Forum Discussion

ECones's avatar
ECones
Explorer
Dec 21, 2016

What's that coax jack for?

We took delivery yesterday of a 2017 Thor ACE 30.1. The television in the living area has a coax cable from the wall to the TV, but there’s another coax jack in the cabinet behind the TV. I’ve noticed that the TV only works on the antenna if the button on that jack is pushed and the light is on. So, I supposed they’re interconnected somehow.

But what’s that empty jack for? I need to connect a DirecTV dish and receiver and wondered if there’s a way to utilize that jack.

Thx
  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Explorer III
    Dec 21, 2016
    On my trailer that is what the 2nd jack is for. It is connected to the outside satellite connector.
    Barney
  • Johno02's avatar
    Johno02
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2016
    Just don't connect your satellite wire there. It won't work. Your salesman didn't show you anything at all???
  • Johno02's avatar
    Johno02
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2016
    Read stuff on this forum. There are many wiring diagrams and explanations for every antenna and satellite wiring.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Dec 21, 2016
    What JACK are you referring too...

    Some are wired like this diagram


    Roy Ken
  • RAS43's avatar
    RAS43
    Explorer III
    Dec 21, 2016
    My trailer has a similar setup. The switch is to power the over-the air antenna on the roof. I'm not sure why the coax goes directly to the tv and not through the panel but that is how mine is wired. That coax won't work for your satellite, you will have to run a separate coax.
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Dec 21, 2016
    The wall plate with the button must be on when you want to watch OTA TV as it powers your roof top antenna. When you power the button off you will be able to get park cable if you are in a campground and have their coax connected to your outside connection marked "cable".
    The coax connection on the front is just another output for a TV but would not be used in your situation. That's just the way the manufacturer sells the product.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Dec 21, 2016
    I was able to use it by running a jumper from the Outside cable connector to the Bedroom TV jack.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2016
    If there are 2 jacks, one is for the batwing / cable jack. The second one is for a external satellite dish. Satellite systems will not work going through the regular batwing/cable wire, the power booster, and all that. Most satellite systems need a direct line from the dish outside to the receiver inside. That second line is just a straight line, outside the camper to inside the camper.

    (or just stick your satellite wire through a window)
  • ECones's avatar
    ECones
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2016
    Johno02 wrote:
    Read stuff on this forum. There are many wiring diagrams and explanations for every antenna and satellite wiring.


    I searched every way I knew how, but couldn't find anything concerning an unused jack.
  • ECones's avatar
    ECones
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2016
    Johno02 wrote:
    Just don't connect your satellite wire there. It won't work. Your salesman didn't show you anything at all???


    The guy that did the orientation was painfully uninformed / misinformed about the TV connections. For instance, there was an HDMI cable from the wall to the TV, and he said that was from the antenna. I later found the BluRay player in another compartment and realized the HDMI was from it.

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