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tenspeedret360's avatar
Jul 13, 2016

lost signal/short, coax tv cable from front to rear

Hello, everybody, and thanks in advance for all the assistance and advice im sure to receive. Any time I've posed a question, about any sort of topic, I've always been helped out. I can't thank folks enough for your help. :)

Now to my question. I have an '06 Monaco LaPalma DP, with a standard setup, tv overhead above the driver, and another TV in the bedroom. My issue right now is the TV in the bedroom. A friend tested the wiring from the front of the RV to the connection in the wall,and determined there was either a break in the coax cable somewhere in the wall, or the insulation on the cable had frayed (or something) and was shorting. My question is: Is there a tool I can purchase, along the lines of a studfinder for sheetrock walls, that I can use to locate where the 'problem' might be, that would see through the wall to find where the break/short would be?

Again, Thanks for any and all help. It is truly appreciated.
  • Have you used any screws lately to attach something to the walls or ceiling. If so you may have punctured the cable at that point. Take out the screw and the short may clear itself. Personal experience...
  • Thank you all for your assistance, and yes, I was leaning towards running a new wire through my a/c ducting, but was just hesitant, figured if I found the break, correct it, new wire is the way to go. Thanks again. :C
  • WyoTraveler wrote:
    I've been working in electronic for over 60 years. Althouth it isn't impossible for coax to be damaged. I doubt it. Probably bad measurement. Usually bad connectors. Probably a splitter or something else on the other end. Put a known value resister on one end and measure resistance on the other end and also to ground. Don't be tearing out walls for no reason.

    X2 but I have fewer years at it.
  • I've been working in electronic for over 60 years. Althouth it isn't impossible for coax to be damaged. I doubt it. Probably bad measurement. Usually bad connectors. Probably a splitter or something else on the other end. Put a known value resister on one end and measure resistance on the other end and also to ground. Don't be tearing out walls for no reason.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Did it just happen or has it been this way since day one..

    Some TV setups has a wall plate next to the OTA TV WALL PLATE that has only two TYPE F connectors on it. This may require a junction cable to be installed to tie-in the bedroom TV... If you do have one of these junction plates then this is an excellent place to hookup a test RG cable to see if the wiring is good all the way to the bedroom TV set...

    Might look something like this...


    Who knows how the TV RG cables are wired in the trailers... Your best bet is just run a new cable if you have to. We have run all kinds of Ham Radio and Scanner radio RG cables using the foam cut Air Conditioner ducts that runs from one end of the trailer to the other. Ours have over head cabinets on both ends so makes it easy to route out of the overhead A/C ducts and route to TV location.

    If you do this just be sure to seal any holes you made with FOAM SPRAY as the Air Ducts are planned to hold pressure to make all of the A/C outputs in the ceiling produce roughly the same air flow...

    Roy Ken
  • It is possible your friend was blocked by the presence of a "balun" AKA "splitter". A balun/splitter is used to match impedances at RF frequencies and will appear to be a short circuit when measured with an Ohm meter.

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