuming you do have a separate antenna for the radio it's possible that the factory misconnected the antennas...the Omni TV is connected to the radio and the radio antenna is connected to the TV.

also if you have a video selector switch that allows you to direct video signals from multiple sources...OTA, cable, satellite, BlueRay, DVD, etc. to multiple receivers...main salon, bedroom, outside, DVR, VCR, etc. pull it if you can and check that all of those connectors are tight and actually connected. it wouldn't hurt to make a map and label those connectors while you're at it.

good luck.
srt20
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
rk911 wrote:
srt20 wrote:
One more question.

The radio reception is terrible as well. I thought I read someplace that the radio antenna is part of the omni antenna as well?
My last rv got excellent radio reception and this one doesn't even get a channel that's less than 20 miles away, which happens to be the channel I listen for baseball games.

If possible I would like to improve this as well vs just getting a portable radio.

Thanks again!

are you in a trailer or MH? my buddy has had a number of bumper pull trailers over the years and all of them have had a separate AM/FM antenna for the radio. I've owned 3-motor homes since 1986 and all of them have had a separate radio antenna on the roof. if you don't see another antenna on the roof of your RV and you can't hear anything then either the poor excuse for a TV antenna is also a poor excuse for a radio antenna; the factory forgot to install the radio antenna (hey, it can happen. the factory forgot to install the window by the sink on one of our motorhomes); or the cable isn't connected.

can you pull the radio and see if there is anything connected to the antenna connection in the back. maybe wiggle it a bit and see if something may have gotten crimped and is shorting out. worst case a simple automotive AM/FM antenna mounted where you can get a good ground (well, an OK ground will do)should produce results. if you're way the heck out in the boonies you may not be able to get FM but you should be able to get something on the AM band...especially at night when the sky wave takes over.

It's a TT/park model. 16 Keystone Hideout 38FKTS.
We are a ways out in the boonies, but everybody else gets radio and tv reception there. Of course I'm the only one with an omni antenna. The rest are all bat wings.

I'll get up on roof and get behind the stereo next time I'm up there.

We just got it in May so now I'm starting to fix/improve the stuff that bugs me or I don't like.

Thanks!
rk911
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
srt20 wrote:
One more question.

The radio reception is terrible as well. I thought I read someplace that the radio antenna is part of the omni antenna as well?
My last rv got excellent radio reception and this one doesn't even get a channel that's less than 20 miles away, which happens to be the channel I listen for baseball games.

If possible I would like to improve this as well vs just getting a portable radio.

Thanks again!

are you in a trailer or MH? my buddy has had a number of bumper pull trailers over the years and all of them have had a separate AM/FM antenna for the radio. I've owned 3-motor homes since 1986 and all of them have had a separate radio antenna on the roof. if you don't see another antenna on the roof of your RV and you can't hear anything then either the poor excuse for a TV antenna is also a poor excuse for a radio antenna; the factory forgot to install the radio antenna (hey, it can happen. the factory forgot to install the window by the sink on one of our motorhomes); or the cable isn't connected.

can you pull the radio and see if there is anything connected to the antenna connection in the back. maybe wiggle it a bit and see if something may have gotten crimped and is shorting out. worst case a simple automotive AM/FM antenna mounted where you can get a good ground (well, an OK ground will do)should produce results. if you're way the heck out in the boonies you may not be able to get FM but you should be able to get something on the AM band...especially at night when the sky wave takes over.
srt20
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
One more question.

The radio reception is terrible as well. I thought I read someplace that the radio antenna is part of the omni antenna as well?
My last rv got excellent radio reception and this one doesn't even get a channel that's less than 20 miles away, which happens to be the channel I listen for baseball games.

If possible I would like to improve this as well vs just getting a portable radio.

Thanks again!
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2016
srt20 wrote:

Thanks. Yes basically I'm just looking to see what to do with the factory antenna boost switch. On or off.

The switch also changes the TV connection between the antenna ("On") and the cable input ("Off"). To use the coax from the existing omni for the new non-amplified antenna without sending 12-volts to it, the best way would be to either pull the fuse for the power inserter, or drop the panel and pull off the '+' wire, and leave the switch on.
srt20
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
rk911 wrote:
srt20 wrote:
Bill.Satellite wrote:
OTA brodacast or satellite TV broadcast? Assuming you are within 5 miles of the satellite TV broadcast then you are golden. If you are outside that range you could always use your OTA TV antenna to watch the local 5 o'clock news and your satellite to watch everything else.
this is exactly what I am looking for. I just wanted to know the proper way to hook up a residential antenna to my factory camper coax that has a booster.

ok. since you're in a seasonal site just head out to your favorite big box store and get a residential antenna, X-feet of RG-6 antenna coax and a 10'-20' piece of PVC for a mounting mast. mount the antenna to the mast and connect the cable. lash the mast to the rear ladder or wherever convenient and run the cable to the TV through a window, fridge chimney, etc. locate the proper direction to point your antenna, scan for channels and away you go. if you want to add an amplifier there are amps designed for outside use and inside use...take your pick. TV signals are line-of-sight so, depending on the terrain between your antenna and the transmitters, height is your friend (hence the 10'-20' of mast).

if you want to use the factory coax then climb up on the roof. the coax from your RV antenna should terminate at a connector in the roof. run the cable from your residential antenna to that roof connector. or...just disconnect the RV coax from the back of the TV (or selector switch if you have one) and connect the residential antenna to the TV.

if you have more than one TV and you have a selector switch then connecting the residential antenna coax to the TV INPUT of the selector switch would be the way to go.

you can't use the RV amplifier since it is built into the RV antenna. the switch on the wall merely supplies power to the amp.

I hope this helps but gotta tell ya...it seems like a lot of trouble vs. just getting your locals via the satellite.

good luck.

Thanks. Yes basically I'm just looking to see what to do with the factory antenna boost switch. On or off.

What you have described in the scenerio with me hooking up the big box store residential antenna to the connection on the roof for the factory antenna is exactly what I want to do.
We plan at being at this site for years, and have been for years already. But recently bought a new camper with a crappy factory antenna. Also there will be times when I am up at the seasonal site and my wife will be home. One of us would have to give up the local channels if we were to do the local channels over the satellite. Sure maybe it's more work the day I buy and install the residential antenna, but then I'm done. Never have to worry about it again. Turn the tv on and watch whatever I want.

Thanks to all.
rk911
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
srt20 wrote:
Bill.Satellite wrote:
OTA brodacast or satellite TV broadcast? Assuming you are within 5 miles of the satellite TV broadcast then you are golden. If you are outside that range you could always use your OTA TV antenna to watch the local 5 o'clock news and your satellite to watch everything else.
this is exactly what I am looking for. I just wanted to know the proper way to hook up a residential antenna to my factory camper coax that has a booster.

ok. since you're in a seasonal site just head out to your favorite big box store and get a residential antenna, X-feet of RG-6 antenna coax and a 10'-20' piece of PVC for a mounting mast. mount the antenna to the mast and connect the cable. lash the mast to the rear ladder or wherever convenient and run the cable to the TV through a window, fridge chimney, etc. locate the proper direction to point your antenna, scan for channels and away you go. if you want to add an amplifier there are amps designed for outside use and inside use...take your pick. TV signals are line-of-sight so, depending on the terrain between your antenna and the transmitters, height is your friend (hence the 10'-20' of mast).

if you want to use the factory coax then climb up on the roof. the coax from your RV antenna should terminate at a connector in the roof. run the cable from your residential antenna to that roof connector. or...just disconnect the RV coax from the back of the TV (or selector switch if you have one) and connect the residential antenna to the TV.

if you have more than one TV and you have a selector switch then connecting the residential antenna coax to the TV INPUT of the selector switch would be the way to go.

you can't use the RV amplifier since it is built into the RV antenna. the switch on the wall merely supplies power to the amp.

I hope this helps but gotta tell ya...it seems like a lot of trouble vs. just getting your locals via the satellite.

good luck.
srt20
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
The only reason why satellite is mentioned is because it's hooked to my cable input. Otherwise it has no bearing on my questions.

Thanks
srt20
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
Bill.Satellite wrote:
OTA brodacast or satellite TV broadcast? Assuming you are within 5 miles of the satellite TV broadcast then you are golden. If you are outside that range you could always use your OTA TV antenna to watch the local 5 o'clock news and your satellite to watch everything else.
this is exactly what I am looking for. I just wanted to know the proper way to hook up a residential antenna to my factory camper coax that has a booster.
rk911
Explorer
Jul 07, 2016
Bill.Satellite wrote:
OTA brodacast or satellite TV broadcast? Assuming you are within 5 miles of the satellite TV broadcast then you are golden. If you are outside that range you could always use your OTA TV antenna to watch the local 5 o'clock news and your satellite to watch everything else.

sometimes the spot beams for the locals (on DISH anyway) are pretty wide. last fall we had the same local channels on DISH between Rapid City, SD and Rochester, MN. and earlier this spring we had the same Phoenix locals in Lake Havasu City, AZ and halfway to Vegas from there.

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Residential tv antenna with powered amp?

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