Older RV Antenna With New HDTV?

[Bill Adams]

That's the box! When you have the cover off you should be able to see some kind of number that we could use such as RA-7596 which would indicate an amplifier.
The new antenna that you received DOES have an amp in the head and would not need an amp in that box. Maybe I can chase down Winegard and see what they think.

[RVDude]

I'm back again.. Now this is turning into a major bummer...

The Sensar I sent is amplified, is a 2007 model, and was working perfectly. It's a whole 'nutter story why I had it.

So, me suspects - everything else seems to have been accounted for in prior posts - either some incompatibility between 'vets existing vintage '80s power supply and what the newer Sensar needs or some other failure in that power supply?????

vet can you test for +12v on the center coax at the antenna head UNDER LOAD (i.e. while connected)? Maybe take a scrap piece of coax and knife off a sliver of insulation so you can measure center conductor voltage when it is attached to the head??? Maybe the existing power supply is failing under load (new Sensar maybe taking more current than the supply can deliver) and that might even be part of your existing head problems (marginal supply to your old head). ???????

Shucks, and I thought this was going to be a no brainer swap for 'ya. Bummer...

[Oldvet]

Hey RVDude good to see ya, not your fault and your a scholar and a gentleman for sending it too me
It`s raining today so no climbing around on slippery roof but tomorrow it`s supposed to be nicer.
Couldn`t I put the antenna from you on with the cover off and check voltage on the circut board where the coax cable comes in ?
Also seeing my set up has a boaster switch on the panel wouldn`t my old antenna have a amplifier in it. Or even if it doesn`t I get 12 volts on the coax at the antenna so if the new antenna has a amp shouldn`t it work?

[Oldvet]

Ok I got up there and hooked up the new one, the tv and boaster on and there is 12.25 volts on the center wire where the cable hooks to the circut board.
I don`t know what could be wrong, after hooking the old one back up i`m now watching the ball game.

[Oldvet]

Say what does a amp. look like, the only thing in the new antenna is one little circut board with a coil spring on top.

[Bill Adams]

Yes, that is the amp. One either side of that is the small UHF antenna and then on either side of that and extending out to the tips is the VHF antenna.

[Oldvet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Adams Yes, that is the amp. One either side of that is the small UHF antenna and then on either side of that and extending out to the tips is the VHF antenna.

Ok then it should work right, what comes from the coach (booster) just the 12 volt currant.
I`m still confused about how all this works, is there just a amp or is there something else in this equation?
Thanks.

[Oldvet]

Ok i`ll drop this now, don`t have a clue why the new antenna doesn`t work.
The old one does so like they say if it ain`t broke don`t mess with it.
Thanks for the help.

[Oldvet]

Quote:

like they say if it ain`t broke don`t mess with it. Thanks for the help.

Never could follow that saying
When I took the antenna apart I noticed that it had been taken apart before and that the circut board looked like it wasn`t sitting just right.
This morning I took it back apart and re positioned things, the blades where under the circut board and now are on top where things fit better.
Took it up and put it on and bingo we had tv, did a re-scan and came up with two more channels.
Maybe someone had it apart and you forgot or it`s not the one you thought it was, I believe ya said ya had a couple of them.
Anyway it`s fixed, that`s great, your great and we sure appreciate all the help. Plus I can use the Wingman now

[Bob King]

Hello Jay
On my 1994 TIOGA MONTARA the switch for the antenna booster was on the underside of the overhead cabinet above the table. It was a flat electrical box cover plate with a small switch at one end and a red LED light on the other. Hope this helps.
( I guess I had a senior moment. I hadn't read thru all the posts on this thread and answered from the first page. Sorry about that.)
Bob