I recently purchased a modified camper. Hutch was removed and swivel tv was installed. I went out to try and get over the air channels... no dice. I'm thinking previous owner did away with the switch.BTW... how does one post pics on this site? I don't see any way to attach...

mdprowash wrote:I recently purchased a modified camper. Hutch was removed and swivel tv was installed. I went out to try and get over the air channels... no dice. I'm thinking previous owner did away with the switch.BTW... how does one post pics on this site? I don't see any way to attach...It is pretty standard nowdays. But my first TT had no attenna of any type.So I would not say they all have it.

I’ve had 4 over the 35 year of camping and they all had them.

Some don’t come with an antenna at all. Usually that do have a booster but some times it tucked away in a cabinet. It’s rare to find a unit without a booster.

My FW came with an omni antenna, and it has no switch. It works great when not too far from towers, but will have nothing, if towers are distant. My dealer insisted there has to be a switch somewhere, but a call to manufacturer confirmed no switch.What make/model antenna do you have? Do you have your tv set properly for over air viewing?Jerry

Most all of the RV TRAILER will have what is called a TV WALL PLATE that looks like this...Google imageMost everyone will refer to this as the booster amplifier for their BATWING Antenna. This is really just a switch unit that send DC VOLTAGE up to the RV ANTENNA that has a BOOSTER AMPLIFIER built-in to their roof mounted antenna.When the light is 'ON' on this panel then the CABLE TV INPUTS to the trailer is muted... Google imageThis is available from AMAZON...Like others have said you may have to look around where this TV WALL PLATE is installed...Roy Ken

Do all campers have a switch to amplify antenna?

18 Replies

rbpru
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2019
I can only speak for mine. To use the campground cable, I have to connect it to the outside cable input, then push the lighted switch to change the tv to the outside input.

Then I have to change the tv set's input to cable and scan the input.

To change back, I push the antenna switch, the light comes on, the antenna switches back to the roof antenna. Then I have to select over the air input and scan for channels.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Sep 05, 2019
"Do all campers have a switch to amplify antenna?" It is my experience that every single rig that tells us the Park's cable TV isn't working has one.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Sep 05, 2019
I've had lots of trailers, some didn't even have antennas. Some had an antenna but no booster. So to answer your question - it varies.
1320Fastback
Explorer
Sep 05, 2019
Mine has a switch similar to the one posted above but for me it seems to not really help at all.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Sep 05, 2019
whiteeye42 wrote:
my fifth wheel trailer does not have the amp switch

Do you have a switch box that has multiple input and outputs with one connection that also adds the 12 volt supply?
whiteeye42
Explorer
Sep 05, 2019
my fifth wheel trailer does not have the amp switch
rbpru
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2019
Johno makes a very good point, the use of switch is changing the antenna lead and adding on the 12 volts. Both my original antenna and my newer King antenna have the amplifier built into the antenna head.

I had forgotten about that. Thanks Johno.
Johno02
Explorer
Sep 04, 2019
Just one small item... Unless you have the winegard Sensar, the antenna booster or amplifier is in the antenna head itself. The switch panel provides and removes the 12v power to the antenna headwhen switched on.
rbpru
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2019
On my TT the roof antenna goes to the signal amplifier like the one shown by Roy B.

The back of the amplifier plate has two inputs, one for my roof antenna that goes through the amplifier, a second input for the outside antenna jack; for use with campground cable. A third connection is the output to the tv.

The push button on the front lights up when the roof antenna and amp are on and switched to the tv, when pushed again, the amp light goes off and the outside antenna jack is then connected to the tv.

I the past I have mix the two inputs. This meant the amp was connected to the outside line with no signal to the tv. when the light was on, or the roof antenna was connected to the tv with no amp when the light was off.

I hope this helps.
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2019
mdprowash wrote:

BTW... how does one post pics on this site? I don't see any way to attach...

Here you go Follow instructions in this link