How well do new TVs work while RVing?

[Don Rob]

If I get a new High-Def TV, will I get pretty good reception, when near a large city. My older RV, has not gotten good reception in the past. New TVs have an antenna in them. How well is that working for people?

[texnet]

Not sure where you got your info, but I don't know of any changes to TVs that makes them have internal antennas.... but maybe some do but I doubt it!

Our HD-LED-LCD TVs work just fine on the outside antenna, on cable and on our in-motion satellite receiver.

If you were not getting a good signal with your old TV it could be the TV, outside antenna or the amplifier.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by texnet Not sure where you got your info, but I don't know of any changes to TVs that makes them have internal antennas.... but maybe some do but I doubt it! Our HD-LED-LCD TVs work just fine on the outside antenna, on cable and on our in-motion satellite receiver. If you were not getting a good signal with your old TV it could be the TV, outside antenna or the amplifier.

None of the 5 LED and LCD TV's what we boght have internal antenna's and a couple of them are only a few months old.
Even if they did have internal antennas they wouldn't work due to the RV's superstructure around them.

[mr300ce]

Somebody hasn't done their homework. BASIC difference between old picture tube TV and newer LCD, projector, LED, etc. is the picture "tube", not the tuner. And lots of weight loss.

[Wanabee FTer]

I accidentally left my antenna unplugged while I was doing a signal search on my HDTV and pulled in 4 local stations in a metropolitan area. When I plugged in the antenna and performed another HD signal search, all available channels were found (about 26) in that particular city. I do not believe my TV has an internal antenna.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Rob New TVs have an antenna in them. How well is that working for people?

Maybe you're saying the new TV's have a digital tuner, that is different then the old analog TV tuners we used to use.

[texnet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr300ce Somebody hasn't done their homework. BASIC difference between old picture tube TV and newer LCD, projector, LED, etc. is the picture "tube", not the tuner. And lots of weight loss.

Not totally true... the majority of tube type TVs did not have digital tuners, they had analog.

Almost ALL LCD/LED TVs made have digital tuners and most have both analog and digital tuners.

[BCooke]

I actually slapped an antenna back in the roof of my house (on a foundation) after turning the new tv on in my TH and saw I could get local channels at my house.
The HD wing for the standard rv antenna does also help some.

[paz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Rob If I get a new High-Def TV, will I get pretty good reception, when near a large city. My older RV, has not gotten good reception in the past. New TVs have an antenna in them. How well is that working for people?

The broadcast method will make much more difference to the reception than the TV itself. The switch to digital broadcasts a few years ago affects both older CRT TV as well as new LCD, LED and plasma TVs. With the old analog broadcasts, you could get a somewhat snowy, but watchable picture. With digital, you either have a picture or you don't. A marginal signal will result in occasional pixelation, but a weak signal will result in a blank screen.

As several posters have stated, new TVs don't normally have internal antennas and must be connected to an external antenna. The Winegard batwing TV antenna commonly installed on RVs will do fine bringing in both digital and analog signals (a few rural repeater stations still broadcast in analog) and will work with both older CRT and newer LCD, LED and plasma TVs. Adding a Wingman to the antenna will boost UHV reception (channels above 13) and sometimes bring in a few more stations.

Digital broadcasts seem to be more directional, so you will have to be sure the antenna is pointed toward the broadcast tower. The "front" of the antenna is the side that the Wingman attaches to (see above link). Some TV's have a built-in signal meter, but if the TV you buy doesn't have one, you can add the Winegard SenasrPro to any Winegard batwing. This antenna pointing guide will give distance and direction of TV broadcast towers from any location you type in.

If there aren't a lot of trees or tall buildings in your vicinity or you're not in a valley, 50 miles is a good rule of thumb distance for expected TV reception for digital broadcasts.

[TechWriter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Rob If I get a new High-Def TV, will I get pretty good reception, when near a large city?

Depends where you camp.

Before the analog-to-digital switch, many TV stations took the opportunity to move their coverage areas to more . . . populated and/or lucrative ZIP codes.

So if you camp in the boonies, you may not get every channel. Depends.

[Don Rob]

I take it that the ATSC tuner and the QAM tuner, still need an antenna.
My 22 yr old RV, does not have an antenna that works very well. I live in
an apt, in high rise building. So, I have no place to put an antenna, in my
regular home, and don't want to put any money into that old an RV.

I just don't watch that much TV. I spend more time on web sites and watch U Tube videos and stuff like that. In other words, the antenna that
will be giving me reception, at home or RVing, is going to be just Rabbit Ears. I'm just wondering, in this situation, is it worth buying a new High Def television? Comcast is a company, from whom I used to get cable TV.
I vowed never to do business with them again. They kept increasing my
cost and give me nothing more in return.

I have a Clear wireless modem, as my ISP. It works at home and in my RV.
It's not perfect, but gets the job done. I can't put up any type of dish,
in the tower building I live in. It's not allowed.

I was just looking for an overall solution, to watch what little television, I
do watch.

[Dadeaux]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Rob I can't put up any type of dish, in the tower building I live in. It's not allowed. I was just looking for an overall solution, to watch what little television, I do watch.

The FCC Antenna Placement rules effectively say that you cannot be blocked from putting up an antenna for television reception. If the building rules where you reside prevent antennas on the balconies then they must furnish you a suitable area to mount antennas at a reasonable installation cost.

[dajudge]

I changed both of the tvs in my MH from analog to digital and I am very happy. I get more channels on antenna than with the old tv and saved lots of weight.

[BonesBarth]

All of my antenna system is orginal from 22 years ago and works perfect with digital TV transmissions. I have a Winegard batwing with an amplier (RVH-30A).

I have no problems getting digital channels on a Dynex LED TV. HD channels look great. I won't change a thing until something craps out or I break camp with the antenna up and rip it off.

[Wanabee FTer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonesBarth All of my antenna system is orginal from 22 years ago and works perfect with digital TV transmissions. I have a Winegard batwing with an amplier (RVH-30A).

I bypassed my Winegard antenna booster and I get great reception with just the batwing for HD channels. Anyone else use or don't use the antenna amp for HD signal?