Which is The Best RV Antenna? Reviews The Best in Market
A television antenna is a device that has been designed specifically to receive broadcast television signals over the air. These signals are transmitted in the Very High Frequency (VHF) band, as well as the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band. However, these bands may vary depending on the country within which their use is intended.
Antennas are generally easy to install. The installation process is aimed at ensuring the antenna receives the signal without any attenuation. For that reason, they are normally placed in the highest points of the house where they can get maximum reception. In the case of vehicle antennas, they could either be mounted on the roof of the car or a tripod stand is provided for its temporary mounting where reception is maximum.
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** Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews by click in "Our Reviews" column, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.com.
What You Need to Know Before Buying an Antenna
When looking for an antenna for your home or any other application, there is a number of question that you should ask yourself. In order to get a suitable service that would suit your needs, enough research should be conducted which would, therefore, guarantee an informed choice.
1. The kind of subscription
It is important for the consumer to know the kind of subscriptions their antennas can support. For instance, over-the-air television is a free service. This service, however, has a limited number of stations. The satellite TV service, on the other hand, requires a monthly subscription but comes with a range of stations to choose from.
2. The type of signal
Antennas have been designed to receive signals that fall within the VHF and UHF bands. However, the number of channels received for these bands differ. The VHF band is considered to generally have the best reception, but the number of channels that it can receive is limited. On the other hand, UHF band receives a greater number of channels, but its reception is more likely to suffer from environmental interference.
3. Installation
The installation process of an antenna may be involving, especially when handled by someone who is not a professional. This is so because the process may pose safety risks to the person installing.
4. Placement and positioning
Antennas can either be placed indoors or outdoors. They also come in a range of sizes.
5. System requirements
The system to be installed may be paired with an analog TV that requires the received digital signal by the antenna to be converted to a form that the TV can show. This conversion is done with the use of a digital television converter box to enable the TVs to decode and display the programs.
6. Costs
The antenna costs vary depending on the complexity and added functionality to the unit. For instance, an antenna that has the added feature of rotating will generally cost more than a regular one that just connects directly to the TV and requires manual rotating for it to get good signal reception.
Also, the consumer needs to know the kind of subscription they would be getting into and the cost. For instance, if they select a satellite antenna.
Benefits of Using a TV antenna
It is cheap compared to other methods
The use of antennas offers free broadcast stations. As compared to cable and satellite where it is necessary that a monthly fee be made. For this reason, the use of antennas is by far the cheapest and saves the consumer a lot of money.
Reception of channels cable and satellite may not offer
Broadcast channels are known to provide a number of sub-channels that may not be offered on pay TV. The use of antennas would, however, guarantee the reception of these channels.
Reception of out of market channels
Out of market channels are basically those channels that are not offered on your TV market plan. This benefit, however, only applies to the people who live in an area where two or more TV markets are available, and they are in a position to receive them. The use of an antenna will make it possible for these people to access the free stations in the other market.
Uncompressed High Definition
Cable and satellite providers are known to compress their signals. However, broadcast networks have their signals transmitted in an uncompressed form which looks better when the reception is done through an antenna. However, this is subject to debate as other people may differ from this argument.
Offers peace of mind
When using an antenna, adverse weather conditions would not worry the consumer. For satellite users, bad weather greatly interferes with signal reception. This limits their application in areas with such weather conditions and therefore gives the antennas an upper hand.
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Reviews of The Top 5 Best RV Antenna in Market
KING VQ4100 Quest Portable/Roof Mountable Satellite TV Antenna
The KING Quest is a product made in the USA and offers an impressive feature to suit RV users. This portable satellite antenna makes it possible for you to take your TV on the road and enjoy your favorite DIRECTV programming while at it. The antenna has been designed to be fully automated eliminating the tedious work that comes with the manual tuning of antennas. Also, it has been engineered to effortlessly support multiple TV viewing.
It is very portable, and this makes it very easy to set up. This is a simple task that takes up very limited time when the right procedure as stated by the manufacturer is followed. The unit is simply powered through a coaxial cable, and when put on it automatically locates the satellite signal and locks onto it.
The KING Quest is known to work smoothly with a wide range of DIRECTV receiver types. However, it is not compatible with the Ka-band satellites or even the SWM only receivers.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- It is easy to set up
- It is easy to use
- Comes with clear and precise instructions
- It is reliable
- It is very light
- Comes with a compact and sturdy construction
Cons
- The picture quality is not HD But SD
KING OA8200 Jack HDTV Over-the-Air Antenna with Mount and Built-in Signal Meter - White
The KING OA8200 Jack HDTV has been designed to have a comfortable coverage of both VHF and UHF digital HDTV signals. The antenna offers a wider reception range especially for UHF reception, covering the area where more than 80% of the signals of this nature are broadcasted in.
It features the reception of high definition TV signals in order for the users to enjoy the best when it comes to picture quality. Also, this jack antenna is easy and quick to set up. When the manufacturer's instructions are followed accordingly, the unit can be set up in about 5 minutes without the aid of any special tools. This makes it very suitable as many RV users look for ease in installation when purchasing their antennas.
The antenna also comes in a compact design that is aerodynamic offering excellent wind resistance when mounted on the RV roof.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- It is easy to set up
- It is easy to use
- Comes with clear and precise instructions
- It is reliable
- It is very light
- Comes with a compact and sturdy construction
- Gives out HD channels
Cons
- You can tune into only one transmitter at a time.
- Has to be reprogrammed every time when tuned into a new transmitter as it loses the other channels that had been locked on.
- Reception is affected by wind and rain
Winegard RT2000T Roadtrip T4 In-Motion RV Satellite Antenna - White
This antenna guarantees amazing service to the consumer with its capabilities when put to the test. The antenna offers travelers the luxury of enjoying live television shows, as well as stay informed of news updates. All in an amazing HD setting so as to ensure the best in picture quality.
The Winegard RT2000T antenna is a fully automated unit that makes its operation a breeze. The antenna features a button for it's on and off operation. Also, the unit's tracking system has been improved greatly to enable its functioning even when the car is in motion.
The unit has also been designed to be smaller, ensuring that the noise it produces is as minimal as possible.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- Works amazingly even when the car is in motion
- It keeps great track of the satellites
Cons
- It is loud when in motion
Winegard GM-6000 Carryout G2+ White Automatic Portable Satellite TV Antenna with Power Inserter
This unit comes with a fantastic design that is compact and sturdy. It features a handle that can be gripped easily making it easy to handle and move about. The unit can be set up easily and quickly when the right procedure is followed.
The unit features a permanent installation option for those who are interested, as well as the use of temporary mounts. This increases its market appeal as many people are able to identify with it. It is powered using a coaxial cable through a power inserter, and when perfectly installed, it enables the user to enjoy great TV experiences on the road. This unit has been made compatible with a range of providers which also makes it an amazing pick. The user can easily change from one provider to the next by switching at the inserter.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- It is easy to set up
- It gives out clear and steady signals
- The dish does not require manual adjustment for it to work.
- It is easy to operate
- Has the provision for both permanent mounting as well as a movable stand
Cons
- The weather has to be perfect for it to pick up DIRECTV stations
Winegard GM-2000 White Carryout G2 Automatic Portable Satellite TV Antenna
The Winegard GM-2000 satellite antenna has been designed and manufactured in the USA. The unit features a grip handle for easy handling and is powered from the standard 12V outlet found in vehicles. This makes it a perfect fit for use in an RV.
The antenna has been designed to make your camping experience as lively as would be when at home. It is also a necessary equipment for RV users as it effortlessly brings the home entertainment package to the vehicle.
The unit features a smaller design that is more compact. It is the smallest of its kind available on the market and offers a fully automated feature. This makes its operation easy and convenient as compared to the manual rotation of antennas in order to get a reception. It comes with two coaxial ports and is able to support two receivers making it possible to watch different programs from two TVs using the same satellite antenna.
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Pros
- Automatically find the satellite
- It is easy to operate
- It is quick and easy to setup.
- It is lightweight
- It is very small therefore takes up limited amount of space
Cons
- The second feed for those who have two receivers is not consistent
Verdict
When looking for the best RV antenna, a wide range of features come to play in the selection. An automatically operated antenna with a wide range of reception signals becomes the perfect pick. However, features such as the unit's portability and ease in setup are key.
From the review done above, judging by the pros and cons of the selected satellite antennas, the Winegard GM-6000 Carryout G2+ White Automatic Portable Satellite TV Antenna with Power Inserter stands out as the superior among the other units. This is simply because it has a wide range of applications depending on the preference of its user. It also provides for a range of providers to pick from, and its setup is quick and easy.
