Replacing coax to TV antenna

[Ken-55]

I've got an amplified Winegard TV antenna on my 1991 Itasca. Reception is spotty . . . comes and goes with slight movement of antenna.

When I checked the roof, the insulation on the coax is worn off. The power, cable/antenna switch is above the passenger side sun visor. I can access the back of the switch in the back of the overhead cabinet. Any idea where they usually feed the coax to the roof and has anyone had luck fishing new coax to the Winegard?

[pkendzor]

I did replace one on a friends coach. His got caught on a tree limb and tore the insulation. I picked up a coupler from radio shack, attached one end of the coupler to the tv end and the other end of the coupler to the new cable end. Wrapped the coupling and female ends with tape so it pulled thru smooth like the tip of a pencil rather than have the end of the connector get hung up. It pulled thru smooth. That was on a 05 Fleetwood Bounder.

Paul

[Theberrys]

Ken
Do you have one of these yet?
http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-GS-WING-Sensar-DTV-Upgrade/dp/B002DPTQXW/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1289782115&sr=8-18
If not try it first. If it's just the insulation that's damaged then it probably won't affect reception since the shield is ground and shorting ground wouldn't change the signal. After the change to DTV most stations are in the UHF band and a batwing was designed to receive VHF best. The new add-on antenna improved DTV reception for us and at $20 or so is a good buy. Easy to install, no tools required.

Dick

[RickO]

Another thing that might be worth a shot is to go on the roof, cut off the damaged end... replace the connector and wrap it in rescue tape. It shouldn't take very long and could save you a lot more work. The addition of the Wingman is a good idea though and I'm about to add it to mine.

Rick

[pkendzor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickO Another thing that might be worth a shot is to go on the roof, cut off the damaged end... replace the connector and wrap it in rescue tape. It shouldn't take very long and could save you a lot more work. The addition of the Wingman is a good idea though and I'm about to add it to mine. Rick

Good idea Rick....... Ya got my vote !

[Ken-55]

Thanks for the replies so far . . .

I'm familiar with the Wingman. i would add one, but it doesn't look like there's enough room on the roof where it would lay flat.

I would like to replace the coax, the insulation is completely off and I'm concerned that the inner copper wire could be cracked with the repeated up & down cycles over the years. I'm also not sure how the whole "powered" amplifier thing works . . . is power sent to the head through the braided wire that's now exposed??

Knowing the someone was able to pull a new wire through is encouraging. I probably would use a plain wire and add the connector later??