Finding DirecTV Coax Cable

[Yellowboat_]

In our new coach Winnebago directed one line out from our satellite antenna to the front of our coach and the other line out to the rear bedroom.

I would like to identify the coax running from the antenna to the rear bedroom so that I can redirect it to the front to connect to my DirecTV satellite box.

I have access to a bundle of coax wires and I'm trying to identify the wire running from the antenna to the bedroom outlet. I tried using ohms to check continuity on the outer shield wire. I find that all cables show continuity even when I have disconnected both ends of the coax. There must be a connection and a ground somewhere in the coax wire system.

Does anyone have a method of identifying coax cables in the middle of a run?

[Yellowboat_]

I never could find the satellite antenna coaxial cable. I tried a signal generator but it only worked at the the end of the coaxial cable and I needed to find the cable in the middle of the run. I also tried a 9 volt battery and I found two cables with a charge. I traced both cables to the switch box and neither cable had the correct color codes.

So, yesterday I ran a cable from the bedroom, under the coach, and up the windshield post to the area of my satellite receiver. I tested it and it works.

In the bedroom I changed the single cable outlet to a double. I then connected a switch box allowing me to send the signal forward or allow a connection in the bed room.

I also ran a cable from the outside cable/satellite connections to add a second connection to my DirecTV satellite box from my portable satellite antenna. The two cables were ran together under my coach.

I will connect the two cables from my portable satellite antenna and the two cables from my roof mounted satellite antenna to two switch boxes like the one in our bedroom. A: on both switch boxes will connect to the roof antenna and B: on both switch boxes will connect to the portable satellite antenna.

I have to add tie wraps under our coach to make sure everything is secure but it is raining today. Safe travels. JD

[Bobbo]

Yellowboat. wrote:
In our new coach Winnebago directed one line out from our satellite antenna to the front of our coach and the other line out to the rear bedroom.

I would like to identify the coax running from the antenna to the rear bedroom so that I can redirect it to the front to connect to my DirecTV satellite box.

I have access to a bundle of coax wires and I'm trying to identify the wire running from the antenna to the bedroom outlet. I tried using ohms to check continuity on the outer shield wire. I find that all cables show continuity even when I have disconnected both ends of the coax. There must be a connection and a ground somewhere in the coax wire system.

Does anyone have a method of identifying coax cables in the middle of a run?

This is the original post. The VERY FIRST ONE. Read what I have made red.

[Bill_Satellite]

The way the OP reads I think he might well be trying to find a break in the cable and if so, that's means finding the middle of a coax in hope that he could find the break. However, a tone generator would likely not find the location of the break but it could identify which coax is which somewhere between the 2 ends if you can't just move the coax around from one end and see which one moves. The problem I have seen with the tone generators is that they can send the tone down multiple cables if they are bundled together making it easy to misidentify the right cable.

[kellertx5er]

Yellowboat. wrote:
In our new coach Winnebago directed one line out from our satellite antenna to the front of our coach and the other line out to the rear bedroom.

I would like to identify the coax running from the antenna to the rear bedroom so that I can redirect it to the front to connect to my DirecTV satellite box.

I have access to a bundle of coax wires and I'm trying to identify the wire running from the antenna to the bedroom outlet. I tried using ohms to check continuity on the outer shield wire. I find that all cables show continuity even when I have disconnected both ends of the coax. There must be a connection and a ground somewhere in the coax wire system.

Does anyone have a method of identifying coax cables in the middle of a run?

"...I'm trying to identify the wire running from the antenna to the bedroom outlet."

Sounds to me like a cable that is clearly terminated on both ends. I'll take Bill's side.

[Bobbo]

Guys, guys, guys, he is trying to identify the cable in the MIDDLE of the run. You are all having him identify the ends of the cables. To identify the MIDDLE of the cable, a signal generator is the only non-invasive way.

And, yes, a signal generator will identify the coax in the middle of the run.

www.amazon.com

[Hoosier_Cruiser]

Harbor Freight sells a set of colored coax endcaps and tester for about $20 more or less. I have had mine for a couple of years, so I do not remember actual cost. Just disconnect coax cables and put on an endcaps. Go to the other end of cable and connect tester. Color of light will indicate which endcap is on the other end.

[sch911]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
You don't care about your over-air-air cables or the associated booster as the satellite antenna has separate dedicated runs. Assuming that you actually do see 2 separate coax cables (plus a power cable) leaving the antenna on the roof, you can disconnect one coax on the roof and jam a piece of aluminum foil into the gap which will span the center conductor and the outside collar. Now, go inside with your multi-meter and look for a coax with a dead short. Once you have that coax, repeat the process on the 2nd roof antenna output. You now have both cables and you can do with them as you please. There are, of course, tools available to do the same thing (power at 1 end and signal at the other) but this is the "less than $1" solution.

C'mon everyone! Bill's method is the easiest and cheapest way to tell which cable is which. I do this all the time. Some of the other suggestions are well just plain out there....

[Specularius]

Pick up a 50 foot spool of 20 gauge wire. Put an alligator clip on one end of the wire and clip it to the nut of the wire you want to splice. Pull the 20 gauge wire to where you want to splice. Scrape a small piece of the insulation off the suspected cable to expose the shield. Use your multi-meter to check continuity between the 20 gauge wire and the exposed shield. You may need to disconnect all ends of both cables to prevent common grounds from giving you a false positive.

[rockylarson]

If all else fails I would take the 50/50 chance (my luck it would be the wrong one) and cut one. The worst that could happen is I would have to repair two ends and use a coax connector. Doubt if that would harm the wrong coax enough to notice. Good Luck.

On second thought, is there a way to do a splice on one of the two in the middle and then make the switch in connections at both ends of the two coax (if the wrong one was cut) so the correct one becomes the spliced run?

[Beverley_Ken]

Winnebago don't have the 2016 diagrams on line yet, but here's the link to the 2015 diagrams. If you scroll through the site, it will tell you the colours and codes they have printed on all wires. Also diagrams to tell roughly where they run. If the 16 is much different than the 15, phone Winnebago
Winnebago wiring

Winnebago Resources

Ken

[Bill_Satellite]

You don't care about your over-air-air cables or the associated booster as the satellite antenna has separate dedicated runs. Assuming that you actually do see 2 separate coax cables (plus a power cable) leaving the antenna on the roof, you can disconnect one coax on the roof and jam a piece of aluminum foil into the gap which will span the center conductor and the outside collar. Now, go inside with your multi-meter and look for a coax with a dead short. Once you have that coax, repeat the process on the 2nd roof antenna output. You now have both cables and you can do with them as you please. There are, of course, tools available to do the same thing (power at 1 end and signal at the other) but this is the "less than $1" solution.

[DutchmenSport]

Your non-satellite wires are all connected through the over-the-air antenna power booster. You may not be able to separate them out, unless you disconnect everything inside the booster.

[Yellowboat_]

donn0128 wrote:
Simplest? Signal generator and tracer.

Can I use a signal generator and tracer to find the middle of a line. I have both ends but I need to find the wire in a bundle.

I have disconnected all of the lines from the switch box and I get continuity on only two cables. I have a 50/50 chance of splicing the correct cable.

[donn0128]

Simplest? Signal generator and tracer.