No 12VDC at batwing

[mchero]

Noticed that the batwing antenna was getting ZIP for stations. I climbed up on top of the rig & found NO 12vdc at the batwing. I don't have the Winegard power injector. The antenna "should" be getting the 12vdc thru the video distribution box BUT no 12vdc out the back.
Wondering where I can get a simple 12VDC power injector. Ideas?

Thanks

[mchero]

Thanks for the information. My box does not have ANY light anywhere. I do know its getting power because if i unplug it i no longer get the rf signal to the rear tv.
Thanks for the Sensar Pro onformation.

[wa8yxm]

mchero wrote:
No light on the box, does not have one.
Power to back of box (as stated above)
The box will send rf signal from dish box via composite cables to back of box then to rear tv via channel 3.
Don't think that part will work if no power to box.
Looks like everything working but the 12vdc out the box of many buttons.

There shoudl be a light on the left end of the box. You may have a problem INSIDE the box.. The left button is marked POWER. I do not know if the Rf Modulator (The device that takes in the "Composit" cables and spits out RF channel 3) is on the same internal circuit as the light.

That said the post after the one I quoted suggested a Sensar Pro....

Mine is mounted in a standard house type outlet box to the side of a cabinet near the Box of Many buttons..

I took the ANT cable off the back of the box.. Extended it slightly (Custom made patch cable) to the Sensar Pro.

Tapped the 12 volt lines to the box and extended them to the Sensar Pro

Ran another custom made patch cables (By the way I make them myself) from the TV-1 lead on the Pro back to teh ANT port on the Box.
(Ran TV-2 to a Digital Converter in my bedroom that feeds a Vintage DVR, which I just used to watch last night's Debate via the OTHER DVR and the LAN, Yes, I know only ____ (expensive cable or satallite servidce)____ Lets you record in one room and watch in another but .. I don't have that service, I just do it).)

Front box feeds the VCR TVs or AUX device (converter) as needed.

But The Sensar pro.. It adds several handy features.

It contains a variable gain amplifier/attuentator (10 appears to be unity, zero to 20 are the settings) where I am you need 20.

It has a signal strength meter
it has a "Scanner" with auto-memory

To use it.

Using Antenna Helper on my cell I pre-aim the antenna (not necessary but .. well, speeds thigns along)

Turn on the Sensar Pro and in the first active setting (Where it lights up) it will search the STRONGEST carrier, display the carrier channel (Often different from what your TV will show) and strength, You can then peak on it.. or you can pick any of the other channels i tfound (Simply go down a step or two on the mode tower) and peak on that, Sometiems I need to peak on the 2nd or 3rd signal..

If you can not see the dials.. You can turn on a BEEPER, like those annoying satellite beepers you hear people using.. Same concept. Works the same way.

You can adjust the GAIN, if you are "in close" you may need to turn it down, If you are 50 MIles out, Turn it up.

And then scan on the TV and enjoy..

I'm watching OTA Tv as I type. this weekend that's all I had since park cable was.... out of service (So was shore power, city water and so on.. I had it real nice here in this Class A with full fresh tank recently sanatized, Enough gas for ye old Onan, and so on)

[mchero]

Thanks George, another option to look into.

[SCClockDr]

A Winegard Sensar-Pro will supply power to the BW and provides many helpful features making antenna pointing much easier with the digital TV signal these days.

[mchero]

No light on the box, does not have one.
Power to back of box (as stated above)
The box will send rf signal from dish box via composite cables to back of box then to rear tv via channel 3.
Don't think that part will work if no power to box.
Looks like everything working but the 12vdc out the box of many buttons.

[wa8yxm]

Om you have no 12 volt out of the Matrix Swtich (Box of Many Buttons)

DO you have 12 volts coming INTO the box? that is the next step, does the little red light come on?

And you did check at the back of the box right, not just at teh antenna end of the cable.. Mine vanished in the roof.

[mchero]

Let me try again.....

No 12vdc at batwing.
I don't have the Wingard power injector (faceplate with button, green light)
Video Distribution box is supposed to supply the 12vdc out the "to Antenna"
Video Distribution box has 12vdc in back.
I can get an RF signal to the rear TV so I know some of the Video Distribution box is functional. Exercised the switches but no go.

So, looks like my options are,
New Video Distribution box at $99
Winegard powered faceplate at around $19
Or, something like this;

https://www.summitsource.com/Antennacraft-Antenna-PS10-Power-Inserter-Supply-15V-15-V-with-Diplexer-...

Problem is, I'd like to get away from a wallwart and connect directly to my 12vdc supply. Not sure if running 12vdc into that power injector will work or not.

j-d
You night need to replace the "plate". I had one go bad on my prior rig.

Thanks all

[j-d]

Ours is (not) doing the same thing. No picture, no 12VDC out of Winegard Plate, power indicator on Plate is ON. On our Plate, light is Green when on.

Is there any way to troubleshoot the Plate?

[mchero]

No Winegard transformer and or "Red Light"
"BUT no 12vdc out the back" means the Video Distribution box is NOT providing the needed 12VDC.

Looking for a proper 12VDC injector.

Thanks for the reply so far! Good suggestions by all

[We_Cant_Wait]

If you're not getting the little red light and the switch you use to "turn on" the bat wing, then check your 12V fuses. There usually is a separate dedicated fuse for the antenna amplifier.

[enblethen]

Could be bad switch in video box or connection inside.
That is if you are getting good 12 volts and ground to video switch.

[Chris_Bryant]

It's usually a cable issue- have you tested the BOMB (box of many buttons) to see if it is supplying the power?