Free TV when you’re out on the open road. That’s basically freedom piled on top of freedom right there, and that’s the American way! No wonder so many people get over-the-air antennas mounted to their RVs. Are you one of them, or are you thinking about mounting your antenna to your RV?
If you had an RV prior to 2009, you might remember watching live TV while driving. At least hopefully your passengers remember it and you personally remember driving with your eyes on the road, right? Well you survived whatever you were doing, so I’m sure you were safe enough.
Before 2009’s digital transition, regular TV signals worked while your RV was moving. Today, they don’t. The digital technology that gives us high definition also takes away… because the digital TV signals don’t work if your vehicle’s going faster than about 15mph. Obviously it’s possible to make signals that do, since you can use your phone while moving, but I guess back in the 2000s that was a little too much to ask of live video.
There’s a possibility that RVers will get the capability to watch over-the-air TV while in motion again. The new ATSC 3.0 standard, if it’s ever adopted, will let free TV again… roam free. But we still face a long and uphill battle before we get to that point. If you’d like more info about ATSC 3.0, read it here. The good news here is that if you’re willing to pay a little extra for a converter box, you can try these channels now. Check out this ADTH converter box at Solid Signal. Just know that the technology is still in a fairly early stage and you may need to connect the box to the internet at least temporarily to make it work.
If you have an antenna on your RV’s roof, it’s not taking up space inside the RV. That’s really the big advantage. It’s there, ready to be used and worst case scenario you would just have to aim it. Some RV antennas are permanently mounted; I’d recommend springing for one that you can aim from inside the RV. After all, the odds that you’ll park “just right” so the antenna gets a great view of the towers are pretty slim.
On the other hand, a permanently mounted antenna means you’re drilling holes in the RV. If you’re ok with that, then don’t worry. But are you ok with that?
Yes, I get it. You have limited space in the RV. You don’t want to carry around a tripod, an antenna and a bunch of cable. However, it’s the most flexible way of getting antenna signals and that means you’ll get signals from further away. You can put a tripod on the ground or strap it to the roof of the RV when you’re parked, and you can aim it just perfectly so you get the most live TV channels.
A tripod and an antenna don’t take up a lot of space. Our Solid Signal Mast and Tripod combo folds up when not in use and Televes’ DiNova antenna is powerful and incredibly compact. Together they fit in nooks and crannies you probably weren’t using anyway. They set up quickly and once you do it a few times you’ll be an expert.
If you prefer the convenience of a permanent mount, by all means do that. If you’d rather go with a tripod, you’ll succeed there too. Personally I prefer the tripod method because the antenna is just better and you get more channels. However, there’s one way you won’t go wrong, and that’s shopping for all your RV needs at Solid Signal. If you want help choosing an antenna or anything else you need to live your best digital life, call the experts at 888-233-7563 or fill out the form below.
The post Should you permanently mount your TV antenna to your RV? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
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It’s a tough question to answer, thanks to the government
If you had an RV prior to 2009, you might remember watching live TV while driving. At least hopefully your passengers remember it and you personally remember driving with your eyes on the road, right? Well you survived whatever you were doing, so I’m sure you were safe enough.
Before 2009’s digital transition, regular TV signals worked while your RV was moving. Today, they don’t. The digital technology that gives us high definition also takes away… because the digital TV signals don’t work if your vehicle’s going faster than about 15mph. Obviously it’s possible to make signals that do, since you can use your phone while moving, but I guess back in the 2000s that was a little too much to ask of live video.
There’s a possibility that RVers will get the capability to watch over-the-air TV while in motion again. The new ATSC 3.0 standard, if it’s ever adopted, will let free TV again… roam free. But we still face a long and uphill battle before we get to that point. If you’d like more info about ATSC 3.0, read it here. The good news here is that if you’re willing to pay a little extra for a converter box, you can try these channels now. Check out this ADTH converter box at Solid Signal. Just know that the technology is still in a fairly early stage and you may need to connect the box to the internet at least temporarily to make it work.
The benefit of a permanently mounted antenna
If you have an antenna on your RV’s roof, it’s not taking up space inside the RV. That’s really the big advantage. It’s there, ready to be used and worst case scenario you would just have to aim it. Some RV antennas are permanently mounted; I’d recommend springing for one that you can aim from inside the RV. After all, the odds that you’ll park “just right” so the antenna gets a great view of the towers are pretty slim.
On the other hand, a permanently mounted antenna means you’re drilling holes in the RV. If you’re ok with that, then don’t worry. But are you ok with that?
The benefit of a separate antenna
Yes, I get it. You have limited space in the RV. You don’t want to carry around a tripod, an antenna and a bunch of cable. However, it’s the most flexible way of getting antenna signals and that means you’ll get signals from further away. You can put a tripod on the ground or strap it to the roof of the RV when you’re parked, and you can aim it just perfectly so you get the most live TV channels.
A tripod and an antenna don’t take up a lot of space. Our Solid Signal Mast and Tripod combo folds up when not in use and Televes’ DiNova antenna is powerful and incredibly compact. Together they fit in nooks and crannies you probably weren’t using anyway. They set up quickly and once you do it a few times you’ll be an expert.
In the end it’s up to you.
If you prefer the convenience of a permanent mount, by all means do that. If you’d rather go with a tripod, you’ll succeed there too. Personally I prefer the tripod method because the antenna is just better and you get more channels. However, there’s one way you won’t go wrong, and that’s shopping for all your RV needs at Solid Signal. If you want help choosing an antenna or anything else you need to live your best digital life, call the experts at 888-233-7563 or fill out the form below.
The post Should you permanently mount your TV antenna to your RV? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
