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What is easiest and best way to access TV on the road?

Marianelaine
Explorer
Explorer
We will be setting off on a cross country trip this spring and would like suggestions on the easiest set-up for watching TV. We have one of those wing-things that attaches to the roof aerial and it doesnt seem to do a thing. We are NON techies so we need something easy to set up. I am wondering about those movable satellite receivers- not the dish type. Hope someone can make some suggestions for us! Thank you!
Marianelaine
21 REPLIES 21

K_Charles
Explorer
Explorer
The easiest way is by far the antenna. Make sure the booster is on, if you don't get at least a few stations, get it fixed. We have DirecTV at home and used to take it with us. We now have Dish in the TT but don't always use it because the antenna is easy. Just turn on the TV put up the antenna, turn on the booster and do a scan, done.

lbrjet
Explorer
Explorer
Maybe your booster button is off.
2010 F250 4X4 5.4L 3.73 LS
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equalizer E4 1200/12000

RoyB
Explorer II
Explorer II
We use the OTA BATWING UHF Antenna to pick up the National Broadcast digital TV when on the road.

It does have some drawback but we get 6-36 channels just about everywhere we go here on the East side of the US.

Perhaps you are not doing it right.

You should have a digital High Def TV set... You need to set the menu for ANTENNA and point the OTA Antenna towards the local town transmitting BROADCAST TV. Then you have to use the HDTV menu and scan in the digital stations every time you stop somewhere. Make sure you have the ANTENNA WALL PLATE panel push button is "ON". This applies 12VDC to the BATWING PRE-AMPLIFER mounted in the base of the roof antenna.

The BROADCAST TV is transmitted in full blown high def HDTV signals. Really great TV to watch...

We use to bring along all of SAT TV stuff from the house until the NATIONAL BROADCAST TV went to the digital mode a few years back. After seeing how good the TV signals were we stopped bringing along all of our SAT TV items.

If there is some of the CABLE TV SHOWS we want to see we can downstream them using our VERIZON MIFI UNIT on the internet.

Roy Ken
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - Words in CAPS does not mean I am shouting
Roy - Carolyn
RETIRED DOAF/DON/DOD/CONTR RADIO TECH (42yrs)
K9PHT (Since 1957) 146.52M
2010 F150, 5.4,3:73 Gears,SCab
2008 Starcraft 14RT EU2000i GEN
2005 Flagstaff 8528RESS

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
Welcome to RV.net!
The Wingman add on to an "amplified" Winegard antenna should really improve TV reception.
Verify that your antenna has the built in booster and the power supply located in the rig is turned on. You can check for 12 volts DC on the coaxial cable at the antenna.
We use both the Winegard antenna and Direct TV from the house through a Winegard Carry out portable dish. You can do the same if you have Dish Network. We do not subscribe to an RV service for satellite.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

ksg5000
Explorer
Explorer
These days you can find just about any show on the internet. I don't have a "smart TV" so I download to a tablet and then connect that to the TV. Just another option.
Kevin

Merrykalia
Explorer
Explorer
If you use Directv or Dish at home, it is easy to take one of the receivers into the RV and using either a portable dish or the Tailgater or one of the other movable satellite dishes, gain signal to it.

We these, you can pick up all your satellite channels EXCEPT your locals, all over the US. If you want locals, you can pick them up within a 100-200 mile radius of home. You can also get them to set it up and change your location, but I think they will only do it a couple of times each year. If you will be moving often, this really isn't an option. You can still pick up the satellite channels, which we use most often. We love History, Discovery, HGTV, Animal Planet and with the girls, of course, we have to have Disney, Nick and kid channels.

We have Directv and when the season begins, we take the receiver that is in our toy room and put it in the RV and keep it there for the entire season We have a portable dish (it was installed onto one of our rental units by a renter and when they left, Directv said they would come and get it if we paid $50). We cut the post off level with the yard, DH fixed a base for it out of an old wheel and we purchased 100' of cable. I use my phone with the satellite AR app to locate the Directv satellites wherever we are and point it manually. It usually takes about 15 minutes now that we are experienced with it. At first it was taking us about an hour to get set up.

With one of the portable dishes, as long as you are not in a wooded area, you are fine, but you can't have trees between the dish and the satellite.

You said you weren't picking up any local channels. Have you tried turning on the antenna booster? We can usually pick up a minimum of 10-12 channels, no matter where we are. They may not be what you want to watch, but we can pick them up.
2017 Ford F350 Crew Cab 6.7L 4x4 DRW

dockmasterdave
Explorer
Explorer
I use the wingman on my factory antenna. It made a huge improvement.
Last week we showed 13 channels withing 45 miles, all came in good.
It is important to get it aimed right.
I use antennapoint.com put in the zipcode and it tells what stations there are, how far away, and what compass heading.
Then just a handheld cheap compass and I'm good to go.
If the stations are more like 60 miles, or you're in a valley, you probably won't get anything.
2014 F 150 ecoboost
2008 Chrysler Aspen
09 Amerilite 21 (modified)
2013 Bendron 14' enclosed cargo
2011 4x8 open cargo