RV Cable TV Wiring Diagram: 5 Best Connection Options (2024)

A lot of people are confused when installing their Cable TV in an RV. Fortunately, for help comes the RV Cable TV wiring diagram. Read on to learn how to connect Cable TV to your RV, how to check if its TV antenna is wired, and 4 of the most used Wiring Diagrams.

Without further delay, let’s get started!

Working of an RV Cable TV Explained!

Cable service in an RV works very similarly to the normal TV you watch at home.

How do You Connect Your Cable TV to an RV: 5 Steps to Follow

Check if your campsite offers a cable connection. You will require a coaxial cable to connect to your TV. Some campsites will offer it to you but it is recommended that you buy one for yourself. It is recommended to buy a cable of a length of 20 to 50 feet.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make the connection:

Step 1: Connect to the External Connection Box

Many campsites offer cable TV. Making a connection is easily accomplished through the park, RV, or trailer’s external connection box. The cable from the nearby power pole is brought and connected to the connection box.

Step 2: Connect the TV Set to the Internal Connection Box

You should then check that the TV is linked to the set-top box via the internal connection box. Once you’ve confirmed that it is, you may set it up to receive the cable signal from the RV site.

Step 3: Configure your Rooftop Devices

You may have a device on your roof such as a satellite dish which is accompanied by a booster. The booster helps give a stronger signal to your TV. You will need to have a pre-wired connection if you want to hook it up to your RV TV.

Step 4: Pre-Wired Connectors

After you have selected which device to use, you can simply plug in the pre-wired connectors to your rooftop device. Finally, bring your set inside and hook it up to the cable box there. There’s a chance you’ll need to connect a short cable to the booster switch, too.

Step 5: All Satellite/Cable Ready

It is dependent on the wiring scheme already installed in your camper, RV, or trailer. After everything is hooked up, turn on the TV and the booster and adjust the settings and enjoy your TV.

This video will be able to provide you with further help:

TV Coaxial Wiring Diagram

If you want to get both the main TV and the rear TV in your RV working, you need to make sure they are satellite ready. If they are not working, you may need to rework your wiring from the wall plate.

Please view the attached thumbnails of the RV cable TV wiring diagram for reference. A step-by-step guide is provided:

• Remove the plate: Remove the wall plate and you will see that there will be a lot of space to work on the wiring.

• Reroute the cable: The goal is to route the cable from the outside trailer jack to the plate directly. The orange wire you will see is for power and the white one is the ground wire.

• Add additional jacks: You will need to add 2 additional feedthrough jacks. A cable loop will also be added to allow a connection to the existing cable input on the splitters.

• Add a jumper: Once the 2 jacks are added, add a small jumper to allow the use of a cable at a campsite.

• Make the connection: The new wall plate is ready. To run the satellite now, connect the top right jack to it. And if you want to watch TV elsewhere, maybe on your bedroom TV, then connect the second TV out from the satellite to the top left jack and make sure the power switch is off on the wallplate.

How Can You Know If Your RV’s TV Antenna is Wired?

If you are experiencing poor or loss of TV signals, it may be that your TV antenna is the cause of the problem. It may not be wired properly or there might be some other issue. Thankfully, fixing it is relatively easier. By following our instructions you will be able to do it without any professional help.

Read on to learn about 2 Troubleshooting guides with step-by-step instructions. If the first guide does not fix the problem, then more than likely the second one will.

Cable/Sat Wiring Discovery

If you are unable to see a picture, you may be using the wrong connections. The wiring is routed through the amplifier. Because of this, you can’t use the cable with the amp on. There must be a separate path taken for the satellite cables:

1. They can’t pass through anything, or otherwise, the quality of the signal will be compromised and you won’t be able to see anything.
2. The cable must go straight from the satellite dish to the set-top box. No RV cable circuit will allow it to function. A satellite prep connector on the outside of the TV antenna must be used instead of the cable in the connector because it is on a different circuit.
3. In the absence of a dedicated satellite in the circuit, it is necessary to run coax directly from the dish to the receiver, without using the RV coax in between.

Most Commonly Used TV Wiring Diagrams for an RV

Each RV manufacturer builds their unique versions of RVs and trailers with unique floor plans, furniture, appliances, and so on. This implies that the advice we give here might work for some, but not all RVs or trailers.

We will provide you with 4 of the most highly used Diagrams to date to help give you a better understanding of how the wiring system in your RV works.

Forest River RV Cable Wiring Diagram

This originally posted diagram by Forest River for their RV is very complicated and will be nearly impossible to be understood by anyone other than a professional.

Keystone RV Cable TV Wiring Diagram

It would appear that Keystone publishes wiring pictures for each of its trailers. A generic diagram is easy to locate, but it could not fit your RV or trailer. Have a look at the diagram. It is easy to understand and follow.

Jayco RV Cable TV Wiring Diagram

There appear to be more informational web pages about Jaycos products and the wiring system. Searching for something as basic as an RV TV diagram returns numerous results. This is only one of many resources available to you.

This is an extremely easy-to-understand diagram. Again, it is recommended that you contact local Jayco dealers or the manufacturer directly to learn more about the specifics of purchasing a manual for your model.

Fifth Wheel RV Cable TV Wiring Diagram

Fifth Wheel trailers are difficult since they are produced by many different RV companies, each with its unique quality standards. A consistent wiring setup is not guaranteed across all models. But, many of the floor plans we’ve seen place the TVs near the hitch posts.

This was the case for the front-living room Fifth Wheel trailers, and it might be the case for other designs as well.

Locating the Booster Antenna Switch

Here’s how to locate the antenna switch:

Checking the Campground’s Cable Signal

If your RV park offers cable services, you must check to see if the cable signal is strong enough. If not, an amplifier or booster may be needed. Here is how to check the signal:

FAQ

Conclusion

We have learned about the RV cable tv wiring diagram, how cable TV operates in an RV, and figured out how to connect it properly. You have to make sure the wiring is connected properly, as even one flaw in the system can cause the TV to not work.

You can also connect 2 TVs at once by modifying the wall plate as the 4 most used RV cable diagrams are here to help you. A diagram TV coaxial wiring diagram is also shown to help you identify the correct position to connect the wires.

Have you ever faced an issue while connecting the wire and was our article helpful? Let us know in the comments section.