How to Get Ideal TV Reception for Your Motorhome

Going camping with a motorhome is a way to unplug from our everyday lives without completely unplugging from some of the appliances and gadgets we’ve got so used to. TV watching has become so ingrained in our culture that many of us simply can’t imagine going a whole week without watching our favourite shows.

Thankfully, with the right motorhome TV antenna, a nice flat screen TV, and a mount for it, we can bring all the characters that make us laugh and cry with us on the road. The choice of TV is yours to make according to the dimensions of your motorhome, and, of course, your viewing preferences. And alternatively, you can even bring your home TV with you. However, picking and installing an antenna is a bit more complicated. To make things simpler, here are some tips on how to get ideal TV reception for your motorhome with an antenna.

The ones that already have a satellite package can bring their portable satellite dish and enjoy all the TV channels they have at home. But if you don’t have any satellite subscription, getting one specifically for the purpose of your trip is an expensive option. In this case, consider the good old motorhome TV antenna. Many motorhome antennas are designed to receive both horizontal and vertical digital signals, thus increasing the number of channels you will get. Pay attention that the antenna has maximum digital VHF/UHF programming if you want to be able to get reception all across Australia.

There are two types of digital antennas for motorhomes – outside mounted and inside antenna. Inside antennas are smaller and have less receiving power. But an outside mount can pick up the signals from TV towers much better. The outside antenna is usually mounted on the roof, but with a few tweaks it can be installed on the side too if that is what you prefer. When it’s stowed and in a flat position, the antenna is hardly noticeable. But if you want to use it, you need to raise it into an operating position by cranking its handle all the way up. These antennas are usually directional, which means that if you want to improve the quality of the signal, you need to know the tower where it’s coming from and point the antenna directly at it. Just don’t forget to lower the antenna when you are passing thorough some densely growing trees or bushes that could damage it.

Sometimes the nearest signal tower will be kilometres away from your RV parking spot. A signal booster is a device that enhances a digital antenna’s signal receiving power. Some antenna models have one already built in, but if yours doesn’t, you can find one for as little as 15$.

Let me be clear, watching TV while camping is not a waste of time. It can actually be quite informative. News and shows on local TV channels are a good way to learn something more about the place you are visiting, plus, you might hear about some cultural happenings or festivals nearby. Having a TV in your motorhome is a good entertainment option when the weather turns against you and doesn’t allow you to explore the outdoors.