Community Forums

Wrinklemeist · 03-15-2013, 05:31 PM

I have an '05 40FDTS. We are i an area where everyone else can get a good antenna signal with about 20 channels. We get one analog station very weakly. Everyone says I need to turn on the antenna booster. I have looked everywhere for the button or switch with no luck. Any clues? If it can't be found is it possible to somehow wire in a new one? I had a tech out for an hour and he couldn't figure it out.Thanks for any help!!

demoon · 03-15-2013, 05:47 PM

The switch for the booster is almost always located on the plate where the jack to connect the TV antenna cable is. It is quite small, and there should also be a light that comes on when the booster is activated. These connections are usually located in a cabinet close to the TV. They sometimes get hidden behind dvd players, etc..

TXiceman · 03-15-2013, 06:46 PM

The booster is not always located at the TV. It may look like this>
Signal Amplifier, White

Ken

Jim A · 03-15-2013, 07:43 PM

The '04 coaches had a Winegard switchbox. It had a switch on the left side to turn on power to the booster. If the '05's still had the box, look there.

If you are relying on over the air, consider installing the Winegard SensarPro booster and digital signal meter. It works great.

Do your TV's have a digital tuner? At least some '06 coaches did not.

demoon · 03-15-2013, 10:14 PM

Yup, that's it, and in both my former C and current A, it is located in a cabinet next to the TV with the antenna cable from the TV attached.

Ken T. · 03-16-2013, 09:07 AM

On my 05 the amp is located behind all the crap in the cabinet to the right of the TV. I do not recall a switch, there is a light. I only took the mess apart one time and did not pay too much attention to the amp.

Ken

Jim A · 03-16-2013, 09:18 AM

The amp is actually in the antenna head. The switch plate just supplies power to it.

demoon · 03-16-2013, 09:54 AM

Please do not think I am trying to start an argument. I truly dislike to see that on this forum. Just so as not to confuse the OP, some antenna heads do not contain the amplifier. The link posted above is for an amplifier panel for non-amplified heads.

Description

White amplified wall plate with on/off switch and indicator light works with Winegard non-amplified 75 ohm RV antennas. Uses 12V DC. 1 per pack.

zinom · 03-18-2013, 10:24 AM

If you find that the switch is on (if it worked before, it probably is) the problem is most likely in one of the coax coming from it and to the "A/B" switches in the left cabinet or actually at the antenna on the roof. In my '05 I found several bad coax connectors (on the white cables) and resoved the problem by cutting them off and replacing the connector. Good luck.

tjshively · 03-19-2013, 03:52 PM

I have a "JACK" antenna. Will the Wineguard amplifier work with it?

tinytom · 03-19-2013, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjshively

I have a "JACK" antenna. Will the Wineguard amplifier work with it?

If its the original one that came with the coach it is not a amplifier the amp is in the antenna head as it is in the jack. What you think is a amp only provides 12v to the antenna head and will work with the jack antenna.

I removed the Wineguard antenna from my coach and installed a Jack antenna using the Wineguard power supply that was installed in the coach. Works perfect.

I then installed the Wineguard antenna at my house and used the Jack power supply. It works perfect also

I thought the Wineguard antenna was bad but turned out to be a bad cable

Jim A · 03-19-2013, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinytom

I thought the Wineguard antenna was bad but turned out to be a bad cable

A much more common failure!!

If somebody put a splitter in the coax line between the switchplate and the antenna head, that can block the power from getting to the head as well.

kraig · 03-19-2013, 10:51 PM

My booster switch was not accessible until I removed the bottom cover under the TV. I had to move it out to be accessible. Also do you have a batwing or a Roadstar? On my factory installed Roadstar all the contacts were corroded and did not work. Also the roadstar doesn't work as well as the batwing.

Old Scout · 03-20-2013, 10:10 AM

Definitely recommend checking the connections and cable on the roof--at some point the crank-up antenna had trapped the cable during crank down and broke the copper lead wire inside the co-ax cable.