I am not sure that I have the installation correct.. so if someone can clarify for me.I took off the old batwing antenna and I have disconnected the coax from the antenna head to the existing Winegard booster switch on the wall. I installed the Jack antenna and plugged in the Jack booster, then from there I plugged in the SureLock signal finder and then the coax out from there to the back of my HDTV.I am in a location where others are telling me that they are getting 5-8 channels on their batwing antennas, but I am only getting 1 channel... (my batwing was never upgraded to digital, so I replaced it completely with the Jack)I dont have any blue lights coming on the display of the SureLock, just the power light.The Jack antenna booster is plugged in, there is power at the outlet.Should the SureLock be connected directly to the coax from the antenna and then the Jack booster ? Or should the Jack booster be connected directly to the coax from the antenna and then the SureLock.I am getting one channel 08THanks for any and all assistance to get this working for me.Bill

Is the red light on the Jack head itself on?

The Jack is a direct replacement for the batwing head. You do not need the "Jack booster". It is not a "booster" but a power injector. Put all the wiring back the same as it was for the batwing. Remove the SureLock. Make sure the LED is lit on the Winegard wall plate. The Jack has an LED on the bottom side that indicates that it is getting power but is difficult to see in daylight. Now point the Jack toward the TV transmitter sites. The flat part of the Jack is the front of the antenna not the pointed end. Do a scan on your TV. If all is good, you can now reinstall the SureLock.

I am going to have to wait till dark to know if the red light on the Jack Antenna is on... the sun is just too bright to tell right now.Stay tuned.

Tom_M wrote:The Jack is a direct replacement for the batwing head. You do not need the "Jack booster". It is not a "booster" but a power injector. Put all the wiring back the same as it was for the batwing. Remove the SureLock. Make sure the LED is lit on the Winegard wall plate. The Jack has an LED on the bottom side that indicates that it is getting power but is difficult to see in daylight. Now point the Jack toward the TV transmitter sites. The flat part of the Jack is the front of the antenna not the pointed end. Do a scan on your TV. If all is good, you can now reinstall the SureLock.Correct. The little power supply that comes with the Jack is for use only when you have no power to the existing mast. All you need to do is use the existing coax cable that screws into the batwing, screw that into the Jack and you'll be good to go.

I am in Ontario Canada far from home.. my present location is between Cornwall and Montreal right on the St Lawrence River.. 25 km from Cornwall 90 Km from Montreal and then Ottawa is 125 KM to the North.. Without local knowledge I have no idea were the TV transmitter sites are located but I can try pointing at those locations. To the South of me across the river is Quebec and the USA.

Jack TV antenna head and SureLock signal finder.

LaPlaya
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
I have a temporary fix. A long coax from the head and brought it through the gasket around the slide and to the Power supply for the antenna and then to the Surelock and then to the Tv.

I have bought some new coax and will redo the coax on the mast and try to fish through another piece from the mast base into the overhead cabinet. The mast wil be easy. Not so much the piece from the base into the cupboard. It is not pulling through as if it is stapled in place behind the walls and ceiling.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2014
The OP said the led on the Jack is not on so the head is not getting power.
MNtundraRet
Navigator
Jul 17, 2014
LaPlaya wrote:
I have found that the coax from the wall plug to the roof connection is rotted at the roof connection... where the male end plugs into the female end and then connects to the mast coax... I have to cut back the coax and replace that connector. Then it should work... Fingers crossed.

Coaxial cable connections are always "female". A "male/male" connector must be screwed on the roof connection.
LaPlaya
Explorer
Jul 17, 2014
I have found that the coax from the wall plug to the roof connection is rotted at the roof connection... where the male end plugs into the female end and then connects to the mast coax... I have to cut back the coax and replace that connector. Then it should work... Fingers crossed.
MNtundraRet
Navigator
Jul 17, 2014
LaPlaya wrote:
It is a brand new digital flat screen tv

So?

Did you read the directions and know how to run scans? New sets do not always run scans for both analog and digital signals on a single scan. The menu asks questions: "cable or OTA"?, "digital or analog"?, etc.

When replacing power-injector plate did wires and coaxial-cables get re-installed correctly?
LaPlaya
Explorer
Jul 17, 2014
It is a brand new digital flat screen tv
SCVJeff
Explorer
Jul 17, 2014
LaPlaya wrote:
ok, it is pitch black outside, there is no red light glowing in the dark, so....

next step is to replace the coax from the roof connection to the Jack antenna.
Stupid question: Is the power supply not installed backwards?
Lorne_Lorraine
Explorer
Jul 17, 2014
Channel 8 is an analog station (is your TV set to capture digital signals?) and its transmitter tower is less than 4 miles away from your location so one could probably pick it up without any antenna at all (guess you have discovered that). 8 is an analog repeater station for Ottawa digital channel 4.1.

Based on the signal levels in the TV Fool report and my past experience near your location I would probably be able to get around 9 stations with my batwing so the reports of others receiving 5 to 8 stations with their batwing antennas makes sense.
1775
Explorer
Jul 17, 2014
I have the SureLock. The cable that is now going into the TV should have the SureLock on its end and another cable on SureLock output into the TV. There is a small knob to turn on the SureLock. Read the instructions and turn down the adjustment knob at the top as per the instructions. Then start to turn the antenna. When four LEDs (or as many LEDs will light if in a weak area) you stop turning the direction of the antenna. Then you turn the adjustment knob up until the last light just goes out. Next you slightly adjust the antenna direction a fraction until that LED comes back on. You have now found the best direction for your antenna That should be the signal position to scan the TV at.

From what you have written just above, you are receiving only on the coax and it sounds like the antenna is not connected at all. With Coax alone it is possible to receive strong channels.
LaPlaya
Explorer
Jul 17, 2014
ok, it is pitch black outside, there is no red light glowing in the dark, so....

next step is to replace the coax from the roof connection to the Jack antenna.

the funny thing is I was playing around connecting and disconnecting things... I discovered that just the coax screwed into the back of the antenna and nothing attached at the other end I still can receive the one channel I have been getting all along. Channel 08 a CTV channel out of Ottawa some 100 plus KM away.

Others in the campground are telling me they are getting 5-8 channels on their batwings.

Forum Discussion

Jack TV antenna head and SureLock signal finder.

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