Digital Conversion Questions

[m1tchells]

Rather than call 10 different places to find out the answer to my questions, thought I'd ask you guys since I know you will have the answers!

We have 3 TV's in the RV. The one in the living room is digital so no problem with it. The bedroom and exterior tv's are not digital and I am just now getting around to purchasing the digital converters.

So, my first question is.... do I have to buy 2 converters (one for each tv) or can I buy one and hook it up at the switch box. I read somewhere online that it would fry the digital box if you hooked it up between the antenna and the switch, but I was wondering about hooking it up between the switch and the tv's by using a couple of splitters. Can I do that, and if so would that corrupt the signal too much? This would not only keep me from having to buy 2, but also hasseling with placement next to the tv's.

2nd question...in our old RV, we had an antenna booster that really did help increase reception. But this was prior to everything switching to digital. Does that make a difference? Because even on the existing digital TV, the signal is not that great and we were thinking that adding a booster might help.

Hope this all makes since! Trying to take care of the research myself since DH has got alot on his plate right now. If there is anything else that ya'll think I should know...please share! Thanks!!

 

[stacktester]

I saw the digital antenna's at Camping World that clip on the existing one. It appears that you unscrew the old wire and hook the new wire from the digital and that should make the whole system compatible. I'd like to know as well since I don't have a digital tv.

 

[ElementCamper]

You could install the converter centrally and run to both tv's but there will be a couple of issues.
1. You will have to go to this converter to change channels, not convenient if you are in the other room without a clear shot with the remote.
2. Both tv's will have to be on the same program.
You can easily split connections on the back of the converter, either the standard screw on antenna connector which goes to antenna input on tv (tune to channel 3 or 4 usually) with a standard splitter inline to your video system cables.
You may also can split the yellow video, red and white right and left audio connections, this is trickier and takes more wires.
Converters are cheap, buy one for each tv and save yourself the trouble.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Good points, Element Camper.

I just wanted to add that as far as Fort Wilderness is concerned, the cable works fine whether your TV is digital or not. No need for antennas or converter boxes at the Fort.

TCD

 

[ElementCamper]

Good points, Element Camper.

I just wanted to add that as far as Fort Wilderness is concerned, the cable works fine whether your TV is digital or not. No need for antennas or converter boxes at the Fort.

TCD

Oh yeah! Forgot about cable at the Fort. Will be watching me some Hannah Montana at the Fort in about 2 weeks...

"you get the best of both worlds! Chillin' out take it slow, then you rock out the show!"

 

[mnsprk]

I saw the digital antenna's at Camping World that clip on the existing one. It appears that you unscrew the old wire and hook the new wire from the digital and that should make the whole system compatible. I'd like to know as well since I don't have a digital tv.

It just clips on the bottom of your existing antenna, no need to switch any wires. It helps boost the stations that went from VHF to UHF when they made the switch to digital.

No matter what you do the digital system is a PITA in my opinion. Trees now interfere with the signal as well as airplanes and rain. That's why I love our SAT system in the MH with the New York Networks.

 

[ElementCamper]

I saw the digital antenna's at Camping World that clip on the existing one. It appears that you unscrew the old wire and hook the new wire from the digital and that should make the whole system compatible. I'd like to know as well since I don't have a digital tv.

You still need a converter box for a non-digital tv to receive digital over the air signals. There is actually no such thing as a 'digital' antenna per se, any pair of rabbit ears works fine if in a strong signal area. The Digital Wingman is what you may have seen at Camping World, clips on existing camper antennas of a certain type to make them more sensitive to the UHF band that digital has now been moving to. Otherwise a digital antenna is just an antenna.

For the most part if you are buying a digital or Hi Def antenna and paying more money for it, you are being suckered out of your money.

 

[Live4FW]

For the most part if you are buying a digital or Hi Def antenna and paying more money for it, you are being suckered out of your money.

Yep! I have two converter boxes in my trailer and I just hooked them up to the existing antenna (standard batwing) and built in amplifier. I get great reception and more channels than i would have thought. Much better experience than trying to get digital reception at my house. I do use the amplifier switch. Still makes a significant difference.

 

[m1tchells]

You could install the converter centrally and run to both tv's but there will be a couple of issues.
1. You will have to go to this converter to change channels, not convenient if you are in the other room without a clear shot with the remote.
2. Both tv's will have to be on the same program.

Well...obviously I am in way over my head! I thought the converter just had to do with the reception. I had no idea it had anything at all to do with changing channels. So it is kinda like a cable box, right? And it comes with it's own remote? Well...ok then!

It really wasn't about the cost as much as about the placement...but that is obviously besides the point now. Thanks so much for the info!

I just wanted to add that as far as Fort Wilderness is concerned, the cable works fine whether your TV is digital or not. No need for antennas or converter boxes at the Fort.

I never forget about cable at the Fort! Yes....I admit it...I am a proud watcher of all the old classic Mickey toons!

 

[m1tchells]

Yep! I have two converter boxes in my trailer and I just hooked them up to the existing antenna (standard batwing) and built in amplifier. I get great reception and more channels than i would have thought. Much better experience than trying to get digital reception at my house. I do use the amplifier switch. Still makes a significant difference.

I knew the antenna was standard. Just wasn't sure about the booster/amplifier. As far as I know ours doesn't have one built in. I know we don't have a switch. We had one in our old RV but not in this one. I would like to add one.

 

[ElementCamper]

Boosters or amplifiers do seem to help get those harder to get digital signals. Winegard makes one built into an antenna outlet. You do have to connect it to a power source, probably 12 volt. I too have issues with digital even in downtown here. One of the local major networks absolutely will not come in without major antenna tweaking and I'm literally 16 blocks from downtown. My house is kind of down in a hole and I assume the hill blocks a direct signal. One thing about digital though, if you get a good signal, no ghosts like we used to get when we were kids.

 

[retired and happy]

You should have a converter at each TV that does not have a builtin digital tuner. You simply unscrew the cable going to the TV input and insert the converter between the cable and the TV. Adjust the antenna toward the area of most signal sources and program each converter according to the menufacturer's instructions. The TV is usually tuned to channel 3 or 4, but you can use the red/white/yellow cables if you have external connection ports and tune to Game/Video or whatever the TV has.

 

[trainboyjon]

as stated before, you would need to converters, one for each tv. and yes the standard ant will work just fine. The problem with reception is that now your receiving a totally different type of signal.. A much higher freq, and there is a lot out in the world that will interfer with it. I have the same problem with the over the air freq interfering with the cable system I work on in ohio here, always having to replace stuff in customers homes.

As far as the amplifiers go, you need to make sure you have an amp that offers a wide band of freq amplification. The older stuff tends to work sometimes, but you may not notice that there are channels you are not getting because the amp just will not boost that freq. also, take note that if you do run an amp on a set, over amplification can cause the exact same problems as if you do not have enough signal. Dig breakup, and loss of pic.

As far as the other side of not getting certain channels, it has to do with the network itself in a way. A lot of local channels in any area of the country had to spend their money to be compliant with the DTV shakedown. So equipment was bought, and installed. The one peice of equipment some regretfully now failed to replace were their antennas that broadcast the signal. Traditionaly, you could get by as a network with a directional antenna, and a 360 degree antenna was not needed, especialy for the smaller markets. Well now that the DTV deal went down, a lot of stations found they had to replace these with ones that broadcast 360 degrees. this also hampers anyone in low liying areas also, as reception has lost a great deal of strength in these parts.

Just so thoughts to share... hope i didn't bore anyone, wait, i just bored myself..

 

[dtum]

We have two boxes and use the boost and it works fine. Biggest problem is having to use it to change channels because we had to put it in a cabinet above the TV so have to keep the door open while watching TV. Glad we very rarely stay and a CG w/o cable...just happens sometimes.