Entertainment Center Upgrade

[Colorado__5]

Has anyone ever attempted to upgrade their old analog entertainment center to a digital format? I have a 2003 Winnebago Minnie with it's original entertainment center in it. Needless to say the thing does not work. I attempted to connect the original antenna to an led flat screen and it would not receive any signal.

All wiring is coax cabling which is not compatible with the hdmi connections on the tv. We also have a small tv in the back bedroom that has a coax running to the front of the RV that when switched used to send signal to the rear tv for viewing.

I'm curious if anyone knows if I can pull an hdmi cable through the walls to the rear of the RV using the coax cable as the snake.

Also anyone that has attempted to upgrade their RV please chime in on things you did, things that worked and things you would do different.

Here is a picture of the Entertainment Center.

Click For Full-Size Image.

[Darryl_Rita]

I'm curious if anyone knows if I can pull an hdmi cable through the walls to the rear of the RV using the coax cable as the snake.

Wireless HDMI.

[colliehauler]

The range on mine seems about 30-35 miles. I seen the old tv is why I asked.

[Colorado__5]

Here's a question. What kind of range does an RV antenna have?

[Colorado__5]

colliehauler wrote:
Are you trying to get a signal with a new digital TV or your old analogy tv? If you are trying your old tv there are no longer channels to receive.

Nope I knew that much. Yes the old TV that is in the picture is an old 2003 analog. The previous owner had a analog to digital converter box hooked up but I could figure out for the life of me if it was right. The TV I'm trying to hook up to it now is brand new.

[Colorado__5]

DFord wrote:
If I remember right, the coax to the antenna should have a connector at the antenna. Climb up there and disconnect it and the cable where it goes into the back of the wall plate. Then ohm it to make sure it isn't shorted. Then short it and test the other end again to see if you can read the short through the cable. If the cable is good, you could use a set of rabbit ears to the TV and see if they'll pull in any stations. If that works, connect them to the cable at the antenna on the roof and bypass the wall plate with the other end straight to the TV and see if you can still do a successful channel scan. Prove the cable is good before condemning the antenna.

That's a good point... I was on the roof last weekend and yes there is a coax that connects to the antenna and then to a connection in the roof. But they are showing their age and looking rather brittle. So it very well could be the cable. Thanks Dford.

[Colorado__5]

philh wrote:
Assuming you scanned for OTA signals?

Drive to a better reception area. I get a ton of channels on my B&S house, but the antenna is sitting 35 feet off the ground. In my driveway, I only pick up a few with the TT.

See that's what I'm wondering... I wonder if I need to be 35' off the ground in order to receive anything. Not sure what ota or tt is though.

[colliehauler]

Colorado #5 wrote:
RoyB,

I hadn't thought of using the air ducts as a way to run the length of the RV that is genius. And I hadn't thought of running under either. But this Bluetooth thing sounds interesting. I'm going to do some more looking into that. Do you know if this Bluetooth will also send signal from the antenna as well as the blue-ray?

DFord,

I think I had pushed the little button and the green light was on next to it . I have a picture of it somewhere. If I find it I'll post it. For me the biggest issue is figuring out if I'm even getting a signal. I have the coax connect to the tv and I run an automatic scan and it comes up with NOTHING. Not a single channel. So does that mean I need the antenna higher maybe or a stronger antenna or something? I thought maybe it was because it was old but if you're saying that shouldn't matter than I'm perplexed. You would think I would at least get one channel. or a couple fuzzy channels.

Are you trying to get a signal with a new digital TV or your old analogy tv? If you are trying your old tv there are no longer channels to receive.

[DFord]

If I remember right, the coax to the antenna should have a connector at the antenna. Climb up there and disconnect it and the cable where it goes into the back of the wall plate. Then ohm it to make sure it isn't shorted. Then short it and test the other end again to see if you can read the short through the cable. If the cable is good, you could use a set of rabbit ears to the TV and see if they'll pull in any stations. If that works, connect them to the cable at the antenna on the roof and bypass the wall plate with the other end straight to the TV and see if you can still do a successful channel scan. Prove the cable is good before condemning the antenna.

[philh]

Assuming you scanned for OTA signals?

Drive to a better reception area. I get a ton of channels on my B&S house, but the antenna is sitting 35 feet off the ground. In my driveway, I only pick up a few with the TT.

[Colorado__5]

DFord wrote:
For whatever reason, I'd say the signal from the antenna isn't reaching your TV. If it was, a channel scan should find something even if you can't view it.

Well that's what I thought that's why I'm here. Could the antenna connections corrode enough to inhibit signal getting through? Or could my amplifier be bad? I don't know how to trouble shoot this. Don't even know where to start.

[DFord]

For whatever reason, I'd say the signal from the antenna isn't reaching your TV. If it was, a channel scan should find something even if you can't view it.

[Colorado__5]

DFord wrote:

Colorado#5 wrote:
You would think I would at least get one channel. or a couple fuzzy channels.

That's a major disappointment with me and digital signals. You can't receive weak signals. You either get a good picture or none at all.

My house is in a poor signal area behind a hill just outside of St Louis. I tried a small antenna to see if I could get anything and I did sort of. The picture would be there one second with a signal strength of 75 and the next second, no picture at all and zero signal strength. There is no such thing as fuzzy with digital signals - they pixelate once in awhile but no snow. I figured I just needed a bigger antenna so I literally quadrupled the size and was surprised to find no noticeable improvement at all even after adding an amplifier - but channel scan does find several stations many of which won't come in at all.

So it's one of two issues. One... No signal strong enough to register on the autoscan or two... my antenna isn't working. Is that a safe assumption?

[DFord]

Colorado#5 wrote:
You would think I would at least get one channel. or a couple fuzzy channels.

That's a major disappointment with me and digital signals. You can't receive weak signals. You either get a good picture or none at all.

My house is in a poor signal area behind a hill just outside of St Louis. I tried a small antenna to see if I could get anything and I did sort of. The picture would be there one second with a signal strength of 75 and the next second, no picture at all and zero signal strength. There is no such thing as fuzzy with digital signals - they pixelate once in awhile but no snow. I figured I just needed a bigger antenna so I literally quadrupled the size and was surprised to find no noticeable improvement at all even after adding an amplifier - but channel scan does find several stations many of which won't come in at all.

[Colorado__5]

colliehauler wrote:

mmccray100 wrote:

As for using the old coax to "fish" new cable from back to front, it's probably not possible. The manuf. likely bundles several cables with zip ties.

^^^This is correct.

I was afraid of that. Thanks Mmccray100