RV Satellite TV Connection

Is This Modification Still Relevant Today?

While the technical steps below remain completely accurate for solving this specific wiring issue, the RV technology landscape has shifted significantly in recent years.

Why this modification is becoming less common:

• Streaming & Starlink:Traditional satellite TV (like Dish Network or DirecTV) is heavily being replaced by streaming. Most RVers today rely on 5G cellular hotspots or Starlink. Because Starlink uses its own proprietary routing cable rather than standard TV coax, this modification is irrelevant for modern internet-based setups.
• Modern RV Manufacturing:Almost all RVs built in the last decade come "Satellite Prepped." The manufacturer has already run a dedicated, unamplified coax cable straight from the exterior to the entertainment center specifically for satellite receivers.
• Smart Antennas:Modern Winegard systems (like the ConnecT or Air 360+) handle OTA TV, Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE all in one dome using entirely different internal wiring paradigms.

Who this guide is still perfectly suited for:

• Older RV Owners:Anyone with an older rig (typically pre-2015) that only features a single "Cable/Antenna" coax input and wants to set up a portable traditional satellite dish (such as a Dish Tailgater or Winegard Carryout).
• DIY Budget Repairers:RVers who buy older, used rigs and want a clean workaround without having to drill new holes through their exterior walls to run a dedicated satellite cable.

The issue comes up quite frequently: can you use the typical antenna distribution system found in many RVs to hook up a satellite receiver? The answer is yes.

First, you need to understand that a satellite receiver supplies D.C. power to the dish through the coax cable running between the receiver and the dish. Secondly, the typical Winegard antenna amplifier will not pass the D.C. voltage through it, making it necessary to perform some modifications in order to use the built-in distribution system.

With this understanding, we can proceed with the modifications necessary to make the satellite system work with what the stock RV system provides.

The Modifications

(These are general instructions; you will have to adapt them to your specific installation.)

Step 1: Access the Antenna AmpFirst, you'll need to get access to the rear of the antenna amp. To do this, remove the screws connecting the wall plate to the wall. You need to cut the coax identified as "cable input" (it should be labeled on the antenna amp box). This is the cable wired to the outside connector for your cable TV feed.

Step 2: Relocate the Connections
The cut needs to be made so you can bring both ends of the cable to an accessible location. This may require you to splice and add some additional coax cable to both ends of the cut. Determine where you want the access point located, and attach both ends of the terminated cable to a new dual coax cable wall plate. Mount this wall plate where you have easy access, and make sure to clearly label which connection goes to the antenna amp and which goes to the outside cable connector.

Step 3: Setup the Standard Jumper (For Normal Use)
You have to decide how you want to make the final connections—either using an A/B switch box or making the connections directly. If you choose direct connections, make up a short coax jumper cable. Attach this jumper between the two connectors on your new wall plate to feed the signal from the outside connection to the antenna amp. This restores the system to work exactly as it did before the modification.

Step 4: Connecting the Satellite Receiver
When you want to use the satellite system, remove the short jumper cable. Run a coax cable from the "To Antenna"connector on the satellite receiver to the wall plate connector that leads to the outside of the RV. Next, run a cable from the "To TV"connector on the receiver to the other connector on the wall plate. Finally, press the "Antenna/Cable" switch on the antenna amp wall plate to the Cableposition.