Community Forums

RJEV · 08-24-2010, 12:17 PM

Our two TV's in our motorhome are 08's or maybe 07's and don't receive digital signals. There is a box which allows us to switch between cable, sat, antenna & dvd. We take our Dish receiver when we travel. If I buy a converter box and attach it between the antenna line and the switch box will I then be able to get digital signals to both TV's? Or, should the converter box be attached before the Dish receiver?

Thanks,
RJ

kjburns · 08-24-2010, 01:00 PM

The converter box is only for over the air digital TV. You don't want it on the line to the Dish receiver.

TXiceman · 08-24-2010, 06:16 PM

It could go inline after the Sat receiver, provided it is a model with a pass through feature. I would rather hook it up to the input to a switch box and take it tot he Tv of choice.

Ken

John Hilley · 08-24-2010, 06:44 PM

I believe most Dishnetwork receivers have an "off the air" antenna input. You could connect it there. You could also connect to your VCR antenna input if you have a VCR. You can also connect to the antenna input on the selector box, sometimes this isn't possible because of the antenna amplifier power feed.

RJEV · 08-24-2010, 08:28 PM

Thanks. I checked again and it looks like I can connect the antenna line to the converter and then to the switch box. I don't understand the "antenna amplifier power feed". Will it harm anything to try it this way?

Thanks again,
RJ

John Hilley · 08-24-2010, 08:43 PM

What make and model rv do you have? The Winegard "bat wing" antenna has a powered head. It is powered via the coax going to the bat wing. There is a plate with an on off switch and red power indicator. On most there are two coax connections for TVs. These are safe to connect into the converter antenna in. The coax directly from the antenna can't be connected to the converter.

RJEV · 08-25-2010, 10:42 AM

John,

We have a 2008 Allegro 32LA. I don't have a power head, only a crank inside the MH. I checked again and have only one antenna line which is currently attached to the antenna input on the switch box. Should it work to disconnect that line, attache it to a converter box and then from the converter box back into the antenna input on the switch box?

Thanks,
RJ

John Hilley · 08-25-2010, 10:52 AM

With that new a motor home, you definitely have the amplified antenna. Your on/off switch is probably in the entertainment center cabinet. Does your TV selector switch have a power switch on it? If so that coax may be powered.

Winegard Sensar Antenna

RJEV · 08-25-2010, 11:02 AM

John,
I can't find an on/off switch. Ours is pretty basic. No entertainment center, just a place with wires and the switch box. Also, no power switch on the TV selector. Will he hurt to converter to the antenna lead and then to the switch box?

Thanks,
RJ

John Hilley · 08-25-2010, 11:26 AM

I think it will work. To be opn the safe side, take a volt meter and check for 12 volts DC on the antenna coax jack of the switch. If there isn't any voltage, you should be good to go.

HD4Mark · 08-25-2010, 12:39 PM

How I connected ours it to remove the coax from the switch box that goes to the antenna. Install a splitter that has one port DC pass and connect that to the antenna connection on the switch box. That will allow the signal booster to still operate on the antenna. Connect the other side to the DTV converter and connect that to the AUX input of the switch box. Now just select AUX for the TV you want to watch digital television on.

I know that I saw a diagram of that somewhere but darned if I can find it.

RJEV · 08-25-2010, 12:57 PM

Thanks,
RJ

wa8yxm · 08-25-2010, 02:11 PM

If you attach it between the antenna line and the switch box it will not work. PERIOD.

Here is how you do it.

Get a "Diplexer" this is a splitter with power pass through on one port

The common (single) connector goes to the roof, the power pass through to the switch box (Which provides power for the mast-head amplifier in the antenna) and the non-power pass to the converter.. The converter out goes to the AUX in on the switch box.. That will work

select TV-ANT for over the air ANALOG (IE: in Canada or low power relay stations)

Select AUX for DIGITAL.

floridaflash · 08-25-2010, 05:04 PM

Disconnect the coax going into the back of the TV and connect it there. You want a different converter for the bedroom and hook it up the same way. You need to to be able to watch two different shows as you change channels with the converter. Works fine for me and gives a great picture. Turn off the converter box when hooked up to cable and the converter will just pass the cable signal through to the TV.
David