Many RVers go camping to get away from it all and enjoy nature. After all, that is usually the goal of packing up and leaving the comforts of home to explore new areas. However, sometimes it is still nice to have TV options when you are on the road, especially if the weather isn't cooperating for outdoor time.
If you are just heading out for a weekend or short trip, unplugging is no big deal. As full-time RVers, we enjoy the ability to keep up with news or watch a movie on occasion. Today's RVs often come equipped with several TVs for your entertainment, but you still need to understand the best ways to tune in when you are traveling. Here are some tips for the four main options for watching TV in your RV.
Guest Post by Robin Buck
Over the Air Antenna
The easiest and cheapest way to watch TV is to receive local broadcast channels over the air through your RV's built in antenna. Usually, the process involves only raising your antenna (or turning it on if its powered), turning on your TV and scanning for channels using setup. No subscription is needed, but you will be limited to the channels that are available in the area where you are camped. Generally, we have gotten about 10-15 channels including the main networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS, as well as others like FOX, PBS, and MeTV.
Watching TV using your RV antenna works fairly well when you are nearer to a broadcast tower and not as well in remote locations. The availability of channels will likely change each time you travel to a new destination. This method of watching TV is easy and free, plus it gives you access to an area's local channels to stay current with weather and upcoming events you might want to check out.
Cable TV
Another free option for TV is through a campground's cable service. Most RVs have a co-ax cable line already installed so all you have to do is hook it up to the cable input box at your campsite. You will want to make sure to have a long enough cable to reach the box.
Depending on the cable provider, you can usually get a better variety of channels with cable than with over the air TV. In addition to more channels like TBS, Hallmark, and ESPN, you will also have access to local news and weather. Although not all campgrounds offer cable TV, the ones who do normally don't charge extra to use it. You must, however, know your systems. For instance, we have to turn off our powered TV antenna for our cable to work.
Satellite TV
If you are willing to pay for your TV viewing, we have found using satellite TV is a great way to go. Dish, and Direct TV are the main companies that provide mobile satellite service for RVers. We pay a monthly fee to have our subscription to the satellite service which gives us access to TV anywhere we go. Our motorhome came with a roof mounted satellite dish, but you can also opt for a portable satellite antenna instead.
One thing that will affect your satellite coverage is any overhead obstruction. We try to get a campsite that is not shaded by trees overhead and to the south, but if you have a portable dish, you can place it farther from your RV to get better coverage. While this option is the most expensive, we like knowing we can get all the channels we like and will have a TV signal most anywhere we travel.
Streaming Services
Nowadays even at home many people have given up on cable and satellite TV subscriptions in favor of streaming. Streaming is another way to watch TV using a media streaming device that lets you stream video, play music, or install apps on your TV. Once you purchase the device there are no monthly fees, but you will have the cost of content services like Netflix, Apple TV, or Hulu...plus internet connectivity.
Thus, the only real limitation for this option is having regular access to high-speed internet for the streaming. We have found very few campgrounds that have enough Wi-Fi to support streaming, so we had to look at other methods like hotspots or Starlink. You can read more about internet choices here. While streaming does have associated costs, it gives you a wide selection of movies and TV shows to watch. For instance, our current favorite is YouTube TV which gives us access to many current channels, movies, and series as well as a DVR function to record shows for viewing later.
Enjoy Watching Your TV
Whether you want to pay for your TV service or would rather avoid the extra costs, you have choices for your TV needs. You can try one of the methods above or you might even use a combination to broaden your entertainment choices. We have used all of them at one time or another. It's great when we can enjoy the outdoors, but for those times when you can't or don't want to, your RV TV has you covered.
Robin and her husband, Mike, are Air Force veterans and empty nesters who travel full-time in their Entegra Anthem motorhome. Always ready to explore, they love nature and wildlife, meeting new friends, and discovering America's many hidden gems. Robin chronicles their adventures and experiences on her travel blog RVing with Robin.
