Odd TV reception

[Abnmarine]

We just installed two Samsung LCD TV's. Both have coaxle cable to the RV's ports. When using the TV antenna on the roof, the rear TV picks up local channels but the front TV only picks up BBC and middle eastern channels. I believe the front is on the booster and both TV's have been programmed the same. I just found this odd. I spend enough time over there to not want to watch it when home.

Any ideas?

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnmarine We just installed two Samsung LCD TV's. Both have coaxle cable to the RV's ports. When using the TV antenna on the roof, the rear TV picks up local channels but the front TV only picks up BBC and middle eastern channels. I believe the front is on the booster and both TV's have been programmed the same. I just found this odd. I spend enough time over there to not want to watch it when home. Any ideas?

You say they both have coaxial cables to the RV's ports. What do you mean by this.
Neither TV will be on the booster. If you have a Winegard "batwing" antenna the antenna is amplified. Usually, this connection is then sent to a video control center where the various signals available are send to the appropriate TV. When you do a channel scan on each TV do you see 2.1 or 3.1 or 4.1 (something other than 2 or 3 or 4) on both? Do your TV's have both an analog and digital input option? Do you use satellite TV as well?

[KIX]

We have a similar situation and I just want to follow this thread.

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIX We have a similar situation and I just want to follow this thread.

Really, you are only getting BBC and Middle Eastern channels?
Where are you folks located?

[KIX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Adams Really, you are only getting BBC and Middle Eastern channels? Where are you folks located?

The operative word in my message is "similar". Ask the OP about "only getting BBC and Middle Eastern channels?"

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIX The operative word in my message is "similar". Ask the OP about "only getting BBC and Middle Eastern channels?"

No, I was asking you. Based upon your answer I must assume that you are not getting these bizarre channels. Assuming I am correct, what kind of similar problems are you seeing?

[KIX]

Using the same bat-wing antenna for the front TV and the rear TV the rear TV picks up many more stations than the front TV. In some areas the rear will pick up as many as 10 more stations than the front one.
I am thinking that some answer to the OPs post may give me some ideas about my situation.

[Abnmarine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Adams You say they both have coaxial cables to the RV's ports. What do you mean by this. Neither TV will be on the booster. If you have a Winegard "batwing" antenna the antenna is amplified. Usually, this connection is then sent to a video control center where the various signals available are send to the appropriate TV. When you do a channel scan on each TV do you see 2.1 or 3.1 or 4.1 (something other than 2 or 3 or 4) on both? Do your TV's have both an analog and digital input option? Do you use satellite TV as well?

Okay, I'm new with RV's so forgive me regarding it. I am however a little savy on home audio. Both TV's are connected to the wall ports with coaxle. I assumed the front outlet (the TV getting the odd channels) was on the booster due to this outlet having a power switch. The antenna is a crank up antenna that came with the coach. When doing a channel scan it only displays standard 2,3,4 type channels.

Currently there isn't a satelite installed but we are concidering this option. When at the campgrounds, I connected the cable to the outside coax port and rescanned the channels and both TV's were identical. No odd channels. Travelled home, raised the antenna, performed a "antenna scan" and the original problem returns. No local channels on the front TV, only the channels mentioned earlier.

[nodine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnmarine Okay, I'm new with RV's so forgive me regarding it. I am however a little savy on home audio. Both TV's are connected to the wall ports with coaxle. I assumed the front outlet (the TV getting the odd channels) was on the booster due to this outlet having a power switch. The antenna is a crank up antenna that came with the coach. When doing a channel scan it only displays standard 2,3,4 type channels. Currently there isn't a satelite installed but we are concidering this option. When at the campgrounds, I connected the cable to the outside coax port and rescanned the channels and both TV's were identical. No odd channels. Travelled home, raised the antenna, performed a "antenna scan" and the original problem returns. No local channels on the front TV, only the channels mentioned earlier.

Sounds to me like the front television may be in the old analog mode and you are receiving signals that are being transmitted in that mode. I believe there are still some broadcasts in the old bands but very few. If you are not seeing the channels as 5.1, 6.1, etc., then the TV is in the wrong mode. Go to the input menu and select the DTV mode.

Bob

[Bill Adams]

A few TV's that I have seen actually have 2 coax inputs in the back as well. One for analog and one for digital so you might want to check that unless you are getting digital channels when connected to cable. Are the cable channels 4.1 or only 4?
When you do a channel scan does it show that it is scanning digital channels and not finding any or is it not scanning for digital at all? If it is not looking for digital at all see Bob's post above. While they are both Samsung, are they identical TV's? Does the remote control allow you to enter a . or a - so you could enter a 4.1 channel?

[Abnmarine]

Both TV's are different models but digital ready. I'll look through the menu options to see if the setting is not on digital. I appreciate the responses.

[wa8yxm]

I too wondered about "BBC and the MiddleEastern" That sounds like Sat-TV, not over the air, if you are located in the USA? Do you have a sat system?

Page 2:

In many coaches the coax they use is.. Well, not good, in fact it's the lowest cost (to the factory) they can lay their hands on.. It may not be fully shielded, and/or the ends may not be well attached, and as a result signal loss over a long run can be....amazing. Epically as the frequency rises from VHF low, to UHF.

Most (not all) digital transmissions in the US are on UHF.

Use of high quality cable may improve the reception in cases like this

Burrow someone's satellite cable and as a test just run it across the floor, Verify it works better, and then give it back to it's owner.. go out and buy some, Satellite cable is usually RG-6 and the two (RG-6 and RG-59) Are fairly close in specs and can be swapped for each other.. The worst RG-6 is close to the best RG-59 quality wise)

Another factor... Some rigs the splitter is wired wrong.. They may have swapped PARK CABLE and TV-2

And someone up-thread commented on the televisions thesmselves.

[Abnmarine]

Well I think we will be installing a in-motion satelite antenna and just do away with the current setup. We would prefer to use our Direct TV receivers when travelling. Is it difficult to run new cabling through the roof area?

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnmarine Well I think we will be installing a in-motion satelite antenna and just do away with the current setup. We would prefer to use our Direct TV receivers when travelling. Is it difficult to run new cabling through the roof area?

As long as you have a clear shot between the cabinet you want to have the receiver in and the roof, it's just a hole. Many times this can just be a matter of drilling through the cap and into the front storage areas.
Just take your time and drill through one layer of material at a time. Hitting one of those wires or cables between the ceiling and the roof can lead to an expensive repair.