No over the air TV reception

[Kliwks]

I hope I'm not wearing out my welcome. These questions will dwindle as I become an experienced RV'r. Any way, I cannot get any TV reception in my driveway (or anywhere). I have the Winegard batwing. I verified the 12 volts DC coming from the Winegard distribution box. I ran a cable direct from the box to the antenna. I let the TV scan the air channels and nothing but the message weak or no signal. I do not live in a remote area.
What do you think? Bad Antenna?

[Bryan H]

If u have 12v, good connections between the box, winegard, and TV, and u have a TV with a tuner (which I'm guessing u do since it searched for channels), I don't know what else it could be if you live near enough to the signal. This question is remedial so sorry in advance...the amplifier box is turned on, right?

[docj]

Did you rotate the antenna during the scan or have it pointed in a known direction towards a station?

[-LB-]

Another question would be, does your TV have a digital tuner in it? If it does not, it won't pick up OTA transmissions since they were required to go digital a few years back.

[ChileRick]

Could be the TV. If it's original to the coach (2003?) it may not have a Digital tuner, in which case it won't pick-up digital signal.
If you have a small HDTV flat screen you can move in and connect to the antennae that may tell you something. Or, in the tv setup, make sure antennae is selected, and not cable.

[DonDee]

My batwing had a bad coax. I clipped the old and ran a new ca. wrapping it loosely around the mast. I live in the boonies and still get up to 20 channels, mostly digital ones.

[RickO]

Originally Posted by Bryan H

This question is remedial so sorry in advance...the amplifier box is turned on, right?

That's what it turns out to be EVERY time I have this problem... every few months I seem to forget to turn it on and just stand there scratching my head until I remember that I forgot again.

Rick

[Kliwks]

Yes, box is on.

[Kazoo Tom]

Unless you or the original owner changed out the tv's for newer digital set, you will not get any signals on your tv. First make sure the amplifier is turned on. You will need a digital converter box between your tv and antenna connection. The converter box will do the scanning and locate the watchable stations. In your area there should be tons of stations available. The converter works similar to a VCR in that you tune your tv to channel 3 or 4 and then use the box as your channel selector.

[Mr_D]

We tried the adapter boxes on the original non-digital TV's. The bedroom one always received more channels.
Changed the TV's to new LCD (bedroom) and LED (living area) Samsung TV's, get a lot more channels on both now. The converter box's just don't work very well compared to the new TV's

[Kliwks]

I measured the 12 volts on a short piece of coax connected to the box. The red light is on for the 12v power. The TV is a newer Samsung flatscreen so that shouldn't be the issue. The TV is set or air, not cable. I didn't rotate the antenna during the scan, but it should pick up something. I got an over the air channel guide and checked several. Nothing.

[RickO]

Another important question.... is this something which suddenly quit working for no apparent reason or are you attempting to get it operational for the first time?

Rick

[Gary RVRoamer]

A common problem is for the coax to break or corrode where it connects to the antenna (up on the roof). Check that first - you don't have to disassemble anything to do that.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Kliwks

I measured the 12 volts on a short piece of coax connected to the box. The red light is on for the 12v power. The TV is a newer Samsung flatscreen so that shouldn't be the issue. The TV is set or air, not cable. I didn't rotate the antenna during the scan, but it should pick up something. I got an over the air channel guide and checked several. Nothing.

You shouldn't need a converter box for a newer digital ready TV. Just connect the cable input directly to the TV and rescan.