Watch TV in a motorhome

[Bobby Fazio]

How do you get some local TV channels without paying for monthly subscriptions? Is there a box you can buy? Or a way to get the roof antenna to catch some local channels?

[Keith 944]

For local channels you will prob. need a digital antenna, if your tv is digital. If not you can get a converter box and a digital antenna.
You could always use directv. and use a dish...
I take one of my receivers (the one from the garage) and switch them back when season is over. I replaced the crank up analog antenna in the m/h with a foldable m/h dish that has the digital elevation meter and cranks up inside takes just a few minutes to get a signal locked in. cost about $225. well worth it for me. all stays on home bill...

We just have a crank-up antenna on our RV and it works nicely for picking up local stations. Works well when we are near Dallas, Houston, etc. but when we are out in the "sticks" the number of stations you pick up is limited. We have DISH at the house and they make some nice, relatively affordable, mobile systems to pick up their signal and just add a small fee to your monthly house bill. We haven't went that route as what we pick up with the antenna is fine.

Scott

[Bobby Fazio]

Scott is your crank antenna a digital. My RV is a 2003 so I think it is the old style analog that doesn't pick anything up anymore. I don't really watch TV at the track but on a rainy day or something it's nice to catch a college or pro sport of some kind on a local station. I don't want anymore monthly charges on my cable bill if necessary. Thanks guys.

[Sean Marconette]

Bobby,

In our LQ it has a digital converter box and a stationary dish style antenna. It does get local stations but sometimes reception is not very good. There is no cost associated with this setup.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp...ce=google_base

[RacingRicki]

There really is no such thing as a digital antenna. TV stations now broadcast a digital signal over the same VHF or UHF frequencies as before. The signal is digital now and if you don't have a digital tuner in your TV you need a converter box.


I use a rabbit ears antenna with a UHF loop to get local stations. If you are going to buy an antenna look for one that is for UHF and VHF as digital channels are broadcast over either frequency depending on the station. Some older RVs may only be equipped with a VHF antenna as that was the more popular frequency. UHF is now used more.

[Lew Silverman]

Bobby, you can Google "Winegard Sensar" and get all the information you need. They make the best known RV antenna and the newest version has been upgraded to receive the new digital UHF signals as well. They are available over the internet as well as Camping World locations.

[Bobby Fazio]

Perfect! Thanks.

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

Scott is your crank antenna a digital. My RV is a 2003 so I think it is the old style analog that doesn't pick anything up anymore. I don't really watch TV at the track but on a rainy day or something it's nice to catch a college or pro sport of some kind on a local station. I don't want anymore monthly charges on my cable bill if necessary. Thanks guys.

Ours is a 2007 so the TV that came with the RV required a converter box. The RV place where we purchased it included one to get us started but if I'm not mistaken they're very inexpensive and can be purchased at Walmart, Best Buy, etc. If you put new TVs in your RV (flat screens) I don't think the converter box is required as we have a small flat screen that we plug in outside the RV. Watched the MLB All-Star game this summer while camping using just our little TV and the antenna.

Scott

[offroadr]

I put a convertor box in our '06 and works great