advice about T.V. reception

[dixons]

We were at a campground in Ohio a few weeks ago. We wanted to see how our t.v. reception worked during NFL preseason as a test for the real season. We were camping almost at the edge of this town and we did have good cell phone use, but no channels at all. Our t.v. is a new digital flat screen and were using a "direct t.v." antenna. In two weeks, the first week end of the season we will be in Myrtle Beach and the tv and antenna are just for camping and football season. any advice other than stay home to watch the game, which isn't an option?

[TURBS]

Was the antenna booster on?
did you swivel antenna in different directions for better reception?
Not sure what a direct tv antenna is? Do you mean the roof top one?

[dixons]

There is no antenna booster on this. It is a digital antenna and it is made by direct tv. We did move the receiver around a bit but no channels came in. We tried it at home and it worked great.

[Oakman]

If you are talking about DIRECTV the satellite service provider then you must be a subscriber and have their receiver to get TV. If this is what you have then call them for troubleshooting.

If you purchased some “direct T.V.” antenna claiming to get free satellite reception using their antenna, then you’ve been scammed.

If all you want is to receive the free over-the-air local television stations then the antenna on your trailer is all you need. In that case, raise your antenna, turn the power booster on, turn on the TV, using the TV’s menu system scan for available channels. You should have no trouble getting over-the-air TV in Myrtle Beach.

[Ovair]

Can you take a picture of your antenna and post it here? There seems to be some confusion about what kind of antenna you actually have. At this time, there are too many variables to be sure what you need to do. But...
You said it worked at home, but not in the camper. That tells me it is not the antenna that is mounted to your camper (which has a booster). You used the term "direct tv" which sounds like it's a satellite dish. If you are using a satellite dish with receiver, you will need to hook it up to your camper using the satellite input on the drivers side of the camper (not usually the same connection as the campground cable input), turn off the camper's booster, and depending on how things are wired, you may have to change the input on the TV itself.

[jaxfl]

If it is a DirectTV satellite dish system then follow the above directions. If it is a TV and you are talking about the roof mounted anntenna, the power boster is next to the electric plug in on the camper. Not always can you get TV over the regular antenna. Here in Florida at many of the state park campgrounds even those close to towns you get nothing or only 1 or 3 stations and most of them are in spanish or chruch stations.

[dimurrrw]

Let's try this again. The Rockwood Hard Side (A-Frame) does not have an antenna according to the literature (cable ready only) so we are talking about a straight dish setup. Will one of you who is more conversant than I with such things please explain the setup, including aiming the dish, for dixons?

[jimh]

when u set it up at home, how did u do it. i'm trying to figure if u had a dish antenna that u were receiving on or another antenna.
if it is not the dish, u will have to rotate your receiving antenna abt 45 deg at a time and rescanning. then zeroing in. a signal meter is a big help. my converter (analogue to digital for older sets) have that feature. i use it on my new set to set it up. then i turn it off and rescan the tv. some tv's have this built in as well. it isn't a fun process.
my first question "how did u do it at home" will give me an idea of what u have.

[TURBS]

I'm not so sure he isn't talking about an over the air antenna that I have seen mounted to direct tvs actual dish. Its a horse shoe looking thing for local channels that you mount to the dish.
Which brings up a new thing. Is his tv old enough that it needs a converter box to receive signal?

[wayne anthony]

Another thing, if your camping among trees with alot of leaves, the will knock down a digital t. v. signal. Wayne

[jimh]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

I'm not so sure he isn't talking about an over the air antenna that I have seen mounted to direct tvs actual dish. Its a horse shoe looking thing for local channels that you mount to the dish.
Which brings up a new thing. Is his tv old enough that it needs a converter box to receive signal?

i'm thinking the same thing. i'm really not clear on it.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by jimh

i'm thinking the same thing. i'm really not clear on it.

would be nice to have some pics and more answers from the op

[rawlus]

If you have a rock wood A Frame camper . A few things.

The cable hookup is for cable coax or a digital television antenna.

It will not work with a satellite dish without a converter box inside the camper before you hook to the television.

Also, a regular non-digital television antenna (analog) will not work as nothing is broadcast in analog anymore and your flat screen will not tune it.

Make sure the flat screen in the camper has the right source selected (because it probably has more sources) If the wrong source is selected on the television, you won't get anything.

Have you verified the televisio works and can receive signals?

Work the problem backwards and eliminate possible problems as you go.

Lastly, I can't remember if the cable from the outside of the a frame to the inside connector is one piece of coaxial cable or if it's spliced at some point... It might be prudent trying to check that out too, once you've confirmed that the antenna works directly connected to the tv with a separate piece of coaxial cable.

Again, if it is a direct tv satellite dish you are connecting, I don't think that's going to work without the accompanying box and probably a subscription and some help pointing that dish I the right direction.

[rawlus]

Is this the antenna?

[TURBS]

I think its this but hey what do I know !

[jimh]

Originally Posted by rawlus

Make sure the flat screen in the camper has the right source selected (because it probably has more sources) If the wrong source is selected on the television, you won't get anything.

ie ur source selection may have changed when u unplugged it.

if u were working before u left, it should still work if there is a station in range. When it comes to aiming the antenna, Digital TV isn't as forgiving as analogue.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

I'm not so sure he isn't talking about an over the air antenna that I have seen mounted to direct tvs actual dish. Its a horse shoe looking thing for local channels that you mount to the dish.
Which brings up a new thing. Is his tv old enough that it needs a converter box to receive signal?

You keep saying (He) I think it is (She). Youroo!!

[jaxfl]

I don't think they have been back to this thread to get the answers or to answer the questions we asked.