Cable in RV Parks

[fishn4fun]

I'm new to all this and could use some help. We just bought a 2000 Newmar Kountry Star and have TV's and a cable to plug in somewhere but do not know what else we need to get cable at different parks we visit.

[virginiamtns]

If the campground supplies cable service and you have an external connector, all you need is a piece of coaxial cable long enough to connect your rig to their connector. These are usually at or near the electrical box, but I've seen them other places, and even stapled to a tree at one campground. We have a 25' long one and a 10' long one.

Most campgrounds have a list of cable channels that they give you when you check in.

Hope that helps!

[FlyingDiver]

Cable from park connector (as above) to connection in electrical bay.

Antenna booster off.

Set TV to analog cable.

Search for stations.

[monkey]

I suggest a cable with large nuts (no pun intended) so you can easily screw/unscrew them from the pedestal and the outside of your mh... Especially in cold weather, rain, etc... Some are so small its very hard to do . You can always use a slip on type, but then you run the risk of a wind or such unhooking it, not to mention it will wear out and not stay connected. Tv is very important to me when we are parked...

[RickO]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new rig.

Good advice so far and be sure to go into the menu on both TV set to set them for cable and to do a search for channels. You'll have to do this each time you change parks to ensure you're getting all stations available.

Best of luck.

Rick

[Algoma]

The cable signal in a lot of campgrounds is terrible and often only gives you a few stations so make sure your antenna is working so you can get TV over the air. If you have the original CRT TV's you also need a digital converter box for OTA signals but most of us have upgraded to new LED TV's and don't need those. You did not mention this but you should have a selector box which enables your TV to connect to Antenna, Cable and usually VCR. My cable coax connector is next to the power cable socket as others mention. I also got push-on adapters from Radio Shack so I don't have to try and turn those small nuts on the co-ax cable each time.

[Scarab0088]

And just to make things more complicated - some cable systems are converting to Digital Signals on the wire.

Just like the DTV conversion for broadcast TV a few years ago,
Digital Television | FCC.gov
these new signal formats will require new style TV tuners in your RV's TV's.

The campground will know about the differences for their park and should ask if you have digital TV's when you check-in. If you don't, they should have converter's for rent at the office. I have found 2 parks that the cable company made the swap to digital (Sedona and Portland) and my Time Warner cable at the studs and stucco house is currently changing channel-by-channel.

The digital cable change doesn't require a cable box - just a digital TV. The cable box if only required for encrypted (for fee) channels like HBO, etc.

Best luck

[Bubwheat]

If you have been watching HDTV for the last few years, you most likely will not be a big fan of RV Park cable. You might want to look into packages from Dish and DirectTV.

[Algoma]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

And just to make things more complicated - some cable systems are converting to Digital Signals on the wire.

Just like the DTV conversion for broadcast TV a few years ago,
Digital Television | FCC.gov
these new signal formats will require new style TV tuners in your RV's TV's.

The campground will know about the differences for their park and should ask if you have digital TV's when you check-in. If you don't, they should have converter's for rent at the office. I have found 2 parks that the cable company made the swap to digital (Sedona and Portland) and my Time Warner cable at the studs and stucco house is currently changing channel-by-channel.

The digital cable change doesn't require a cable box - just a digital TV. The cable box if only required for encrypted (for fee) channels like HBO, etc.

Best luck

The campground we stay at in Florida converted last year and loans us the cable box as they do provide some encrypted channels. We are also close to Fort Myers and get excellent OTA signals so have never needed to go satellite.

[Brockx]

If you have a "switch box" that converts input connections from antenna, cable (other), VCR or DVD, you need to change that also.

[Medico]

The RV Resort we are presently staying at (Ocala Sun RV Resort, Ocala, Fl.) hands out digital cable boxes for ALL TV's in your rig. This cable service here is EXCELLENT with many stations, most in full HD. If you have trouble setting up the box, the cable provider must come out and set it up for you at no charge. The only reason we are using our satellite is to record some of our favorites we do not get to watch in real time.

[fishn4fun]

Thanks for all the suggestions,when we head south in March we will find a way to make it all work.

[Chiefbvfd]

And to make life a little easier, I have a 7/16" combination wrench hanging next to the "Cable In" connection in the power compartment to help making the connection on some of the park's fittings manageable...

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by fishn4fun

Thanks for all the suggestions,when we head south in March we will find a way to make it all work.

You will figure it out pretty quick when you get out here.
Some places TV is of a quality that makes many folks just go fishin