RV TV

We replaced the two sets we got with our 2000 model class A. Had no converters anyway for the newer digital services.
I bought an amplified hanging indoor antenna that we just secure to the wall inside the unit with Velcro. It seems to work fine for us to get local over the air stuff almost everywhere and no holes to drill either. And in our case the USB powered amp powers from the back of the Vizio TV we bought for the RV that we can set almost anywhere too. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BN5Z2WM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'd run my wires under the rv and up through the floor rather then over the roof. More place to attach the cable to hold tin place and less chance of a leak.

IAMICHABOD wrote:
One thing to remember when purchasing a TV for the RV is to look at the viewing angle, if you can go to the store and sit lower then off to each side to see what it looks like at those angles. A DVD player is also nice to have.

Most times in a RV you wont be looking straight on at it. I found out the hard way after buying and returning 2 TVs, that sometimes at those angles the screen is washed out or black making them un-viewable.

Very true !

A wall mount bracket with a full articulated arm helps a lot.

Mark Robinson wrote:

1) I didn't even know they still had broadcast television. Is it even worth using the antennae?

Broadcast TV is now all digital, so if you have old "tube" style TVs they will not work. However the picture quality of "over the air" (OTA) is excellent on newer TVs. Smaller flat screen TVs (<30") are cheap and 720p is more than adequate for these smaller screens.

Mark Robinson wrote:
2) if I do split the cable signle leaving the antennae, should I use a splitter with an a/b switch, or just a simple splitter. Seems like I would have to have a splitter with a switch to avoid interference from the other side .

You would need a switch. The simple and cheap thing to do is use a "barrel splice" at some point upstream from where the signal splits for your 3 TV jacks. Attach the antenna when you are boondocking/dry camping. Unscrew and attach the cable when you are in a park.

THREE interior TV locations?

Let me ask you a question.. Is there a wall plate with a Switch, A light, a 12 volt outlet and a TV antenna fitting, it will likely be near your Main TV and may well be connected to it. This is your starting point

If so unscrew it from the wall and inspect the rear. How many coax cables 1,2,3 (likely 2) if two we are in business.. leave it hanging for a bit.

Is your antenna a WINEGARD Sensar II or III (Batwing?) If so we are now golden

Get to an RV supply and pick up two things
1: Wingman (around 30-40 bucks)
2: Sensar PRO (bit more expensivem, like 100 bucks give or take)

Now, on the roof, mount the wingman, Only tool you MIGHT need is pliers

Indoors First On the wall plate, Identify the ANT wire and the TV/2/3 wire (often the ant is on the left loopking at the rear, with the 12 volt outlet at the top) and label them. If there were 3 wires it is a bit more complex and I'll address in a bit.

Disconnect 12 volt wires and protect against shorts (tape Cellophane type is good here) Now insert the sensar pro in the hole and see if it fits, if not you will need the spacer included with it.

Hook ANT wire to ANT
Hook TV 2/3 to TV 2
Notch corner of box and bring TV 1 out
Run a nice new cable (I am partial to RG-6 but 59 will do) from the wire marked CABLE to any handy outdoor connection point.. How to route is up to you.

Connect 12 volt wires (remove tape) and install box.

Tap the MODE button and it should light up, you may need to double tap.

- - -
If there are 3 wires hooked to the back of the wall plate

Normally they are ant/cable/TV-2 but well... You said there is no cable so they might be Ant/TV/2?TV-3 You will need to test to insure.. one way to test is easy.

Turn on the tv.. Tune to say channel 3 (Analog) touch the wire, watch the screen (touch the center wire) when you hit the wire that feeds that TV you will see a change in the static.

If the wires are TV-2 and TV-3 (TV-1 is the front jack) then you will need a short jumper coax and a splitter

TV-2 Jack to splitter splitter to TV-2 and TV-3 coax lines

If you have only TV-2 cable, then the splitter already exists.

I have TV-2,3,4,5 (only have 3 Tv's and 2 DVR's but I have jacks for several additional (3 additional) tv's if I put 'em in) Originally the plan was to move one TV around to where it was needed depending on configuration, Did not work out that way.

stickdog wrote:

We have Sat and Cable hookup on the 5er but they no longer work I just thread the cable through the slide next to the entertainment center and connect. Works fine except the DW thinks the wire is unsightly.

I solved that problem by painting the cable to look like a large centipede.

One thing to remember when purchasing a TV for the RV is to look at the viewing angle, if you can go to the store and sit lower then off to each side to see what it looks like at those angles. A DVD player is also nice to have.

Most times in a RV you wont be looking straight on at it. I found out the hard way after buying and returning 2 TVs, that sometimes at those angles the screen is washed out or black making them un-viewable.

After buying and returning a Samsung and a RCA I found a Insignia at Best Buy that has a much larger viewing angle, 178 horizontal and 178 vertical viewing angles.

In my RV with the TV in the front or the rear bedroom you have to look up at it. This TV works great in both areas.

If your going to replace the TV the new ones receive the new digitl signals so there is no need for a converter.
Your antenna will pickup the new signal but there is an attachment that should enhance UHF signal reception. Just google wingman UHF booster.
We have Sat and Cable hookup on the 5er but they no longer work I just thread the cable through the slide next to the entertainment center and connect. Works fine except the DW thinks the wire is unsightly.

DutchmenSport wrote:
We quit cable and all satellite TV some time ago because of such high pricing. We are only over the air television now at home and camping. Absolutely do not miss paying over $100 a month for the same reruns and advertising. Over the air TV suits us just fine.

+1
We quit both cable and Directv over a year ago also, in favor of broadcast and Netflix.
There are times I get more channels in the 5er than we get at home, and I never go to places with a cable hook up, and don't really miss it.

We quit cable and all satellite TV some time ago because of such high pricing. We are only over the air television now at home and camping. Absolutely do not miss paying over $100 a month for the same reruns and advertising. Over the air TV suits us just fine.