Community Forums

htbradley · 04-10-2009, 02:37 PM

I have a TracStar, in motion (SV360) installed and I will be parked where itnwill not be able to lock on a Satellite (Direct TV).

My question is: how do i hook up an external antenna?

Terry
2007 Allure 470 #31461

RV Wizard · 04-11-2009, 01:22 AM

There are many ways to skin this cat but the most simple way for temporary, one time deal, get on the roof and disconnect the coaxial cable from the satellite and with a barrel connector connect the portable satellite into the cable going into the coach on the roof. If you have more than one cable you will have to try #1 first for front reciever and #2 should be for the rear. Set your portable dish up in a spot that will give you a clear signal. Turn on the receiver and enter the set up menu. Follow the prompts for entering your location to get the elevation and azimuth and with compass, align the dish to a peak signal; you can use the receiver's signal meter for this part. Good luck and let us know how you do.

Daytona Coach · 04-11-2009, 05:10 AM

You will always find yourself in campgrounds where you are blocked by a tree and can't get a signal. To solve this problem you can modify the outside TV connection located in one of your bays as a connection point for a remote antenna. It is usually in a passenger side bay mounted up under the coaches floor next to a 110 volt outlet.

Because that cable already runs from the bay up to the receiver, all you have to do is locate it in the cabinet where you receiver is installed and add an "AB" switch. (Available a Radio Shack, Lowes, Etc.). Connect the roof antenna to the "A" side and the remote antenna (the wire leading to the bay) to the "B" side. Then when you want to use the remote antenna you simply push the AB switch to the "B" position and then connect your remote dish to the outside bay. To return to the roof antenna simply push "A".

NOTE: Direct TV uses a small in-line device located between the dish and the receiver. It is not used on a TracStar Antenna as the required electronics are installed in the dish itself. I think it is used for HDTV. Your satellite provider can answer the question and provide the device if you don't have one. It comes in the box when you first get your receiver.

This modification will mean that you will not be able to connect a TV to the outside bay as that will now become an input to the receiver rather than an output to a TV.

Easy fix and you will always have satellite TV.

htbradley · 04-11-2009, 06:29 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Terry

John-D · 04-11-2009, 12:30 PM

Gee Daytona Coach... You beat me to it.

HT.. By the way, you want the lowest cost A/B switch you can get, I think I paid 8 bucks at K-mart a couple of years ago, NO need for high isolation, NO electronics at all (no remote switches) just a simple slider, or if you like fancy a pair of push buttons (that runs around fifteen bucks) Radio Shack may no longer carry but ACE hardware does, so will Lowes and Home Depot (Radio Shack is ... Well, it used to have a good selection, I went in there the other day and could not even find a simple double male coax connector. They have gone to the toilet and flushed themselves far as I'm concerend)

By the way the "A" for A-bove and "B" for B-elow or B-ay.... That is how I've been telling folks to do it for a couple years now

If you have a dual receiver (DVR) or 2 receivers, you need two switches

htbradley · 04-11-2009, 01:01 PM

Daytona Coach/John -D,

Thanks, that will be my next project. I say project as it takes 2hours to get to the back of the reciever.

I didn't think you could put a switch or splitter in a satellite cable.

Thanks again,

Terry