Community Forums

wade5979 · 09-07-2018, 09:16 PM

Can I connect an extended range over the air antenna to the cable connection in the electrical bay, run a channel search on the samsung using both air and cable and receive local channels from that antenna?

Old-Biscuit · 09-07-2018, 09:54 PM

Yes........sorta

You can connect external antenna to 'cable' connection then TV has to 'receive' cable (selector box/swap coax input etc) then TV has to be set to Cable and a channel scan done.

TV input set to 'AIR' and channel scan would be via roof top antenna....and it would clear channels found via "Cable" scan

When we FTd we could get many channels via AIR & Roof top antenna BUT-----
Some places not so good.
I bought a simple single array antenna at ACE Hardware and a 5' long 1/2" pipe to mount it too.
Then I would set it up in the flag pole holder I had on trailer ladder and connect via coax to 'cable' (or satellite) connection on exterior of trailer.
Set my BOMB (Box of many buttons) to Cable, change TV Input to Cable and do an auto scan.
Would pickup OTA channels within 35 miles or more.

Matt D · 09-08-2018, 03:28 AM

Wade, I believe what you’re suggesting would work, but there would be one drawback. The drawback would be the inability to incorporate any available Cable the park provides, unless you use swap the cable and rescan.

As You would really be using the Cable input for an OTA signal, I’d try scanning for Both (Air & Cable) on each TV.

-Matt

wade5979 · 09-08-2018, 12:11 PM

Well I tried every combination I could think of and the OTA signal must be different from a cable signal because I get no channels from the outdoor antenna I want use when connecting it to the cable input jack in the electrical hook up bay.

Using the roof top antenna I get 7 OTA channels. If I run the cable from outdoor antenna that I want to hook up through the door and connect it direct to one of the TVs I get 37 local channels. I'm wondering if there is a converter that will convert the OTA signal into a cable signal that I can connect to the cable connection in the electrical power bay?

brobox · 09-08-2018, 01:20 PM

Wade, is it possible that you lost the power booster on the roof antenna? It sure sounds like the boost is not working to only be receiving 7 of 35 stations.

MRUSA14 · 09-09-2018, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wade5979

Can I connect an extended range over the air antenna to the cable connection in the electrical bay, run a channel search on the samsung using both air and cable and receive local channels from that antenna?

The antenna amplifier must be used to get a good over the air signal but cannot used with cable and therefore your cable connection in your bay is wired to bypass the antenna amplifier. To do what you want will require swapping some wires so that the bay connection goes through that TV amplifier. You will have to figure out where your amplifier is and route the bay input through the amplifier. These connections vary between models and the amplifier could be located in an antenna control box, a multi-button selector box, or in some RV's on the rooftop antenna itself.

brobox · 09-09-2018, 06:49 AM

Wade, found this post, other brand, same problem, easy fix. http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/no-s...-384327-2.html

voltdoc · 09-09-2018, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wade5979

Well I tried every combination I could think of and the OTA signal must be different from a cable signal because I get no channels from the outdoor antenna I want use when connecting it to the cable input jack in the electrical hook up bay.

Using the roof top antenna I get 7 OTA channels. If I run the cable from outdoor antenna that I want to hook up through the door and connect it direct to one of the TVs I get 37 local channels. I'm wondering if there is a converter that will convert the OTA signal into a cable signal that I can connect to the cable connection in the electrical power bay?

Not familiar with the antenna unit and switch setup you have on your CS but did you have the appropriate switch in CABLE mode when you tried to scan the channels? Whatever you feed thru the cable jack input in the cargo bay won't be connected to the TV RF input unless you are in cable mode. On my coach that means turning OFF the amplifier for the roof antenna - this disconnects the antenna and switches to the feed from cable input. What you are trying to do should work.

wade5979 · 09-09-2018, 07:53 PM

No I did not have it in the correct mode. I just finished rereading the winegard manual and when you turn off the amplifier it goes into bypass mode and what ever is connected to that cable jack should pass through. I'll try that tomorrow and do a channel search and report back

wade5979 · 09-25-2018, 06:39 AM

Finally got back to my Antenna project and turning off the amplifier above the door did indeed let the OTA signal pass through the cable port and you just run auto scan on each TV. I ended up having to put a 20db amplifier at the cable port going into the coach to boost the signal up to a level to make it through all of the coach cabling and still the TV in the bedroom fades in and out on some weaker channels.

Does anyone know where the splitter is that slits the cable signal once in the coach? I'd like to put an amplified splitter in there.

voltdoc · 09-26-2018, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wade5979

Finally got back to my Antenna project and turning off the amplifier above the door did indeed let the OTA signal pass through the cable port and you just run auto scan on each TV. I ended up having to put a 20db amplifier at the cable port going into the coach to boost the signal up to a level to make it through all of the coach cabling and still the TV in the bedroom fades in and out on some weaker channels.

Does anyone know where the splitter is that slits the cable signal once in the coach? I'd like to put an amplified splitter in there.

Sounds about right the OTA antenna has a booster built in too. Here is an older schematic , but CS should be able to send you a more current one.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DvD...w?usp=drivesdk

Not sure where the primary splitter is located, guess would be near the OTA antenna control box. Good question for CS.

There is a secondary downstream splitter in the diagram which I believe is sandwiched inside the wall to the right of the bedroom TV and the adjacent cabinet. Access is from the cabinet side, the left side panel unscrew to reveal the hollow wall section. It splits the coax signal to the bedroom and exterior TV's. This might explain the poor reception on the bedroom TV, everytime you add a splitter you reduce the signal level at the outputs. So the bedroom and outside TV's are getting a weaker signal than the others.

wade5979 · 09-26-2018, 07:55 PM

I've got this schematic also and I think you are right the second splitter is whats hurting the bedroom reception. I've got a 45B floorpan with the fireplace and I'm betting the 1st splitter is behind the white connection panel inside the compartment above the fireplace.

voltdoc · 09-27-2018, 05:36 AM

Actually I'm wrong. On my 2017 there is no splitter inside that wall section next to the TV. It was there on my 2013.

Near the main TV cabinet seems logical but that would require running 4 or 5 extra coax up thru the slide in/out mechanism which would be undesirable.

However I did find the main splitter on my coach over the entry door. It is a 1 input to 4 output splitter. Grey wire input, orange, black and two brown output wires. This differs from the 2015 schematic. One could assume this is the only splitter now as it has an output for each of the 4 TVs. I am at the mothership and will ask today if an opportunity presents.

See photos here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/css2Zw2jqm8WLiSw9