need tv, cable, and antenna wiring help!!!!!!!!

[jspedigo5]

need help on my 2002 cruisemaster on where all the wiring for the tv and cable and antenna plugs into, i have no manuals or diagrams, please help!!!

["007"]

Welcome jspedigo5 to irv2.
What you need is a video switch box like this one or one from Radio Shack.
If your cables are not marked you will have to identify each one the box will have instructions for where each will go.
You will have power for box in your tape player area and amp for Ant also.
Enjoy the forums.

[jspedigo5]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have cables(coaxial) wires coming from out of the top console above the drivers side. there are two black coaxial cables running inside the walls. i have no idea where they go i cant trace them into the walls. and i have another cable (coaxial) running out of the passenger side overhead compartment, again, i cant trace it because i have no access holes in the roof. i have two tvs, one front and one in the back. and an outlet (dc) at both locations with a coaxial (female connection) below the dc outlet. i just need to find a way to tell which is my cable in line, and which one goes to the tvs?. Also i have no idea which one is my antenna cable? i do have an antenna booster, but again i have no idea how it works, just a switch on the dash. when i bought this unit, the previous owner lost all the manuals and diagram for the systems. i have looked all over the net and noone has any books on this particular unit, i am lost here.. as for the switch box you were talking about, i have one, a flexvision, but it for a vcr setup, and i really have no use for it. i can manually hookup my dvd players in each room, dont plan on watching the same programing on both t.vs. besides, again, all the wires are screwed up, so i dont know what goes where.

[texnet]

If you don't own an volt/ohm meter then head to Walmart or Radio shack and purchase one and you might want to purchase a couple of one foot jumper cables with clips on the end. Armed with your volt/ohm meter, put it in the ohm position. Check EACH cable in the console cabinet for a short... i.e. measure from the center conductor to the connector to see if any of them have 0 ohms. If any do most likely that is your antenna cable which is hooked to an amplifier. Next, place a jumper on the cable in the back of the TT from the center conductor (may have to insert a paperclip if is is a female connector) to the connector. Take the ohm meter to the cabinet with all the cables and measure each cable from the center conductor to the connector. When you find the one that is shorted you know which cable goes to the back. Repeat the same test for the front TV cable.

[SSteve]

jspedigo5,

The cables, wires coming from out of "the top console above the drivers side", are they just hanging there or are they attached to something? As 007 alluded to, there is usually a switch box in that location to which these cables and wires are connected. Sounds like that box might be missing. If the box is there, great! Easy peasy. If not, well it's not too hard to sort it out.

If there is no switch box, the other ends of these cables actually are pretty easy to identify. You will still need a switch box, but finding what connects where ain't too tough. As you mentioned, you have front and back TVs. You doubtless have a roof antenna and a Park cable TV connection somewhere near your water/electrical compartments. Is there a satellite dish? Work the cables first, wires second.

Really, these will be simple to identify using Texnet's plan.

You also mention an antenna booster. While I'm cautious to say "always" or "never", usually, that booster IS the switch box (it powers the antenna). Did your "booster" come with the coach?

Keep us filled in

Steve

[wa8yxm]

There are two easy ways to trace cable..

First: Some folks have handy dancy cable trackers.. Very nice.. But let's assume you don't.

Ok, now you need a continunity tester.. A common multi-meter on OHMS does well.. One of mine is nice, it beeps at you on one range.

And you will need a shorting cable,, This is an old, bad coax cable, simply cut it, strip it and short the wire to the shield (Center to shield) test it by measuring resistance center to nut, if it shows open, do the part you cut off. If it shows shorted, you have your shorting adapter.

Or you can take a good cable and simly short the center wire to the nut, I use an Alligator clip for this. Be sure to test it though. Next to the last time I made one.. IT failed (Bad cable)

Now, DISCONNECT EVERYTHING, The Rooftop antenna (Disconnect at the antenna) the other TV's EVERYTHING that has a coax running to it.

Now test, all the cable ends as above in the Video compartment.. .Ideally all will show open circuit save perhaps for one... (Tag that one for additional tests)

Then ONE AT A TIME. find an "Other end" (IE: The bedroom TV) and hook up the shorting adapter. Now measure each cable in the Video compartment.. The one that shows continuinty.. Tag it, (Bedroom TV)

Now go to the next one, You have an external TV port.. Try that

Now the Park Cable input.

And Satellite Input if you have one.

Finally the main TV and Rooftop Antenna

NOTE: Main TV you may be able to visually trace, Saves a test, But tag it anyway.

NOTE: On my coach I added the "External" it runs to a splitter or 3, and from there is continuinity.

If you had a cable that in the first test showed continuinty then.. If one of your tests, epically External/TV-3 fails to turn up a cable, Odds are that's it.

The other odd is you have a shorted cable.

But that's you you trace them.

By the same token.. Any cable that FAILS to show up. Save Sat-in (Which may run to a different compartment) is likely faulty

When you are done you may have a cable left over.. Sat in from the roof for a dome or dish.. The other end is burried.. Tag it (As Suspected Sat Roof In) and leave it. Sat cables SHOULD be RG-6 but of course that costs more than RG-59 so you may find the coach builder shorted you on quality there.