cable splitter location

[EgorKC]

We have a 2013 Forest River Wildcat Rear Living 5th wheel. Cable TV has never worked great but has been much worse the last 4-5 years, If I run Cable from Campground post direct through window to any TV reception is perfect. Through the main 5er cable input it is very snowy. I replaced the Antenna power boost outlet and removed all 4 of the Cable hookups and verified a tight connection. I also checked the main Cable input to verify tight. No change in snow. None of these have a splitter connected to the cable. I pulled all lines out as far as they had slack and no splitter. I then removed every access panel in the main trailer and basement to look for a main cable splitter. NO luck. There has to be one somewhere as this trailer has 1 cable inlet and 4 cable outlets. Does anyone have any idea where it could be? I will contact Forest River but my understanding from research is that RV's are wired based on the whim of the crew that given day. Thus I expect no real help there. We can use antenna reception but DW prefers the cable variety. Hoping to get help narrowing down the hunt.

Greg

[dougcandlin]

Try any from ***Link Removed***this list it should do the task.

[Lynnmor]

Dave H M wrote:


My cable will not work worth a flip if the antenna booster is turned on.

Funny how connecting the cable helps in receiving signals. Yes, the switch chooses with source is connected.

[EgorKC]

Dave H M: I did not need to as I only turn the antenna booster on when using air. I believe the flaw was in the booster module itself since the same wire that carries air signals carries cable signals. The module carries both signals. There must have been a stray strand of wire that interfered with the cable. All wiring except that booster module is original and now 3 TV's have very good cable reception.
Greg

[Dave_H_M]

Greg, did you try Me Again's suggestion.

My cable will not work worth a flip if the antenna booster is turned on.

[EgorKC]

Update: Replaced the Antenna Boost which also has Cable connections to it. Have now stayed in 2 RV parks that we have not historically had great cable reception on more than one channel. Multiple trips to both with poor results. Both locations we had good air reception when on Antenna. Now we have excellent cable on one and near excellent on the other. In addition our outdoor TV has Very good cable when it had very poor in the past. I believe the splitter is located behind the fireplace but did not pursue once the new antenna boost solved the issue.
Greg

[sdfiver]

I would think any hidden splitters would be after the antenna signal booster switch, wouldn't they? If you have good, clear picture while using antenna it would seem that the park cable to the booster would be the culprit. Shouldn't be any splitters on that length of cable. If this is true then the ends on that park cable might need replacing as others mentioned.

[Me_Again]

EgorKC wrote:

Me Again wrote:
Could you explain where each of the four outlets are located?

1. Bedroom (direct from the Antenna power boost outlet)
2. Living room (main TV in street side wall)
3. Outside Kitchen (in ceiling)
4. ??????? (Outdoor sidewall to left of entry door)

Since the Living room, Outdoor Kitchen and Outside sidewall all feed off of the connection at the power boost there must be a splitter. The Bedroom one has always had the best picture it has Never really been as clear as when hooked directly to the Park Cable connection. The others are worse. I have removed and tightened each of these. Ends feel and appear to be crimped well but I will replace if the splitter proves to be ok.
Greg

When in a metropolitan area you should have crystal clear HD pictures on your TVs from the roof antenna. If not, they you can work on the system without the need for a cable hookup.

If the bedroom TV does not have a good cable picture, I would replace the ends on that run for the docking station to the power supply first. Chris

[EgorKC]

Me Again wrote:
Could you explain where each of the four outlets are located?

1. Bedroom (direct from the Antenna power boost outlet)
2. Living room (main TV in street side wall)
3. Outside Kitchen (in ceiling)
4. ??????? (Outdoor sidewall to left of entry door)

Since the Living room, Outdoor Kitchen and Outside sidewall all feed off of the connection at the power boost there must be a splitter. The Bedroom one has always had the best picture it has Never really been as clear as when hooked directly to the Park Cable connection. The others are worse. I have removed and tightened each of these. Ends feel and appear to be crimped well but I will replace if the splitter proves to be ok.
Greg

[Me_Again]

Could you explain where each of the four outlets are located?

1. Bedroom
2. Living room
3. Outside Kitchen
4. ???????

[EgorKC]

Fire19 wrote:
Have you tried replacing the end of the coax connection? I was also having issues and the person at the factory that crimped the cable did not do a good job. When I replaced both ends behind the wall plate I got much better signal.

Will try after I locate and replace splitter if that does not solve it. In our experience with cable splitters are usually the culprit. Thanks for the thought tho.
Greg

[EgorKC]

Me Again wrote:

EgorKC wrote:
We have a 2013 Forest River Wildcat Rear Living 5th wheel. Cable TV has never worked great but has been much worse the last 4-5 years, If I run Cable from Campground post direct through window to any TV reception is perfect. Through the main 5er cable input it is very snowy. I replaced the Antenna power boost outlet and removed all 4 of the Cable hookups and verified a tight connection. I also checked the main Cable input to verify tight. No change in snow. None of these have a splitter connected to the cable. I pulled all lines out as far as they had slack and no splitter. I then removed every access panel in the main trailer and basement to look for a main cable splitter. NO luck. There has to be one somewhere as this trailer has 1 cable inlet and 4 cable outlets. Does anyone have any idea where it could be? I will contact Forest River but my understanding from research is that RV's are wired based on the whim of the crew that given day. Thus I expect no real help there. We can use antenna reception but DW prefers the cable variety. Hoping to get help narrowing down the hunt.

Greg

I have to ask a basic question. You are turning off the OTA antenna booster when connected to park cable? (Yes)

When you say 4 cable outlets, does that mean at four different locations in the trailer? Or two each at two locations? If two each at two locations, there is probably a SAT input somewhere that you are missing. (4 individual cable outlets none of which are loose or have any splitter connected when I pull out as much cable as the play allows. No outlets are marked SAT.)

Might be time to buy a coax compression tool and some ends, and replace crimped ends with the newer compression ends. (Will do only after I locate and replace the splitter. Our experience with cable in multiple locations has been splitters are the culprit.)

https://www.amazon.com/Crimper-Compression-Stripper-Gaobige-connectors/dp/B073TWL5G4/ref=asc_df_B073...

The OTA antenna power supply/booster has a splitter built into it. So the three connections on the back are: (Already replaced with Identical unit the Winegard came with.)

1. OTA Antenna
2. Cable in
3. Output (Antenna or Cable, depending on switch on or off)

Front connection also gets switched between OTA Antenna and cable via the power button. A good test would be to hook up to cable and install a cable from the front outlet to the main TV if the power/supply booster is in the bedroom. That would islolate the problem as before or after the power supply.




In many cases, they put a splitter on the 2nd TV output and it is in the wall behind the power supply. You say you already looked there however.

I would think that by 2013 just about all trailers had sat cables installed OEM. Thanks for the ideas. I am now certain it must be behind the Electric Fireplace and will check there next trip. Unit is in storage now.
(Thanks for the ideas. I will remove Fireplace and check behind it. I suspect that is where I will find it.)
Chris

[Me_Again]

EgorKC wrote:
We have a 2013 Forest River Wildcat Rear Living 5th wheel. Cable TV has never worked great but has been much worse the last 4-5 years, If I run Cable from Campground post direct through window to any TV reception is perfect. Through the main 5er cable input it is very snowy. I replaced the Antenna power boost outlet and removed all 4 of the Cable hookups and verified a tight connection. I also checked the main Cable input to verify tight. No change in snow. None of these have a splitter connected to the cable. I pulled all lines out as far as they had slack and no splitter. I then removed every access panel in the main trailer and basement to look for a main cable splitter. NO luck. There has to be one somewhere as this trailer has 1 cable inlet and 4 cable outlets. Does anyone have any idea where it could be? I will contact Forest River but my understanding from research is that RV's are wired based on the whim of the crew that given day. Thus I expect no real help there. We can use antenna reception but DW prefers the cable variety. Hoping to get help narrowing down the hunt.

Greg

I have to ask a basic question. You are turning off the OTA antenna booster when connected to park cable?

When you say 4 cable outlets, does that mean at four different locations in the trailer? Or two each at two locations? If two each at two locations, there is probably a SAT input somewhere that you are missing.

Might be time to buy a coax compression tool and some ends, and replace crimped ends with the newer compression ends.

https://www.amazon.com/Crimper-Compression-Stripper-Gaobige-connectors/dp/B073TWL5G4/ref=asc_df_B073...

The OTA antenna power supply/booster has a splitter built into it. So the three connections on the back are:

1. OTA Antenna
2. Cable in
3. Output (Antenna or Cable, depending on switch on or off)

Front connection also gets switched between OTA Antenna and cable via the power button. A good test would be to hook up to cable and install a cable from the front outlet to the main TV if the power/supply booster is in the bedroom. That would islolate the problem as before or after the power supply.




In many cases, they put a splitter on the 2nd TV output and it is in the wall behind the power supply. You say you already looked there however.

I would think that by 2013 just about all trailers had sat cables installed OEM.

Chris

[Fire19]

Have you tried replacing the end of the coax connection? I was also having issues and the person at the factory that crimped the cable did not do a good job. When I replaced both ends behind the wall plate I got much better signal.

[EgorKC]

neschultz wrote:
Not the right year but here’s a List of some locations.

Why not run the cable in thru the satellite connection?

There are no Satellite connections. Just one Cable input located in the compartment with water/backflush inputs and holding tank levers.