How to trace TV coax line

When it comes to cable TV at campgrounds not all are created equal. Some may still supply only an analog signal and some supply digital (or maybe both).

I have noticed my newest LED TV does not work the same as the old on some cable systems used in the past.

The best answer is to carry a coaxial cable long enough to put through a window or door and connect directly to your television, instead of connecting to outside plate on the RV (instead of using internal coaxial circuit). I have found this method works best.

Since the other way will still work the regular way at some locations, I have given up thinking there is anything wrong with the internal circuit. The signal put out by the campground may be degraded too much by following the usual route.

Don't forget to leave the roof antenna amplifier turned off. Any signals entering that way can interfere with the cable signal.

I have two external coax connectors, unlabeled, short of using a tester, is there any way to know which is cable and which is satellite?

each tv area has two coax jacks.

for the satellite, where should I look for the splitter? I JUST had the compartment wall off to move the vacuum location, and didn't think to look for the TV setup (want to add DTV setup). do they put both coax and sat splitters near each other? I have three tv outlets.

Good thread...

First I never discourage anyone from buying a good tester and this is no exception. Simple and almost foolproof. Second, a very large number of RVs have a little(relative) black box with several inputs and several out puts on the back and switches on the front.

If you have this box all the rules change slightly. On the back are inputs for Cable, Antenna, and Aux. There are usually outputs for TV-1 and TV-2, some have TV-3. It's not hard to push the buttons and test each circuit for the appropriate input for the front or rear TV.

The Clicky will give you the manual for such a I/O box.

Clicky

Sometimes these boxes are removed and the remaining cables are not put back in the default configuration.

As a side note, in the next two or three years these boxes should be eliminated. We have the box but it is hardly necessary. I have the winegard batwing and that is already set up for two TVs. The cable can be controlled with a simple A-B switch and the BluRay or Sat. can use HDMI connections. Soon I think the campground cable and antenna will be switched with an IR box(available now but spendy)and all other inputs will use USB or HDMI inputs.

Thanks guys. I'll see what I can find in relation to the diagrams. If I cant figure it out then I'll start pulling things apart and get a tester.

Here's what I think you have. 1. The plate with the light is in from the antenna, the button turns on the antenna power. 2. The plate with no light or button comes in from the cable input. 3. Bedroom plate comes from either plate behind the front room television. Remove the front room plates, one should have an extra cable, that extra cable goes to the bedroom. If both plates have extra cables then there is probably a switch somewhere to send signal to bedroom.

Or home depot for about ten bucks

This is pretty much how you should be wired up... Photos from google search...




Taking it all apart to measure cable paths usually ends up in disaster...

Here is another diagram I found which is similar to the above one...



The best approach should be to hook a cable TV signal to the outside trailer CABLE connection.

Then your living room TV and bedroom TV should get a signal if you have the RED BUTTON on the TV ANTENNA Panel OFF.

Push the RED BUTTON ON on the TV ANTENNA Panel and now your BATWING OTA antenna will provide signals to the living room TV and the bedroom TV.

or something like that...

Here is a nice tester you can get from Amazon for around $20
Coax tester

You can get a tester for 30-40 Bucks at Loews....