TV Antenna vs Cable Operation

[turbojimmy]

Potentially stupid question here. I have tons of manuals that came with my RV but none describe how the Antenna (roof mounted) vs. Cable input should work.

I had a 250-foot spool of RG6 laying around (doesn't everyone?) so I made a 50' cable to run from the front of the RV (where the "CABLE TV" input is) to the post at most campgrounds. Tried it this past weekend. It didn't work. Actually the cable worked when plugged directly into the TV, but there does not appear to be any distribution happening in the RV since when I plugged it into the aforementioned "CABLE TV" jack, it didn't work. I have a jack up front and one in the bedroom - neither appeared to be working. The jack up front has a switch. If you flick it one way, a red light comes on. Flick it the other way, no red light.

What is this switch? I assume it's to switch between antenna and cable? Which does the red light indicate?

[turbojimmy]

Is this what I need?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Winegard-RV-7012-Wall-Plate-12-VDC-RV-POWER-SUPPLY-12VDC-8-AMP-MAX-ANTENNA-C...

It says that it does not include the amplifier. How do I know whether my existing one has an amplifier, or that my antenna is amplified? It has a switch and red LED on it. This one evidently sends 12V to the antenna.

Or does it not even matter because the antenna is so old (1984)? Everything is digital now anyway, right? Maybe i just run the cable up there, install a splitter for the rear and call it a day.

[turbojimmy]

I took the jack down and it only has 2 jacks on it. One coming from the antenna and the other running to the back of the RV. The Cable TV input must have been installed later on by the PO.

So...I could get a jack like the one in the pic with 2 outputs and 2 inputs. Or I could just put the TV up front, but it would be nice to have the option to have it in the back as well. Again, it's an OLD rig so I travel with the TV in the closet for now. Wayyyyy down on the to-do list is a modern a/v system like I installed in my limo.

[Roman_Duck]

turbojimmy wrote:
Okay - I feel a little silly now. I started by tracing the cable from where it enters the RV. I didn't get far. The cable is curled up under the dash and has a standard cable connector on the end of it. It's long - obviously meant to be unraveled from under the dash.

I *think* the "CABLE TV" jack on the outside, therefore, is aftermarket - which is why there is no explanation in the manual.

BUT - I have a plate and switch that looks just like the one in the picture. I'm going to pull it out and see if there's 3 coax inputs on it.

The cable is close in proximity to the aforementioned jack/switch. I wonder if I hook the CATV cable up to the jack whether the signal would then appear in the back? Or would I tear a hole in the fabric of the universe?

There's a tool on the market for tracing out cable wires you place remote sensors at one end of the cable (it comes with 4 sensors, marked by color, then attached the tool and it will light up each color sensor by a light lamp corresponding to sensors color. Found the tool at home depot, in the electric dept. made by klien tools Had similar issues myself. For the 25.00 it's well worth it

[Dutch_12078]

Duplicate info removed.

[wa8yxm]

IF you did not buy the RV new.. Many times the prior owner may have re-tasked that park cable lead for Sat TV use as teh LNB cable,, Frankly this is not a good idea, but if that happens and you have the wall plate.. See above posts for how to re-connect it.

IF you have a box of many buttons.. The connectors on the back should be labeled... Just had a poster in another forum who found the wires connected wrong.

For that matter,,, In a different panel (The back side of the tv itself) on my coach it came from the factory wired wrong. As it happens. I'm trained in how to hook it up RIGHT. Side note 2... I would, at a guess, thing that around one in ten RVers likely has enough training to do it right, if not more.

[Johno02]

The picture above is how it should work. In reality, About the only way to find out is to trace each cable from one end to the other. Many folke run an extra line from a outside connector into the connection on the switch. Sometimes the manufacturer will install a short coax from the switch to a more accessable point. Who knows? Everyone seems to have a better solution, and their own ideas about how they want it connected. The basic principal is very simple, trust humans to make it complicated/

[turbojimmy]

Okay - I feel a little silly now. I started by tracing the cable from where it enters the RV. I didn't get far. The cable is curled up under the dash and has a standard cable connector on the end of it. It's long - obviously meant to be unraveled from under the dash.

I *think* the "CABLE TV" jack on the outside, therefore, is aftermarket - which is why there is no explanation in the manual.

BUT - I have a plate and switch that looks just like the one in the picture. I'm going to pull it out and see if there's 3 coax inputs on it.

The cable is close in proximity to the aforementioned jack/switch. I wonder if I hook the CATV cable up to the jack whether the signal would then appear in the back? Or would I tear a hole in the fabric of the universe?

[Old-Biscuit]

Switch plate for TV
With LED ON indicates 12V DC power to antenna head/amplifier...this is for when using antenna

With LED OFF indicates 'cable'


TV needs to have input set to 'air' for antenna and changed to 'cable' when using a cable hook up

The you have to scan for available channels


2 outside coax connections are for TV(s)
Center coax is for cable


LED ON...for TV Turn OFF for cable

[jplante4]

Mine is on the switch plate in the front of the bus where the front TV cable plugs in. Mine has a push button type switch -in/on, -out/off. It took me a few minutes of reading the schematics and fishing around to find it. When it's in antenna boost (light on), the cable is off.

[turbojimmy]

Thanks both for your posts. I don't have an entertainment center - it's a really old rig (I was surprised it had a cable TV input, actually). I thought there might have to be a switch somewhere for the antenna vs. cable - it only makes sense. I'll have to look a little harder.

[VintageRacer]

Usually it is the amplifier for the tv antenna. There should be a switch somewhere to switch between the antenna and the cable. They need to be separate, they can't be in parallel so there has to be a switch.

Brian

[rgatijnet1]

Do you have an entertainment center that has switching capabilities to switch to different antenna inputs? Many coaches have the entertainment switching box that acts as a distribution center for the various coax inputs.
The switch with the red light is the amplifier for your crank-up antenna.