RV Satellite Antennas: Considerations Before Installation

While some may want to get away from everyday life and "unplug" when traveling in an RV, many still want to enjoy all the comforts and conveniences of home, including computers, iPads and TVs. For all those who want to watch and enjoy their favorite shows on the road, BAFANG offers some tips on receiving TV in your RV.

In addition to being quite costly, satellite terminology can be confusing. We've broken down each term to help you determine which features are must-haves and which ones you can tell your wallet to forget.

Mounted or Portable

Roof-mounted satellite dishes are not cheap. We've seen them range in price from $700 to $5,000.

However, if you call your RV home, the upfront cost of installing a satellite dish can be a good investment. Many installed satellite dishes also automatically acquire satellite signals, which makes it easier to connect to a satellite each time you move to a new location.

Portable satellite dishes are not permanently connected to your RV, so you can move them around to try to get the best satellite signal. They sit on a tripod similar to those used by professional photographers to support their cameras.

These tend to be a little cheaper. The lower price makes portable satellite dishes a more wallet-friendly option for your wallet, especially if you don't use your RV very often.

Automatic or Manual

We consider automatic satellite signal acquisition to be a must-have feature. Otherwise, if you insist on manual acquisition, you could spend hours fiddling with the antenna to try to find a strong signal. This doesn't sound like a leisurely vacation to us.

Number of satellites to track at once

If you're keen to keep up with the national news, or just want more channel options, an antenna that can track multiple satellites at once may be ideal for you. This means that your antenna can track multiple satellites, allowing you to watch programming available on multiple satellites at once.

Number of receivers supported

If RVing is a family tradition, then you can use a satellite TV antenna that supports multiple receivers to make your kids or relatives more comfortable with life on the road. That means your teenage daughter can record her favorite shows on the DVR in her room while mom and dad watch the news in the living room.

Support for Internet, cellular and TV providers

Make sure you use a satellite dish that is compatible with the service provider you signed up with.

Most dishes work with multiple providers, such as Winegard Roadtrip T4, which works with DISH and DIRECTV, but we've seen some in the past that work with just one provider, so it's worth a try.

It's romantic to accompany your loved ones or family members while living and traveling around the world. I hope you have a warm carriage, plenty of water, stable electricity, and a ubiquitous wifi signal. Please contact us to get more knowledge about RV satellite wiring.