You’re off on an adventure wherever the open road takes you. The RV is loaded with everything you need for that summer getaway and you can’t wait to put your hometown into your rearview mirror. One thing you won’t want to miss while you are away from home is your favorite television programs.

With today’s advanced technology, and the right apparatus, you will never miss news, sports or movies while parked in an RV site as long as you have the correct Antenna system. Here we will share with you our picks for the best RV TV antenna system for use anywhere your holiday takes you. And, with the latest technology in up to date solar panel kits, you need never worry about running out of power again. These work exceptionally well to power every aspect of life on the road.

Whether you are a weekend warrior or a summer vacationer, there are pieces of equipment to suit your needs and budget. Don’t spend time wasted on pointless online searches – we have all the information you need to make the right choice right here!

The Different Types of RV TV Antennas

When we hear the term RV TV antenna what comes to mind? Many different kinds of antenna packages can fall under this category. To make it easy for you we have selected five of the most common categories and will look at what is available under each. We will examine portable satellite dishes and antennas, digital cable antennas, the best outdoor TV antenna and just TV antennas.

Each of these are easy to install and are designed specifically for use on an RV so you will become familiar with mounting brackets, coaxial cable, power sources and wiring as well as the hand tools required for proper installation.

Different RV TV Portable Antenna Brands

There are a number of top quality brand name RV TV antennas available in today’s marketplace. We will focus primarily on the top few brands according to sales and consumer feedback. Customers are usually the best gauge to use when it comes to whether or not a product meets or exceeds expectation. The brands we will feature include Kings Control, Winegard, DISH, SF Cable and Lava Electronics.

Kings Control manufacturers not only RV TV antennas but they also have brackets, cables, switches and assorted other accessories available in their product line.

Winegard manufactures antennas, tripod mounts, Signal boosters, power converters and more.

DISH is probably best known for home satellite dish products including receivers and accessories but they also have a full line of RV TV antennas.

SF Cable produces computer accessories ranging from plugs to cables as well as RV TV antennas designed to take up minimal space.

Lava Electronics produces product for the home and RV that are related to HDTV antennas and also has a line of electronic dog barking collars they have manufactured.

1) Amplified HD Digital Outdoor HDTV Antenna with Motorized 360 Degree Rotation, UHF/VHF/FM Radio with Infrared Remote Control

When SF Cable designed this mini HDTV portable antenna, they knew what a pain it could be to get the RV sitting in just the right location in the campsite or middle of the wilderness. With this in mind, they incorporated a built-in rotor that will spin the antenna 360-degrees until you find a signal.

The reception range is 120-miles, and the rotor comes with a wireless remote controller. The best thing about this antenna system is that if you can’t pick up anything that would be television in nature, you will probably still receive FM Radio signals so if you are a news or sports fan you’ll still be able to find out who won the big game.

The package includes the HDTV Yagi antenna with built-in rotor and signal amplifier, a rotor control box and infrared remote control, 40-feet of coaxial cable, a power supply for the rotor box and an additional 4-foot coaxial cable cord for connections.

It’s easy to get up and running and the rotor saves you time in adjustments and readjustments in looking for a signal. You may also find a signal strength meter very useful

2) Winegard FlatWave Amped FL5500A Amplified Digital Indoor HD TV Antenna (OTA / High-VHF / UHF /

It’s a touch on the funky looking side, but what would you expect from something called FlatWave? This flat antenna system, designed by Winegard, has a 50-mile range and can pick up Hi-Def dual band VHF/UHF signals.

The multi-directional design means you don’t need to point your RV in any particular direction as long as there’s a signal reaching where you parked. This is an ideal package for those travelers who are not satellite dish subscribers.

The FlatWave digital cable antenna has an embedded ultra low noise amplifier with clear circuit technology. What this means is much less noise or interference from weaker signals. It also means less noise when compared to other similar products.

There’s also an energy saving USB power supply with LED indicators to tell you the power level at a glance. It comes with 18.5-feet of mini coaxial cable, a 3-foot USB power cable with 110V converter and two mounting strips. Don’t let the look fool you because it works and works a lot better than many other standard or ‘normal’ looking antennas.

3) Lava Electronics HD-2605 UHF/VHF HDTV Antenna with Remote Control

Here’s another nifty remote controlled, best RV TV antenna that features a 360-degree rotor to give you the best reception of UHF/VHF and HDTV signals. Lava Electronics designed this model with a high sensitivity to pull in the weaker signals and provide you with the programming you need while roughing it in the great outdoors.

Designed to be lightweight and easy to use, the HD-2605 weighs just over three pounds and delivers heavyweight style results. The rotor does most of the work and after a long day on the road, you will grow to appreciate that feature the more you use it.

The only way you won’t be able to pick up at least one signal with this is if you happened to be parked on the dark side of the moon, and still you should hear something. The super sensitive technology ensures you will be able to find something to watch.

The rotor comes with a remote control and enough coaxial cable to get hooked up and good to go as soon as you park. It couldn’t be any easier unless you were camping next to the local TV station.

4)  Winegard GM-2000 White Carryout G2 Automatic Portable Satellite Dish TV Antenna

Sometimes you just want to pull away from the driveway and get some distance between you and the last day you worked. The Winegard GM-2000 can be the friend you’ve always wanted on the road because it can do so much with the countless signals floating around you wherever you go.

This unit is fully automatic which means you can take it on the road, to a campsite, a tailgate party or wherever you need fast connecting live television viewing. The compact and lightweight design makes this antenna simple to take anywhere and as it is compatible with many different services (DIRECTV, DISH, Bell TV) you won’t be left in the dark.

Plus, the Winegard GM-2000 supports two different receivers. It comes with all the gear you need to connect and mount it and is ready to use in moments.

Are you thinking what we’re thinking? Double the fun with only one portable RV TV antenna doing all the work. Talk about a great idea when the family can’t decide on what to watch at night after a day of hiking around the campsite.

5)  DISH VQ4510 Tailgater Bundle with HD Receiver

With 50-feet of coaxial cable included, you can just hook up your DISH receiver to the DISH VQ4510 and be watching your favorite television programs by the time you finish reading this sentence. It’s just about that quick.

You do need to be parked somewhere but when you consider you can be parked in the middle of nowhere in the continental United States and still be able to catch the evening news or latest episode of your favorite show, there’s nothing that says ‘roughing it in style’ more than this item.

Provided you are a DISH SD or HD customer, you’ll be tuned in, in no time. The design of the Tailgater allows you to place it somewhere other than the roof of your RV – next to your picnic table, beside the RV, somewhere flat and sturdy is all the requirements you need.

The unit has an “auto-aiming feature” which means it’ll automatically connect to DISH satellites as soon as you ask it to. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of whether or not you are pointed in the right direction and who brought the compass, just in case.

6)  Kings Control VQ2500 Satellite Antenna

Looking for an RV antenna that is simple to use? Easy and quick to set up is what makes this dome-shaped portable HDTV satellite dish system which is portable so attractive. All you do is connect the Tailgater unit to your DISH receiver (a 50-foot length of coaxial cable is included) and you’ll be watching TV in a matter of minutes.

There’s an on-screen user interface that is exclusive to this unit that makes set up a breeze. As receiver configuration is automatic, you won’t need a switch when you shift between home and RV systems.

All you need to do in order to get the best HDTV signal is park so that the Tailgater is facing the southern sky – this allows you easy access to the orbiting satellites that provide your programming.

On-screen diagnostics will even inform you when your signal is blocked. This product is intended for use with DISH Network SD and HD programming and is priced considerably less than similar automatic systems.

Buying Guide

There is no doubt that the selection here is not easy but if you consider your typical RV trip and the places you go, you should be able to narrow it down. There are choices here if you are a satellite TV subscriber with antennas that are compatible with more than one service.

One antenna is exclusive to another service. Other antennas listed here are designed just for “off air” signals but contain great range. With so many television station signals available this way, you won’t be without some kind of entertainment tonight, tomorrow night or the next one with the best outdoor TV antenna.

The two Yagi-design antennas contain rotors that will turn them 360-degrees in search for a signal. One is a flat design that takes up minimal space, if that is a concern. Price is also another item to keep in mind with a range of choices here that can fit most budgets. The domed design RV TV antennas are fully automatic and all are easy to install and operate.

Customer reviews rate all the suggested antenna systems here higher and that is why we consider them the best five available. The brand names are also top quality known for products that are specifically designed for use on the road which means attention to design, ease of operation and quality performance are all factored into the products. It still comes down to what is the best fit for how you are going to use it.

How To Personally Install Your Antenna ….

Here is a video on how to personally install your antenna for your RV, points to consider and what type is the best for you….omni-directional or directional antennas and the different installation methods.

What Else Will You Need For Entertainment And Communication?

• There are a good range of 12 volt TV’s especially suited to life in your RV. These are not your normal units. They need to be slimline and smaller models to suit the size of the area and to hold up to travel conditions. Nancy and I review the top 3 most popular TV’s for RV’s here.
• An important aspect of mounting your TV is using the correct TV mounting brackets to keep your HDTV safely secure. Most brackets offer the option of swivel adjustment so you can angle the HDTV to suit your needs.

• These days we are spoiled for choice in communication and its all just a click of a button away, whether its a mobile phone, the latest HDTV, satellite antennas that offer multiple choices. Keeping in touch with sending and receiving emails is not a luxury with life on the road- its an everyday norm now. Now you can use a WIFI long distance, high speed network adaptor which will guarantee you can stay in touch with family,  share your daily adventures….write on your travel blog, or pay a bill….

• An optional extra you may choose is a dedicated AM Fm antenna. The benefits of these devices is you can choose to listen to your favorite radio station whilst enjoying a spot of fishing in that magnificent lake out in the boat…They can be attached to the RV for improved reception and let you catch your favorite stations out on the road

Conclusion

There are just about as many different RV TV antenna systems as there are RVs. When you are away from home on a holiday or a weekend fishing trip, there is something special about getting closer to nature that can’t be compared to anything else you could possibly do. However, because our world is so connected through electronics and modern technology there are some comforts from home that are required when RVing.

For some it’s a fully stocked pantry and portable barbecue. For others it is a relaxing night in front of the television just like you probably do when at home. If this is your routine, the best way to keep it in place without the expense of a hotel room is to equip the RV with a sensible and reliable RV TV antenna system.

The five we have presented here are your best bets as we’ve done the research so you don’t have to. We considered price, quality, accessories, options, features and reception types and added something for everyone here. As a result, what you have here are the best outdoor RV antennas.

Product images sourced from Amazon

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