TV antenna for permanent site?

RooGuy wrote:
We do have an amplifier on the existing antenna. I'm not sure how to connect the new antenna to the existing amplifier. The cable connection seems to be the easiest way to go. We will be about 35 miles or so from the towers so maybe we can get by without amplifying the signal.

35 mi. and direct sighting probably won't need an amplifier. The single, small array I pictured above picks up excellent signal at 30 mi.. The picture quality is as good as the cable feed into my house.

RooGuy wrote:
We do have an amplifier on the existing antenna. I'm not sure how to connect the new antenna to the existing amplifier. The cable connection seems to be the easiest way to go. We will be about 35 miles or so from the towers so maybe we can get by without amplifying the signal.

Usually the switch in the trailer is only the power supply for the amplifier that is inside the antenna. You can add an amp, put it as close to the new antenna as possible.

We do have an amplifier on the existing antenna. I'm not sure how to connect the new antenna to the existing amplifier. The cable connection seems to be the easiest way to go. We will be about 35 miles or so from the towers so maybe we can get by without amplifying the signal.

RooGuy wrote:
Thanks for the quick replies.

Do I connect the antenna cable to the TT's cable tv connection or do something else?

If you have an amplifier in series with an existing antenna, you would probably wish to use that connection for your new permanent antenna. Connectivity depends only on getting the signal from the antenna to the television. There's no wrong way to do it.
When using a home made antenna or a purchased antenna with no wiring, you should make sure that impedances are matched. That is easily accomplished by using a balun from the antenna.

Thanks ... This is very helpful.

I ordered an antenna from amazon so I hope to have it installed in a week or two.

Next step is figuring out how best to ground things.

I bought a antenna at ACE hardware......like the one RoyB pictured except just one panel.

Attached it to a 5' pipe.
On my rear ladder I have a flag pole mount so I just stick the pipe in it.
Then coax cable from antenna to cable connection on 5vr.


I use this set up when roof top antenna can get signals.

For permanent site.........use a long pole. Height really helps

I Am just now playing with a new to me Xtreme Signal 8-Bay VHF/UHF HDTV Antenna (Silver/Black) (HDB8X) BOW TIE elements that AMAZON has on sale for around $60.


This is looking very promising for my 'FREE' BROADCAST channels coming out of Washington DC some 50-60 miles away. DC has their their transmitter cluster on both sides of the town and this BOW-TIE antenna is capable of pointing in two directions at the same time with reduced gain.

First setup on the peak of my north side house roof maybe 15-feet above the ground gets all of the Washington DC BROADCAST stations (around 40 channels) just fine with a single one-direction pointing with one four bow tie group offset just a tad.

I did have to add one of those RCA TVPRAMP1R PRE-AMPLIFIERS (AMAZON) on the pole just under the BOW-TIE PANELs. This is powered-up by the antenna feed line using a 12VDC INSERTED signal plugged into 120VAC in the house. Much the same as the BATWING antenna DC POWER insertion is accomplished on the TTs.


You might want to look into one of these setups for your permanent setups....

I would imagine if I raised my trailer crank-up BATWING ANTENNA to around 15-feet high it would do the same performance. A $90 long VHF/UHF YAGI from LOWES would equally work as well. The HIGH DEF DIGITAL TV Channels start around CH 7 and up into the UHF TV Band. Most of the new FREE BROADCAST digital channels are in the UHF TV BAND now.

Roy Ken

Thanks for the quick replies.

Do I connect the antenna cable to the TT's cable tv connection or do something else?

You'll want a mast, a bracket to hold the mast, and an antenna array. I built this small Gray-Hoverman array for my trailer and it works great for the new UHF digital broadcasts. It took me an afternoon to build.

RooGuy wrote:
We are moving out TT to a permanent site with a great patio cover. Bad news is antenna can't be raised because go the cover.

Any suggestions on how to add a traditional tv antenna (probably mounted to the wooden patio cover)?Thanks!

I have seen a lot of RV'ers put up antenna's on their sites.

They use conduit pipe and mount a regular residential antenna on top of it. Just like you would for a bird feeder or bird house installation.
They just put it into the ground where the best reception would be.