cabfle tv hook-up

[Jerry C]

I have an outside plug for a tv, I believe it is for cable, but when I hookup I can't get a signal to the tv. I have a switch box inside the coach, but no matter where I slide it, still no reception. I can hookup direct to the tv through a window and the tv gets the signal.
Any suggestions? This is on a 1993 Cobra Passport.

Thanks
Jerry

[Jerry C]

I have an outside plug for a tv, I believe it is for cable, but when I hookup I can't get a signal to the tv. I have a switch box inside the coach, but no matter where I slide it, still no reception. I can hookup direct to the tv through a window and the tv gets the signal.
Any suggestions? This is on a 1993 Cobra Passport.

Thanks
Jerry

[Paul Heuvelhorst]

Since you are able to get TV reception when you bypass the built-in cabling system in your rig, it proves the rig wiring is defective. There are 2 components to check. (1) the switch box that is a signal booster, and (2) the wiring between the outside of the rig and the booster. It will require 2 people to check the continuity of the cabling with an ohm meter or other type of continuity tester. You have an antenna on the roof, I presume. Does the TV work with that antenna? The signal booster is actually for that antenna, and should be switched off when you are using cable from the outside. If you get signal from the antenna through the booster, you can assume the booster is working correctly.

If you find the cable is bad from the outside of the trailer to where your TV is located, you'll have to find a way to run new cable. Replace the entire cable... do not try to splice coax cable unless you are experienced in doing so. Bad connections are often the result and require more time to troubleshoot than to replace the entire cable run.

Good luck,

[C Driver]

Go to Radio Shack (etc.) and get a terminator for the coax. It's a good idea to keep this on the end anyway to protect the connector from corrosion. It will have a reading of around 75 ohms on your multi-meter and you can check the cables at the back of the switch box for a reading around this resistance. Then remove the teminator and make sure the cable shows an open. If none of the cables show a resistance reading and do not open after removing the terminator then the cable is probably open. If you get one that shows a short (note that the antenna one may read fairly low resistance) check the inside of the fittings to make sure there is not a small strand of wire touching the center conductor. All that said and done if you never see a resistance then the cable is probably open and there is not much you can do except try to replace it.

[TXiceman]

You will also need to go into a setup menu on the TV and change it from antenna to cable to get all of the cable channels.

ken

[Jerry C]

Paul,C-Driver, Tx-iceman:

Thanks all fro your replies. Yes I do get a signal from the roof mount antenna. I'm not quite sure about the switching. I have a box with a slide switch, which has TV1, TV2 and AUX.I have another switch with a red light with the RG cable hookup, I am assuming its the powere booster, which I have shut off. Now how do I check the continuity of the cable from the outside to the inside of the coach? C-Driver is this what you talking about?

Thanks all for your answers.

[C Driver]

First a couple of assumptions. The TV1, TV2 is an output to select where you want the signal to go to. If you the Winegard wall type switch with a switch and red power light the antenna and outside cables are connected to a splitter on the back of this. It is designed to, when the power switch is 'on' to bring the signal in from the antenna and when off from the outside cable connection. You will need to pull this off the wall and disconnect the cable from the plate (don't mix them up) .... You can then check for a short or open to the outside cable