What Direction Should I Point My RV's Antenna To Get The Best Digital TV Reception?

by Dirk Heard
(Everett, Washington)

When I install the analog to digital box is there anything specific to do with the direction my antenna is aimed or do I still spin it until I get some reception. I will have to run the channel scan after every movement of the antenna I expect or is there a different method for aiming the antenna?

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

When you setup your RV in a new area you should initially point your RV's antenna in the general direction of nearest large metropolitan area (if you know for sure which direction that is). Then go to your Digital TV Conversion box and do a channel scan and see what you pick up.

Quite a few of the Digital TV Converter Boxes such as the Zinwell ZAT-970A (this is the box I highly recommend) have an on screen signal strength meter. Once you have got some TV channels locked in you can choose one of the stations and use the signal strength meter on the Converter Box on to adjust your antenna to get the highest signal strength and do a rescan to see if you pick up additional channels.

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If you do not get any channels on your first scan you should turn your antenna a quarter turn and try rescanning for channels. Continue this process until you finally acquire some channels. Digital TV reception unlike the old Analog TV reception is very fickle and you may not get the reception that you think you should.


There are ways to increase your chances of getting more over the air digital TV channels. You may want to read the answer I gave to the question How Can We Improve The Digital TV Reception In Our RV? to get further information on how to improve the reception of over the air Digital TV Channels in your RV.

I would also suggest that you visit our Digital TV Tips For RVers Page for even more information.

I hope that this information has been helpful to you.

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Happy RVing

RVing Al

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