One of the best things about an RV is enjoying the comfort of your home while on the move. Other than having access to a bathroom, comfortable bed, and fitted kitchen, most modern RVs come with an Antenna that allows you to access TV, WiFi, and radio while on the road.

But one of the most common problems people complain about is their RV antenna not picking up channels.

Signal reception quality typically depends on the distance to your local Signal towers and other factors like terrain, weather, and surroundings. Thankfully, there are solutions you can enforce to ensure you enjoy stable antenna signals on your RV TV.

If you have a similar issue, this article covers the most common reason why your RV antenna is not finding channels and how to fix this issue.

How do I test my RV antenna?

Before troubleshooting your RV antenna, the first step is to check its performance status. Fortunately, this testing process is easy if you’re familiar with the concept of resistance. Follow our guide below to test if your RV antenna is working.

Things you’ll need

• Multimeter

Directions

• Set your multimeter reading to Ohms by turning the knob.
• Hold one of the multimeter probes onto the metallic end of the antenna. Fibreglass antennas have a tunable tip, while the magnetic and centre-loaded antennas have a stainless steel whip.
• Touch the other multimeter probe to the metallic threads at the end of the antenna. For the magnetic antennas, you’ll have to touch the centre pin of the coax cable connected to the antenna instead.
• Maintain contact of both probes and check the Ohms reading on the multimeter. An extensive resistance reading indicates no continuity; the antenna or one of the antenna components is damaged and will need replacing. On the other hand, if the Ohms value is zero or small,  the circuit is continuous to the antenna, the antenna is fine, and the source of the problem is something different.

How do I get my TV antenna to work with my RV?

The easiest way to watch TV in your RV is to use an antenna to access over-the-air channels. There are two different ways to connect your TV antenna to your RV. The procedure will vary from model to model, but here is a general guide for both methods.

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RV that comes with an in-built antenna

• You will connect your TV to either the over-the-air antennas and High Definition(HD) antennas via a coaxial cable.
• Connect the coaxial cable from your RV antenna into the coaxial port on the back of your TV.
• If your RV TV doesn’t have a coaxial port, you will need an ATSC Tuner.
• Plug your coaxial cable into the signal tuner, then route either AV cables or HDMI cables from the signal tuner to the back of your RV TV.
• After connecting the TV to your RV antenna, turn on the TV, ensure the antenna is on(if it’s amplified), then run a channel scan from your TV. The scanning process varies between TV models.
• If the signal is blurry and you can’t find any channels, adjust your RV antenna and run the scan again.

RV with a new antenna

You’ll have to install one if your RV doesn’t have an antenna. An antenna allows you to watch TV in an RV without cable. Ensure you choose the best RV antenna of durable quality and one that is foldable when driving.

• Whether you choose a satellite or digital antenna, use the manufacturer’s manual to install the antenna properly on your RV.
• Find the best-unobstructed view on your RV’s roof to attach the antenna. Most RV owners prefer installing their antennas towards the back of the RV.
• Since antennas are different, some may require screws, caulk, or strong glue to secure the antenna to the surface.
• Also, keep in mind the cables’ length and your TV’s placement inside.
• Search for the holes in your RV to feed the antenna cables to your TV.
• Then route the power and interface cables inside the RV and connect them to your TV.
• Turn on your TV and start scanning for channels.

Note that the type and model of antenna you choose determine the installation process. Therefore it is imperative to know how to choose the right RV antenna.

Why isn’t my RV antenna working?

Several factors could cause your RV antenna to stop working even after proper installation. Here are the most common reasons and possible solutions to get your RV antenna working.

The antenna is not well connected.

The first thing you should check when your RV antenna is not working is the antenna’s connection. Someone, a rodent, or a bird can touch the antenna cable, causing it to disconnect from the antenna. Next, check the cable connection between the antenna and the TV. Unplug the cable and then plug in and secure the loose cable.

Damaged antenna

Many things can damage the RV antenna, such as bad weather, destruction by birds, worn-out cables, and impact from low tree branches, among others. Also, like other devices, the antenna wears out with time. As a result, they need maintenance and repairs to keep them efficient for longer. If you suspect your antenna is damaged, call in an expert to fix the issue.

Poor antenna quality

Similar to other things in the market, RV antennas come in good and poor quality. If you install a low-quality antenna, you will likely experience connection issues. If you want to view all television stations in the area, you need a high-quality antenna that offers a reception for ultra-high frequency(UHF) and very high frequency(VHF). Also, the cable quality should match the required standards.

Antenna location

Excellent TV signal depends greatly on where you install the antenna on the RV> usually, outdoor antennas have a better signal and are usually more effective and reliable than indoor antennas. Additionally, orienting your RV antenna towards the transmission will determine the signal quality. Finally, you must turn the antenna several times while scanning your TV to get on the network to fix this.

Bad weather

Camping in bad weather, such as hail, heavy rain, snow, or winds, can interfere with antenna signals. So, unfortunately, there is nothing much you can do here than wait for the weather to calm down.

Top tips and tricks to get the best reception from your RV TV antenna

You can apply several solutions to get a solid RV TV antenna signal. Here are some RV TV antenna hacks that will make RV camping more enjoyable by picking.

Reset your digital tuner.

A digital tuner converts your incoming signal into a digital format your TV recognizes. But sometimes broadcasters will change their metadata which can interfere with your tuner’s ability to interpret the signal correctly. So your tuner could be using the older data, thus getting the incorrect channel information. Thankfully a simple reset should fix the issue. The easiest way to reset your digital tuner is:

• Unplug the coaxial cable from your TV.
• Perform a channel scan on your TV.
• Switch off and unplug your TV and/or converter box.
• Reconnect all the connections, including the coaxial cable.
• Run one more channel scan. This should reset your tuner.

Re-direct your antenna.

Whether using a uni-directional or multi-directional antenna, it’s best to point it at a transmission tower. Adjusting your antenna a few degrees can make a huge difference in signal quality. So first, enter your address on sites like AntennaWeb and the Digital TV Map from the FCC to find your closest transmission tower. Then use your smartphone’s compass or the one on your hiking watch to point your antenna at the tower.

Increase the height of your antenna.

Try raising the antenna if a digital tuner reset doesn’t improve the TV reception. Usually, your antenna signal requires a clear line of sight between the transmission towers and the antenna. Therefore your antenna should be the highest object around. This ensures the signal isn’t bouncing off other buildings, trees, mountains, and fragmenting.

Install an antenna booster

If your outdoor RCA antenna fails to pick up channels or doesn’t have a constant signal, you should get a signal or antenna booster. An antenna booster is a device that amplifies these signals and improves the signal quality received by your antenna if rotating your antenna doesn’t help.

Weatherproof your cables and connections

To prevent weather from ruining your reception, ensure your cables and connectors are protected from the sun, rain, cold, and even snow. Inspect the cables and replace any corroded or cracked cables, rusted screws, and faulty connectors. You should do this once a year. Use moisture-proof tape to cover the cables and connections.

Reduce electronic interference

Any wireless electronic devices on your camper, such as hairdryers, LED lights, or WiFi routers, can interfere with your antenna signals. You can test the issue by turning all these devices off and checking your antenna’s reception. It would be best if you kept all interfering devices away from your TV and antenna as far as possible.

Install a satellite dish

If you frequent RVing to places so far out in nature that even TV signals get lost, try installing a satellite dish. Companies like Dish Network and DirectTV are prominent manufacturers of external satellite dishes specially designed for RV travel. These satellite dishes go on your RV roof, and they are multi-directional; therefore, they offer a stronger and better reception with cable channels in HD.

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Remember that it may not be possible to achieve a signal in some spots, no matter how good the antenna is. You can get an auto-tracking satellite if your camping spot is in an area outside any signal range. Ti will give you the best possible signals no matter where you are.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting your RV antenna signal problems is easy to do on your own, but you can consult an expert if it gets too complicated. Depending on the methods you use, improving your RV antenna reception can be cheap or costly. However, with the tips and solutions provided, we are sure you can manage to get your RV antenna working to enjoy watching TV in the wild quickly.