Cable doesn’t work in camper - how to hookup cable TV at RV Park
So, you got that new RV, found the perfect site, hooked up water electric and cable. Then you turned on the TV and nothing… what do you do now? There’s no need to panic, most likely it will be easy to fix.
Here are the things to check if your camper’s cable or antenna doesn’t work.
- RV Antenna Booster Switch
- TV Settings and auto channel search
- Wiring
Now that you know where to look, here are the things to look for.
What is an RV Antenna Booster Switch and where do you find it?
To get the most channels possible from your antenna, almost all RV’s have a booster installed. This is great, but if it’s set to the wrong position you might not get anything.
Where is it?
The booster is usually located behind the main tv in your RV. Most RV’s use boosters from Winegard. They come in 3 variations, they either have 2 cable jacks, 1 cable jack and a 12v power outlet, or a single cable jack.
No matter which model you have the thing to look for is a small black pushbutton and a green led. Here is a picture of the booster in my 5th wheel. If your’s isn’t behind the main TV, check the other TV locations in your RV.
How to set your RV’s antenna booster for cable
The booster also works as a switch. It determines which signal goes to the TV’s in your RV. When the booster is turned on the green LED lights up and the signal from the antenna is routed to your TVs. If you press the black switch the LED will turn off and the signal from the cable input on the side of your RV will be sent to the TVs.
As I mentioned before some boosters have 2 jacks on them. The second one is labeled Satellite. That jack is where you would connect a satellite receiver.
If your RV is equipped with a satellite dish is will be connected directly to this jack. If you don’t have a dish installed, it is most likely connected to a jack on the outside of your RV labeled Satellite. This is where you would connect a portable dish like the Wineguard Playmaker. The Satellite jack is not affected by the booster switch.
Checking your TV’s settings
Now that we know the booster is set correctly it’s time to run a channel search on your TV. Every make and model of TV is a little bit different, but most have the same basic options.
You need to press the Menu button on your TV and look for an option like setup or Channels. On my TV you can only access the channels menu if the TV is in TV mode, so if you were watching a DVD make sure to set the input to TV or tuner.
Once you get to the setup or channel menu look for an option to set it to Cable, Air or Antenna. Choose the appropriate one for your connection. If your TV is like mine it might have an auto search that will scan for cable and antenna channels.
Now start the channel search and wait. Pretty soon you should see channels popping up. Once the scan is complete you should be good to go.
Checking your RV’s TV wiring
If you made it through the first 2 steps and haven’t had any success, it’s time to check the wiring.
One of the easiest checks is to see if your booster was wired backwards at the factory. To test this just turn the switch to the opposite position and let your TV scan for channels again. If your cable starts working with the booster on you will have to remove the booster from the wall and switch the wires labeled Antenna and Cable. Just make sure you check the channels to the campgrounds TV guide before switching the wires. You might be picking channels from your antenna.
Check the campgrounds cable signal
For cable the next thing I would check is that the campgrounds connection is working. If your cable line is long enough, disconnect it from the side of your RV and bring it through a window directly to the input on the back of a TV. Then run the channel scan. If it works you know the campgrounds signal is good.
If the campground’s signal is good things get trickier. For RV’s with multiple TVs try a different one and see if it works, if it does the problem is most likely with the connection to that specific TV or connection, if the other TV doesn’t work your problem is most likely closer to the booster.
TV wiring overview
The wiring for your TVs comes in from a jack on the exterior, connects to the booster and then splits off to the other TV locations in the RV. Unlike homes where the splitters are usually located in attics or basements where you can see them, RV manufacturers put the splitters in the walls behind the jacks.
Here is a picture of a splitter I pulled out of the wall behind my booster. I found another one behind the TV jack in the bedroom too.
How to test an RV’s TV wiring
You can check the connection between the outside of your RV and the jacks on the inside with an ohm meter.
Tools needed:
- Ohm Meter
- Long Cable Line
- Short Cable line (1 foot or less would be best)
Steps
- Connect the long cable to the outside jack and then bring the other end into the camper.
- Connect the short cable to the cable/antenna jack your TV was connected to.
- Set your Ohm meter to read ohms or continuity and touch the probes to the wire in the center of each cable.
- If your meter reads a connection between the cables, your wiring probably ok.
- If you do not read a connection between the cables, switch the booster to the opposite position and try again.
If you are unable to get a connection between the wires you will have to dig deeper to find out where the connection is broken.
The best way to check the wiring is to remove the jacks 1 at a time starting at the booster and make sure all the connections are tight. After removing a jack from the wall pull on the wire a little bit if it moves keep pulling gently and you may pull a splitter through the opening. Make sure the connections are tight and tuck in back into the wall. Then move on to the next one.
Once you get the wiring straightened out, run your TV’s channel search again and you are done.
Wrap-Up
I hope I have been able to help you get your RV’s TV working. If your RV came with a satellite receiver or surround sound entertainment systems, there could be a video switcher or other equipment between the exterior cable jack and your TV. I can’t possibly cover all the options here, but your RV’s owner’s manual may have some information that could help.
If you are looking for some help improving your over the air (antenna) signal check out this article for my best tips to improve your reception.
The last thing I will leave you with is to remember to get outside. I enjoy watching TV as much as anyone, but when I’m camping I want to explore the area. Go check out the trails, drive around tow, or just sit around a campfire. You can always watch TV when you get back home.
Thanks for reading and Happy Camping,
Jason
We have a rv with a Samsung HD TV. The TV in the bedroom, a Jensen, has cable working, scanned perfectly…the Samsung in the living room can’t be turned around so we can’t check the wires, but it seems to be where the problem is…unless we aren’t scanning right, although we’ve tried various options…what to do??
It sounds like there is probably a wire flipped going to the main TV. If the scan options aren’t working you only choice might be to take the TV down to get access to the wires. Sorry for not having an easier suggestion.
Jason
I was able to figure out how to get the portable dish to work for the inside TV am shutting off the booster but how can we get it to stream to the outside TV at the same time with just 1 receiver? the outside TV hooks to the cable with a coax but we are unsure how to redirect it to the TV. do we need a splitter? We didn’t want to have to add a second receiver just to have TV outside too. Thank you
Terenna,
I’m not sure if you are using Dish or DirecTV, but in either case you will probably need a second receiver, or something like the Dish Hopper that allows more than one TV from a single receiver.
The Coax from the dish has to go directly to a receiver and then the receiver sends a signal to your TV Probably using 3 analog cables (yellow, red and white) or an HDMI cable.
I hope that helps you, if you have a followup question please let me know.
Thanks,
Jason
My living room tv in my rv works great, but when I go to scan/channel search the outside and bedroom tvs I get nothing. What could it be?
Check behind the main TV for a jumper you could switch. You could be sending the cable or satellite signal to the other tvs instead of the antenna.
Thanks,
Jason
I have 6 TV locations. Each have their own connection on the main panel to connect from the RV lot cable. There is a master connection for cable that is supposed to push cable to all the TVs but only woks the living room and outdoor kitchen TV. How do I get them all to work?
Eric this sounds like a jumper problem too. Your antenna signal is probably goin to the tvs instead of the cable. Is there a jumper wire or switch on the main panel or behind the TV that you could flip?
Thanks,
Jason
We are hooked up to the campgrounds cable system where there are no boxes. Is there any way to work both tv’s at the same time. When we have the booster on for the living room we can’t get reception in the bedroom and when we have the booster off, we can’t get reception in the living room. There are times where we would like to have both tv’s going with different channels on.
It sounds like the splitter coming off your booster is in the wrong place, you might have to pull the booster out of the wall and trace down which wire goes to the other tvs. It should be connected to the same signal that feeds the main TV.
Hope that helps,
Jason
New camper. Trying to get the cable to come on in camper. Auto scan noted 100 rf channels and 8 digital channels. No cable channels are coming through. Any suggestions? Thanks Sandra
Sandra, you probably need to press the switch to turn your booster off. That will switch from the antenna to the cable input.
Thanks, Jason
Just got a camper jason.. got a portable satellite system and want to hook it up.. can I hook up the dish directly to the camp cable hook or do I have to run a new line just for that?
Donald,
The cable input should work just fine.
Thanks,
Jason
I’m having problems with signal for my satellite, I’ve narrowed it down to my coax from the outside to the inside . If put a male connector from the old coax to a new one would it be possible to pull the old one out to replace it with a new one
Chad, As long as the line isn’t screwed down that should work.
I would give it a try.
Jason
We just bought a new trailer, what should the tv be set in to watch park cable? Antenna tv works, minimal channels.
Also, on the main tv wall there are additional coax hookups…… what are these for?
Kate, if you have cable you can switch to that, but you need to turn the booster off first. The other hookups could be for a satellite connection if you RV has one.
Jason
I hooked the cable directly to the tv through a window and still no signal, the park signal is good however my tv will not find a channel. The antenna does not pick up any channels either. What should I do next? How can I tell if it’s the tv that’s bad?
I would check the cable to a different TV, if that work then the problem is most likely the TV. Does your RV have a TV in another room you could try?
Jason
Hi Jason,
We just purchased a Joey and tailgater. We have an outside connection for the cable coax but it doesn’t work. Dish is telling me it’s because of the splitter inside the camper and needs to be a direct connection eliminating the splitter. Is this correct and is it easy to remove?
Thanks for your help!
Jon
Splitters can cause problems with satellite signals, so if you don’t need it for any other connections I would take it out.
Thanks,
Jason
Had my original antenna ripped of the rig. Got an amplified antenna, not Winegard, to replace it. When I connect the amplified antenna directly to the TV it works great. When I route the amplified antenna cable through the Winegard booster, I cannot get a signal.
It sounds like there’s something going on with the wiring on your booster. If it has more than one input or output port I would try looking for a wiring diagram or manual for that particular booster and see if you’re using the correct ports.
I own a campground, and installed my own cable system.. You won’t believe how many times I’ve packed my TV down to a site, and plug it in, to have a crystal clear picture.. But on the flip side, you wouldn’t believe how many campers I’ve had that complain about no signal.. And I and my system get instantly blamed..
The first one is the antenna booster.. 90% of campers don’t know about this.. I wish it was in plane site, right next to the tv.. Choose: Cable, antenna, or satellite… (One guy had to reach way in behind his tv) The next is the TV.. Most TVs, you have to switch between cable and air, But this isn’t standard.. Sometimes it’s under different settings, or setup.
And then there’s the scanning.. I take my TV down, plug in the wire and just type in 65.. Channel 65 comes on.. But it seems with most TVs, the user has to scan through to find the available channels..
And finally, I can pack my TV down to the site.. Connect, and crystal clear picture.. The camper connects, reception is awful.. So he connects to the box at the next site: crystal clear picture.. But he won’t move, cause he likes the first site, but needs his cable.. Arghhh !!! (also.. On the bigger RVs, the tvs are built in, where it’s really hard to get access to the backside, and connect a wire directly– or see if there’s a loose one. )
I’m thinking of just cutting off my whole cable system, because most people use the internet anyways.. They have things like firestick or roku, where they can watch a lot of tv channels, directly over the internet..
John, I understand your frustration. It seems like this is one area where RV manufacturers need to improve. Campers should come with better instructions, like maybe a easy to follow sticker by the TV or cable connection.
I have tried the Roku thing, but found it to be difficult unless you have a WiFi hotspot that is always on and connected to the Roku.
Thanks,
Jason
Last couple of trips in our rv the cable reception hasn’t been very good. Thought maybe it was the campground. This trip we tried running the cable directly from the outside hookup, through the window, and to the TV. Much better reception and more channels. Does this mean that we need to replace the cable wiring inside the rv? Could mice have damaged the cable?
Forgot to mention we have a 2017 Fun Finder model 21RB.
It could be mice, but most likely a connection is loose. If you can remove the wall plates where the cable comes into the camper and where the TV connects I would start there and look for loose connections on the back side of the plates.
Hope that helps,
Jason
Hi Jason,
You saved us. We were at an RV campground trying to set up a TV to cable for the first time. After two hours of pulling out hair, we found your article on line with a google search and you guided us to getting our new TV to work.
We r so grateful!!!
Dave & Suzy
Hi there,
I had a cake box (provided by campground) and plugged cable from post into outside outlet – then hooked up cable box inside (wire from incoming cable jack to cable box then to tv) everything worked fine.
Moved to a different campground today and have cable at the post but no cable box provided by campground as it is not required… I’ve tried hooking up and running auto scan for channels with booster switch off and then on and still nothing… I know that my cable connections all work in fifth wheel as I was using it another campground this morning(albeit with a cable box).
Any suggestions? Or is it just time to actually camp in my camper and not watch tv? 🙂
We purchased a 1997 Winne brave the couple my parents purchased it from only used it once. So he was not really good for questions. We took it for a couple of days to figure out the little things about it,. I had scanned the over the air channels while it was parked at my parents house and got a couple of channels to work. Then we bought a 50 foot coax cable because I saw the campground had cable hook ups. when we got there nothing worked. The Motorhome had one older vizio tv above the driver seats and I have no access behind it. The place that the coax cable hooks up to is behind the rear view mirror. My parents are older and they will camp about once or twice a year and they will always stay where they have full hook ups. There is a switch by where the coax cable hooks up When I switch the lever it turns lights up red. I tried to hook up the coax cable to where it comes out of the wall in the house before it goes into the wally and drug the cable out to the motorhome and hooked it up. It did not work, should I have connected it to the Wally (cable box) They will just not use this enough to justify spending 300 or 400 on extra equipment. I just don’t know how else to help them.