How Can We Improve The Digital TV Reception In Our RV?

by Rich
(Illinois)

I have a dual TV tuner (analog/digital) on my RV TV. I have found that the signal gets interrupted by numerous devices. My wife uses a portable DVD player to watch movies. It completely wipes out the digital signal even if the DVD player is running on battery. The laptop pc also wipes it out. I suspect nearby RVs using satellite wipe it out. Have seen helicopters flying over wipe it out. I'm talking complete wipe out here not just screwed up picture.

We have a Wineguard amplified antenna. Do not have this problem when using analog tuning. Looks like digital is going to be pretty bad for reception in the RV world. I have also talked to many people having similar problems using digital TVs or converter boxes.

Are there any filters or something I can install to correct this problem?

ANSWER Greetings Rich thanks for submitting your question on our Ask An RV Question Page.

Important Update: Since I answered this question Winegard has released a new attachment for their Winegard Sensar Batwing Antennas. It is called the Winegard Wingman. The Winegard Wingman is simple to install and attaches to your existing Winegard batwing antenna with 3 simple snap-on screws to the Sensar head to increase db gain up to 100% on DTV channels. This along with the information below should get you better reception of Digital TV signals whether you are using a Digital TV Converter Box or have a TV already equipped with a built in digital TV tuner. There is a video on how easy it is to install The Wingman attachment
Here.

I am sorry to say that a filter may not be the solution to your problem. I believe that your problem is due to weak signal strength getting to your TV. When it comes to digital TV signals you either get the signal or you don't. With a weak analog TV signal you sometimes get a snowy or wavy picture and poor sound. With a weak digital TV signal, you will either get a frozen picture or no picture or sound at all.

The fact that DVD players and Laptop computers are interfering with your TV's picture only confirms that the Digital TV signals you are receiving are too weak to maintain a picture. Just so you know the antenna that you have on your RV is great for receiving Digital TV signals, so the antenna is not the problem.

I am going to assume that you have already checked all the cable connections in your RV to make sure that the cables are not loose. This would include going on the roof of your RV and checking to make sure that there is no damage to the cable going into your antenna. Loose or damaged cable can also cause the signal loss that you are experiencing.

You are going to have to buy a signal amplifier. The one I personally recommend is the PCT 1-PORT BI-DIRECTIONAL TV SIGNAL BOOSTER. The reason I recommend this booster is because it is highly rated by people who own it. It boosts both Digital and Analog signals, It is easy to install and can be used on systems that use an antenna to receive signals as well as cable TV systems. It also supports pay-per view and video on demand. The most important factor is that it can improve signal strength by up to 32 times (15 dB). If this does not get you a better signal then nothing else will.

Booster Installation I am going to assume that you have a video switch box on your RV that has buttons or knobs that allow you choose different sources for your RV's TV; such as antenna, cable, DVD player, satellite etc. I am also going to also assume that you have more than one TV in your RV.

Since you have an antenna that is amplified you are not going to be able to hook up the signal booster to the cable coming out of your antenna and going into the Video Switch Box. That cable probably has 12 volts DC running through it and could damage the signal booster. Instead you are going to have to hook up a signal booster to the cable running out of the video switch box going to the TV. In this situation you would need one signal booster for each TV in your RV. I would suggest that you only get one booster and try it on one of your TVs if the results are satisfactory you can always get another one for the other TV.

The signal booster should be installed right at the Video Switch Box. You will need one extra piece of coax cable to perform the installation. Disconnect the cable from the back of the Video Switch Box that is going to the TV that you are going to use. Attach that cable to the TV out port on the signal booster. Now hook up your short length of Coax cable to the antenna in port on the video booster and the TV out port on the Video Switch Box. The video booster needs to be plugged into a 120 volt electric outlet to power the signal amplifier. You need to repeat the above process for each TV. The reason you are putting the booster at the Video Switch Box is because the closer the Video Booster is to the antenna the better it will perform.

Like I said if this does not resolve the problem for you then I am not sure what else will. If any of our visitors have any suggestions for you they can add them to this page by clicking on the add a comment link near the bottom of this page.

Happy RVing

RVing Al

Don't Forget To Visit The Everything About RVing Stores.  If It Has To Do With RVing And The Outdoors The EARV Stores Have What You Are Looking For!

RV Accessories - Sporting Goods - RVing and Travel Books and How To Videos - Kindle Accessories and Books - The RVers Gift Shop - The RVer Mall - Buy or Sell An RV