Old one
RVF Regular
Your TV in an RV.
I wrote something like this for a boating mag a while back and they liked it. So this is my gift to y’all for putting up with me.
Let’s discuss the on-the-air TV, AKA free.
Simply put, the TV station has a transmitter, which is modulated with video and audio signals. It does not matter whether the media is regular, HD, Digital or whatever; the part that goes thru the air to your antenna is the same. If the antenna is claiming “digital ready” it’s is simply marketing hype. If the $5 rabbit ears worked at the campground before it should work with digital, within limits. And no such things as: analog, digital, HD antennas.
RV antennas (as well as boat TV antennas) usually are comprised of element(s) and an amplifier at the head end (Outside). The amplifier compensated for weak signals and offsets lose form the cable and other electronics hardware, and at the head is the best place.
The “inside” part is called an injector. It tales 12 V (usually) in and sends it up to the amplifier, and receives the signals, amplified, from the antenna. Circuitry routes the signal and power to their respective paths. Some of the injectors have a signal splitter for two TVs. And some have an on off or Cable/antenna switch. The cable does nit need of want the 12 V from the splitter and the switch routes the TV to an outside connector, and turns off the 12V.
Al though the station transmitter can radiate nearly a million watts of power, the TV wanted to see 1 milivolt of signal. The antenna system cannot create a signal when none is there or spotty.
Care and feeding. First challenge for you all: locate the injector box. To see what it looks like, google winegard, and enter the antenna model number and you should get a picture of the unit, along with the cable and the injector, so now you know what you are looking for. Back 20 years ago the injectors were panel mounted and had a 12 socket and the lamp and switch in plain view. I helped a guy in his brand new 300K boat whose TV stopped working the night before. I looked for the injector box to no avail. I called the boat manufacturer and a nice customer service rep got out the blueprint of the electrical system, and the boc was in the galley, under the sink, to the rear of the compartment. I am a smaller guy and could not see it and I used a mirror. Yep, the switch was off. I imaging RV have the same problem where the manufacturers stuff it where ever it fits, And the hell with documentation. Note: some of the boxes are fused, check it
Speaking of documentation, when I get a new(er) vehicle boat, etc, I put on my crawling clothes and have the manual in my hand, and locate wherever things are, fuses, breakers, and annotate the manual some cases I called the factory for add ional info.
Next, the “F” connector (Yes, it is really called an F connector). There is a solid wire that should be barely protruding. Use a regular lead pencil with an easer, and push the eraser over the wire and twist the pencil, and the inside of the eraser will clean it out. A spray of WD40 into the TV or antenna end will keep it clean.
The newer antennas are called omni directional. The technical description is “almost omni”. Turning the antenna 45 degrees can improve the signal.
Here is a very useful website for O T A TV .
TV Listings by City - American TV Listings Guide
This allows one to select the area you are in and key in the city. It will become a free TV guide to see what channels and what programming are on. Simply go to the TV and do an O T A search for stations. Then, enjoy
I wrote something like this for a boating mag a while back and they liked it. So this is my gift to y’all for putting up with me.
Let’s discuss the on-the-air TV, AKA free.
Simply put, the TV station has a transmitter, which is modulated with video and audio signals. It does not matter whether the media is regular, HD, Digital or whatever; the part that goes thru the air to your antenna is the same. If the antenna is claiming “digital ready” it’s is simply marketing hype. If the $5 rabbit ears worked at the campground before it should work with digital, within limits. And no such things as: analog, digital, HD antennas.
RV antennas (as well as boat TV antennas) usually are comprised of element(s) and an amplifier at the head end (Outside). The amplifier compensated for weak signals and offsets lose form the cable and other electronics hardware, and at the head is the best place.
The “inside” part is called an injector. It tales 12 V (usually) in and sends it up to the amplifier, and receives the signals, amplified, from the antenna. Circuitry routes the signal and power to their respective paths. Some of the injectors have a signal splitter for two TVs. And some have an on off or Cable/antenna switch. The cable does nit need of want the 12 V from the splitter and the switch routes the TV to an outside connector, and turns off the 12V.
Al though the station transmitter can radiate nearly a million watts of power, the TV wanted to see 1 milivolt of signal. The antenna system cannot create a signal when none is there or spotty.
Care and feeding. First challenge for you all: locate the injector box. To see what it looks like, google winegard, and enter the antenna model number and you should get a picture of the unit, along with the cable and the injector, so now you know what you are looking for. Back 20 years ago the injectors were panel mounted and had a 12 socket and the lamp and switch in plain view. I helped a guy in his brand new 300K boat whose TV stopped working the night before. I looked for the injector box to no avail. I called the boat manufacturer and a nice customer service rep got out the blueprint of the electrical system, and the boc was in the galley, under the sink, to the rear of the compartment. I am a smaller guy and could not see it and I used a mirror. Yep, the switch was off. I imaging RV have the same problem where the manufacturers stuff it where ever it fits, And the hell with documentation. Note: some of the boxes are fused, check it
Speaking of documentation, when I get a new(er) vehicle boat, etc, I put on my crawling clothes and have the manual in my hand, and locate wherever things are, fuses, breakers, and annotate the manual some cases I called the factory for add ional info.
Next, the “F” connector (Yes, it is really called an F connector). There is a solid wire that should be barely protruding. Use a regular lead pencil with an easer, and push the eraser over the wire and twist the pencil, and the inside of the eraser will clean it out. A spray of WD40 into the TV or antenna end will keep it clean.
The newer antennas are called omni directional. The technical description is “almost omni”. Turning the antenna 45 degrees can improve the signal.
Here is a very useful website for O T A TV .
TV Listings by City - American TV Listings Guide
This allows one to select the area you are in and key in the city. It will become a free TV guide to see what channels and what programming are on. Simply go to the TV and do an O T A search for stations. Then, enjoy
