TV reception?

jjjandrbaker wrote:
This may sound stupid, but ask a neighbor if there is any TV over the air where you are. Several of the places I go just don't get a signal no matter what. I have a buddy who had a problem like this on his first trip. He waited until he was home and tested it in the city.when it still didn't work, he knew there was a problem.

I remember a little spot, oops talking about Texas, I mean I remember a big spot in Texas that I couldn't even get a AM radio signal. Some spot called Big Bend.

This may sound stupid, but ask a neighbor if there is any TV over the air where you are. Several of the places I go just don't get a signal no matter what. I have a buddy who had a problem like this on his first trip. He waited until he was home and tested it in the city.when it still didn't work, he knew there was a problem.

12v at the antenna is good, that powers the amplifier. You can't bypass this by using coax directly from the TV to the antenna. TV menu may have a choice of something like NTCS or PAL formats, pick NTCS. Make sure the A/B switch is in the correct position.

Each time you move the antenna you'll need to rescan for channels. You can skip scanning for cable or analog channels. You'll only be looking for OTA (Over The Air) digital signals.

If there are other TV antennas in the area, look to see which way they are pointed.

My old TT the pointing indicator on the inside ring of the rotator matched the direction the antenna. My 5er, I still haven't figured out how it's pointing.

I have everything that I believe I should have installed.

Installed is the switching box (the one with all the buttons).

Wall plate with 12 vdc to it and the 3 coax connections behind it (2 are hooked up, 1 to the antenna and 1 to what the instructions say to the 2nd tv).

I have 12vdc at the coax end (at the antenna).

The A and B switching box.

The tv is a newer tv (20" LCD).

I have the antenna up and rotated in all directions.

I did the channel scan in antenna and cable with no hits.

What am I missing?

First: You need a DIGITAL ATSC receiver, these are the newer ones, if it is the old nearly square screen it won't get tv today in nearly all of the US without a converter in front of it like mine have.

Second. You have either a box with many buttons, or a wall plate with one button or switch, a LIGHT, a 12 volt outlet and an antenna fitting.. This must be working (the light on)

Things I have come across, NOTE that I am a certified electronics technician but do not work (officially) in that field, I'm not an RV repair (or TV repair) guy.. This is either my own motor home or a fellow campers.

1: The wall plate I just mentioned had absolute no coax hooked to it's backside. Thus no anything, No cable, No Over the air, NOTHING.

2: Bad cable to roof

3: Blown fuse (no 12 volt to wall plate or BOMB (Box of many buttons))

4: Device installed between Wall Plate or BOMB and antenna (Only one device is approved for such install and then only with the BOMB, that device is the wall plate, either the regular one or the Sensar Pro from Winegard)

Things I have not (yet) seen:

Bad wall plate (or BOMB) (See note)

Bad antenna (Have heard of it though)

On the box of many buttons.. I have seen dirty switches.. To fix, turn off POWER

then press each button, like 50 times.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
The antenna has to be 'aimed' at the tv transponder towers.....signal is directional...

the signal is omni-directional, the antenna is not.

And you need to tell the TV to search for channels too. Also have to turn on power to the batwing.

Click below for a thread that will probably help you....Dennis

Batwing Reception

The antenna will need to be powered up from the distribution center somewhere in your coach. Should have an on/off button. Also, the over the air is all digital now, so tv may need a converter.