Camping can be very isolating and boring, especially if you’re used to modern technology like TV, internet, and radio.
But, what about those of us who just want to take a trip, but don’t want to get away from life?
Fortunately, we don’t have to isolate ourselves from the world while we’re on a trip. You can still enjoy your favorite tv shows and the latest news even if you are far away from civilization. All we need is an RV antenna.
But you can’t just buy a random antenna. It will have to be the best RV over the air antenna in the market to make your TV experience as good as possible.
There are several RV over the air antennas in the market. But only a handful of them is worth the money. So, we’ve taken the time and made a list to help you choose from hundreds of them.
RV Over The Air Antenna And Its Benefits?
If you’ve ever gone on a long trip with your family, you know just how boring it can get after a while. Especially if you have kids around, children tend to get anxious on a journey since they’ve never spent that much time without a TV.
A great solution to this problem is to get an RV over-the-air antenna. It’s incredibly useful when you are miles away from home. You can go on a trip with your family, but without getting rid of technology as a whole.
- Provides Entertainment
It’s hard to imagine a world without television now. Everyone spends hours scrolling through social media and watching TV. So, it shouldn’t come as a shock if your family doesn’t want to distance themselves from the world. An over-the-air antenna offers that chance wherever you go.
- Makes Children Happy
It’s near impossible to make your kids sit for more than a few minutes. Kids have a ridiculous amount of energy. They just want to live in the present moment and want to have as much fun as possible, even if that means getting in trouble.
So, having an RV over-the-air antenna around will make them happy. And you won’t have to turn around when you are driving to stop your kids from fighting.
- Updates and News
Nowadays, information takes only seconds to access. People can watch their favorite TV shows from anywhere. And even talk to someone from across the globe.
It’s quite hard to just throw that lifestyle away, especially since we must keep ourselves informed of current events. So, having a TV on a long trip should be the first thing on your checklist.
Comparison Chart of Top 5 Best RV Over the Air Antenna
| RV over the air antenna | King OA1501 OnmiGo Over-The-Air Antenna | Magnadyne RVTV-W2 Over-the-Air Antenna | Winegard RVW-395 Sensar IV | KING OA8500 Over-the-Air Antenna | SKYBOXE UFO Over-the-Air Antenna |
| Coverage | Amplified for best signal | Up to 50 miles | Extended range up to 55 miles | Long-range Signal Acquisition | Amplifier for Long-range Reception |
| VHF And UHF | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes |
| WiFiCapacity | No | No | No | No | No |
| Weight | 6 pounds | Not specified | 9 pounds | 2.6 pounds | 6 pounds |
5 Best RV Over The Air Antenna Reviews
There are countless RV over-the-air antennas, but most of them are not worth the money. Therefore, we went in-depth and chose the 5 best ones so that you can enjoy yourself when going on a trip. Here’s what we found about them:
1. KING OA1501 OnmiGo Over-the-Air Antenna
The King RV TV antenna is a beast when it comes to long-range signals. It is also incredibly easy to pack for travel.
- Free HDTV
If you just want to sit down on your couch and have access to HDTV programming for free. Then, it will do wonders for you.
Not only does it have HDTV channels for free, but it’s also a very powerful and compact HDTV omnidirectional antenna, which is designed for mobility.
- No Installation Required
Setting an antenna up can be quite annoying and boring. This is where this product beats other brands. It comes right out of the box with everything you need to get it working.
- Designed for Mobility
The OnmiGois designed for mobility. If you’re constantly moving from one direction to another, or, if you happen to travel a lot and need a reliable and easy to setup over-the-air antenna, the OA1501Onmigois everything you will ever need.
Pros
- Easy to setup and carry even if you aren’t tech-savvy
- HDTV for free, so you’ll never miss your favorite shows again
- It’s ideal for anyone who wants to watch free HDTV from wherever they are
- Gets free VHF/UHF/FM signals
Cons
- Lack of customization
2. Magnadyne RVTV-W2 Over-The-Air-Antenna
If money is tight, then the RVTV-W2 is by far a great choice. It picks channels up from many miles away. And if you’re not tech-savvy, it should still be fairly easy to setup.
- No Aiming or Adjusting Required
Hate having to position an antenna just to pick up a few channels? The RVTV-W2 comes right out of the box with everything you’ll need. You don’t need to spend hours trying to find out where the best spot for your antenna is.
- Omnidirectional Antenna
The equipment used in assembling this antenna allows you to handle and manage it well. Omnidirectional RV TV antennas can pick up signals from anywhere without much trouble.
So, if you’re planning to go on a trip, but you want to stay away from society, this antenna will do the trick for you.
- Excellent Price
The RVTV-W2 is by far the cheapest RV over-the-air antenna in this list. This is a great alternative if you’re on a budget and just want to watch TV from anywhere. But don’t let the price fool you. This is by no means a cheap knockoff that will break within the span of a few months.
- Weatherproof
Besides it being a cheap and reliable product, this Magnadyneunit also prevents unwanted moisture from seeping into your antenna. So, now you don’t have to worry about a heavy downpour of water getting into your antenna.
Pros
- Comes with a TV connection plate
- Self-adjusting for easy setup and use
- Designed for RV, and marine use HDTV
- It’s a cheap and reliable product
Cons
- The gears are made of plastic, thus can strip out
3. Winegard RVW-395 Sensar IV
The Winegard RVW 395 Sensar IV is a top-notch RV over-the-air antenna. It allows you to watch TV from pretty much anywhere.
- Long-lastingBuild
If you’re about to spend money on something—you want it to be as durable as possible. After all, nobody wants to spend money on something that is going to break within the next two months.
The Winegard RVW-395 is powder-coated for long-lasting durability. That alone makes it worth the money.
- Clear HD TV
With the advancement in technology, HD channels have become the new norm. Nobody wants to experience graininess when watching their favorite TV show.
Poor image quality ruins your TV experience. Its durability and clear signal make it a great choice when choosing an RV over-the-air antenna.
- Extended Range up to 55 Miles
When choosing an RV over the air antenna, it’s important to know just how far you can be and still be able to watch TV.So, you won’t have to worry about poor signal and low-quality streaming.
WinegardSensar antennas have a ridiculous range. You can watch your favorite tv shows from up to 55 miles away.
Pros
- High definition channels for free
- Powder-coated metal construction for a long-lasting product
- Everything comes in the package that you could need
- Receives all VHF and UHF programming within a 55-mile radius
Cons
- The amplifier is not well protected from the environment
4. King OA8500 Over-the-Air Antenna
If you’re on a budget, but you still want a top-notch RV over the air antenna. Then, King OA8500 is a great choice.
- Free HDTV
If you want to get rid of monthly cable or satellite bills, then you can’t go wrong with the King 0A8500. You simply need to connect the KING jack to your television. And then, you can begin to experience HD programming when you’re going on a trip with your family.
- Utterly Reliable Signal
We all want to go to different locations to visit new places. However, we don’t want to stay away from the world.
In reality, we just want to go on a trip with our family, and at the same time, stay connected to the world. This antenna allows you to do so from just about anywhere.
- Signal Finder
Sick of adjusting the antenna over and over and get nothing? TheSureLock Digital TV Signal finder makes the antenna aiming a lot easier. You simply need to rotate the antenna using the interior knob. And then, the built-in signal meter will detect the digital TV signals as you rotate the antenna.
- Easy to Set Up
Setting an antenna up can be difficult. However, this over-the-air Antenna does a great job at explaining how to set it up for clear HDTV. Now you can enjoy clear HDTV in your RV, travel trailer, or campervan.
Pros
- Long-range signals provide ultra-reliable HDTV
- Broader reception coverage helps you find the strongest signals and maximizes reception
- Has a built-in SureLock signal finder for simple signal acquisition
- Comes with a smaller build compared to traditional RV antennas
Cons
- Prone to receiving weal signals
5. SKYBOXE UFO Over-the-Air Antenna
This over-the-air Antenna comes with a bunch of tools that will make your life easier, such as an amplifier that allows you to easily adjust the balance. And sure enough, it still offers the HDTV, the free capacity, and a resilient build.
- Outdoor HDTV Antenna
Want to watch TV in HD outdoor? Then, this product got you covered. Its long-range signal allows you to watch TV from pretty much anywhere.
And it even has an intelligent switch which helps you avoid signal overload. It pretty much has everything you will ever need.
- Completely Free
If you’re like me, then you probably hate paying bills just to watch TV. But what If I told you that it also receives free broadcast HDTV signals in your local area?
Get rid of monthly subscriptions. Now, you can watch TV for free, without worrying about satellite bills.
- Weather-Resistant
It has an anti-interference internal tech, which protects signal reception to provide clear pictures, as well as full channel capacity even during rainy days. So, no need to worry about random storms ruining your TV experience.
Pros
- Straightforward setup can happen in just a few minutes
- 720° Dual Omni-directional reception for weak/moderate signal strength areas
- The weather-resistant build makes it perfect for outdoor, RVs, and marine use
- Long-range signals even when going on long trips
Cons
- A little bit more expensive than other RV over the air antennas
What to Look Before Purchasing the Best RV Over the Air Antenna
If you’re about to spend on an RV over the air antenna, there are a couple of things that you should know before making a purchase.
Coverage
It’s important to know just how far away you can be and still get a signal. Some cheap knockoff RV over the air antennas barely have any coverage, which makes it incredibly frustrating when you’re just trying to watch TV on your RV.
Material
Most RV over the air antennas are made of plastic. That might turn off some people since it breaks quite easily. However, replacing RV TV antenna parts is quite cheap.
Durability
Durability plays a huge role when choosing an RV over the air antenna. It’s not fun when you are just minding your own business, and all of a sudden, your RV over the air antenna breaks.
UHF and VHF Signals
There two types of television antennas. The first one being UHF which is primarily used for television broadcasting, Bluetooth and walkie-talkies
VHF, on the other hand, is commonly used for digital audio broadcasting, FM radio broadcasting, and television broadcasting
WiFi Capacity
Being able to access the internet from anywhere has become a serious deal over the past years. This is why it’s important to make sure that your RV over the air antenna has WIFI capacity. For boosting WiFi signal and range you may also get the RV WiFi booster.
Weight
Carrying an RV over-the-air antenna around can be quite hard, especially if it’s a heavy antenna. So, we recommend getting a lightweight antenna to make moving it around a lot easier.
Price
There are a lot of RV over the air antennas in the market. And as a result, prices are quite different from each other.
If you’re on a budget, then the Magnadyne RVTV-W2 is your best choice. It has just about everything you will ever need.
On the other hand, if you want to spend a little bit more money, then we commend getting the SKYBOXE UFO. Its self-explanatory design and long-range signal make it worth the money.
Before you go ahead and get an RV over-the-air antenna —you need to keep in mind a couple of other important factors that will help you make the right purchase.
Types of RV Antennas
There are three main types of RV antennas. Here’s how they differ:
- Outdoor Antenna
These antennas are mounted on a mast on top of a house. Because of that, they are better at picking up reception than other antennas. Outdoor ones are also more expensive and difficult to install. But you need them for adequate reception in fringe areas.
- Indoor Antenna
Indoor antennas are generally smaller than outdoor antennas and have fewer range signals. And they may not offer as many channels. At the same time, these are more convenient when it comes to damage. You don’t have to worry about a tree hitting your antenna since it is inside your house.
- Satellite Television
It’s a service that provides television programming to viewers. Satellite antennas provide top-notch reception. You won’t missa single episode of your favorite TV show now.
How to Use the RV TV Antenna?
You must have the RV TV antenna in the up position to get it working. Take the antenna crank, and crank it upwards. Keep doing this until it’s up.
Now you need to activate your TV booster. If you don’t have this on, you won’t have a TV signal. Finally, you need to pull the outside ring and adjust the antenna. If you want to drop the TV antenna, you need to crank your TV antenna down just as you crank it upwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, we try to answer some of the most common questions about RV over-the-air antennas that you may have.
1. How can I boost my RV antenna?
Take the antenna crank and crank it upwards until it stops. Be careful when doing this because you could damage the crank.
You could also try to rotate the antenna to find a better signal. And make sure the TV booster is on. Otherwise, you won’t have a TV signal.
2. What is the best RV TV?
We highly recommend the SKYBOXE UFO as it has proven to be the most efficient RV over-the-air antenna. It has a long-range signal and clear HD programming. On top of that, it is weather-resistance. So, you won’t have to worry about a random storm ruining your TV experience.
3. Which way do I point my RV antenna?
You should point your RV antenna in the direction of the nearest TV station for better reception. And you could try aligning the antenna in the same direction as other local antennas.
4. How do you fix an RV antenna crank?
Antenna cranks can easily break as they’re made of plastic. We recommend buying a new crank from Amazon. And then, replace the old one with the new crank.
Remove the old one by using a vise grip.Now put the new crank, and finally,you want to go up on the roof and lubricate the gears.
5. How do I hook up cable to my RV?
Before you do anything, you need to make sure that the booster inside is turned off. Once you’ve done that, find the outlet and hook the cable up to it so that you can it get working.
Final Words
Choosing the best RV over the air antenna can be time-consuming and boring. But keep in mind that doing so will save you so much time and headaches. You don’t want to go on a trip with your family only to realize that you made a poor choice.
If money is tight, you should go for the Magnadyne RVTV-W2. However, if you’re willing to spend a little bit more money. Then, you should go for the SKYBOXE UFO. Either way, you can’t go wrong with them.
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