Antenna & booster questions

[Granny Tyke]

We've been on three outings this year. Purchased a converter box last fall, which worked the first two outings. However this past week, we were unable to get a signal. We can't figure out what's wrong. We tried a new coax cable, reprogramed the converter box several times, changed the direction of the antenna. Always received a message on the screen that said "poor signal" or something to that effect.

We came home and it works! The people parked next to us had no problems.

Any ideas on why it worked before, then didn't and now does again? Any other troubleshooting that we could try?

We have a 2001 30'SKO. Also wondering if anyone has switched TV's to a flat screen - lighter weight TV. If so, how did you install it?

[twalton]

Hello Bob and Tyke,

Sounds like poor signal strength was your problem at that location. When you spoke to the folks in the next site did you ask them if their antenna was similar to yours? You may have just been in a bad spot for reception for your system. It's happened to me. It's probably nothing to worry about. If it happens again, check with the camp managers, they usually can tell you if you're parked in a "null", or a spot where signal strength is poor.

[rockintom]

I have to agree with Tom. Did you have your antenna boost on? Did you move your antenna around searching for better reception? I added the Winegard Wingman to my antenna for better reception. Check out the video in the link as it explains it's operation. Here in Portland, OR, I get 28 stations.

Also something to take in consideration is, supposedly, the smaller, poorer areas are not being pressured to do the switchover, only to promise to do it in the "near future". That is something I read and I can't verify.

I would due a search here in IRV2.com for the flat screen part of it.....I've read a lot of conversations regarding that. rockin'

[Granny Tyke]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, the booster appeared to be "on". The red light was on.

The people next door didn't have the same setup. I will have to remember to check with the campground managers if we have this happen again.

Guess we'll have to remember to be sure to have some DVD's along, just in case we run into the problem again. Hate missing the news though.

[Lindaxtwo]

Not to hijack this thread but we don't have a converter box but many times on a station we are getting a message that pops up " Signal strength too low". Picture is crystal clear on that station but then it's like it loses reception. Would a converter box solve this or is this the result of the new HD changeover ? I would rather have a fuzzy picture than be messing with this...one minute it's there..the next minute it's not.

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindaxtwo Not to hijack this thread but we don't have a converter box but many times on a station we are getting a message that pops up " Signal strength too low". Picture is crystal clear on that station but then it's like it loses reception. Would a converter box solve this or is this the result of the new HD changeover ? .

THe answer is: like the punch line in a joke I know: "depends"

I would like to think that an expensive new HD Digital Televison has a well designed "Front End" as we radio types call the tuner input section, that it is sensitive and has a good signal to noise ratio.. Alas, I know different.

In many cases that just is not so

Likewise I would like to think the converter makers build well.. but again I know different, in many cases they do not.

However in SOME cases, both in the television and converter area, they do...

I knwo I was not pleased with one of the 3 conveters I own doing exactly that same thing (low signal) the other two were better, but one of them has other issues which bother me.

Bottom line is, it might, but I would not spend the money trying to fix it.. You might contact the television maker and find out if there is a way to kill that "low signal" message

[KU9L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom I have to agree with Tom. Did you have your antenna boost on? Did you move your antenna around searching for better reception? I added the Winegard Wingman to my antenna for better reception. Check out the video in the link as it explains it's operation. Here in Portland, OR, I get 28 stations.

The Winegard Wingman add-on made a huge difference for us. We are workamping about 16 miles NW of the Rockford, IL TV stations in the middle of big forest covered hills. We can now also get most of the Madison, WI stations on a regular basis too.

Dave

[davydee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom Also something to take in consideration is, supposedly, the smaller, poorer areas are not being pressured to do the switchover, only to promise to do it in the "near future". That is something I read and I can't verify.

I can verify that it's happening. On our recent trip to West Yellowstone, MT, we ran across a couple of locations still using analog. David

[twalton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindaxtwo Not to hijack this thread but we don't have a converter box but many times on a station we are getting a message that pops up " Signal strength too low". Picture is crystal clear on that station but then it's like it loses reception. Would a converter box solve this or is this the result of the new HD changeover ? I would rather have a fuzzy picture than be messing with this...one minute it's there..the next minute it's not.

Hi Linda,

The recent change to over the air broadcast signal was analog to digital. HD (high definition) reception requires still an additional device which can be a set top box or HD DVR. What you need to continue using your rooftop antenna is an analog to digital converter. They are inexpensive. You can get a coupon at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ which will cover most of the cost. I think mine was an additional 5 bucks at walmart. They are easy to set up and have a start up routine what will walk you through it.

[Noelj]

Even with one DTV converter and a digital converter, we are finding that a lot of the stations are just not there anymore. Especially if you are more than 50 miles from the broadcast point. The digital signals just do not have the range of the old analog signals. Some digital stations are boosting back up to the analog strength, but basically the idea is to get rid of free, over-the-air TV. Either use cable and pay, or satellite and pay. Now that so much advertising is over the internet, you pay for it or do without. Consider that 95% of the shoppers that TV advertising targets are within 100 miles of the Major stations.

[rockintom]

Here is a senior Digital Conversation process that is really funny. Check it out! rockybaby

[MyLife]

Finally got both of the TVs working with one antenna and two converter box. Watch different channals

[JC2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyLife Finally got both of the TVs working with one antenna and two converter box. Watch different channals

Care to enlighten us on how you connected everything?

[MyLife]

I hope i got it down correctly...

I took the coax cable that connect to the roof Antenna and hook a booster to it.
Using a two way splitting I hook the antenna cable to the end of the booster that shows an arrow to antenna (make sure the booster is plug in to 110). On the other end of the splitting I connect a cable and then connect it to the converter box, from the converter to the box with all the buttons where it said from antenna. Disconnect the cable from TV #2 from the box with the buttons and connect it to the other end of the spitting giving me direct antenna to TV #2.

At the TV #2 I connect the cable to the “in antenna” of the converter box #2. From the out to TV I connect cable from the converter box to the TV.

I brought a DTV antenna from Wal-Mart just to use the booster amp part, because at Radio Shack just for the booster amp it would have cost more. Beside if this didn’t work I could use the antenna for TV #2. Scan each converter box. I hope I get this right on .