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Old 08-30-2013, 08:13 AM   #1
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We happen to be at a campground with cable hookup, which we have never tried, so I bought a length of cable. I have tried every combination on the outside and inside connections with booster on and off, and still get low signal strength message on the screen. Very frustrating. The TV has worked in my driveway through the antenna so I don't think it is the TV. I don't really have a way to see if I actually have a signal coming out of the campground box.
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Old 08-30-2013, 09:01 AM   #2
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booster must be off. make sure TV is set to cable and sometimes you still have to do a channel search. double check your connections as well.
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Old 08-30-2013, 09:10 AM   #3
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Did you set your Tv back to cable from the Antenna setting? You find that in the tv remote menu.
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Old 08-30-2013, 10:19 AM   #4
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I had a bad cable connection from the outside to the booster. same results as you have had. It was fixed under warrantee so I don't know what was actually the problem.

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Old 08-30-2013, 11:17 AM   #5
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The first thing I would do is go nextdoor to your neighbor at the campground, and ask how good is their reception.
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Old 08-30-2013, 10:01 PM   #6
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Well, I getting something now. Playing with the TV was the key. Have 12 channels which I assume are coming in on cable. I should have written down the steps because we won't be in too many places with cable. Thanks everyone for the help.
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Old 09-01-2013, 01:52 AM   #7
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I do a channel search at every CG. you have too as not all cable providers use the same frequecies and or bandwidths
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Old 09-01-2013, 01:06 PM   #8
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Don't you have a coax input to your trailer that is straight through to a coax fitting at your tv? I have a 2010 Cruiser and at the entertainment center I have 2 coax connectors, one coming through the amplifier, and one that is straight through from an outside fitting. The one that is straight through (not going through the amplifier) is designed for satellite antennas or cable.

I don't think you want to run a cable tv signal through an amplifier, either turned on or off. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Of course the signal input of your tv must be set correctly as mentioned above. Good luck.


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Old 09-01-2013, 02:46 PM   #9
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I had the same problem this past week, then I asked the RV next to me. They laughed and said most of the campgrounds they have been at, including the KOA we were at have low signal strength and bad picture quality. I will try it again when I have a known good cable signal.
But on the plus side, at several camgrounds I was able to pull in between 4 and 15 good strength signals from the over the air stations!



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Old 09-02-2013, 12:14 AM   #10
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Qoute: Pulpwood007 mrntioned<br style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">I don't think you want to run a cable tv signal through an amplifier, either turned on or off. Please correct me if I'm wrong</span>
</span>
Not familiar with that. Is that the case?</span>
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Old 09-02-2013, 01:17 AM   #11
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since the cable signal is already amplified coming to the post having the amplifier on will overdrive the signal to your TV causing damage to the TV. thus voiding any warranties.

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Old 09-02-2013, 02:37 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ken07734
since the cable signal is already amplified coming to the post having the amplifier on will overdrive the signal to your TV causing damage to the TV. thus voiding any warranties.

Not to question your judgement, but do you have first hand knowledge of a television receiver being damaged from an over amplified signal? Never heard that before. I can see video distortion from a strong composite signal but can't imagine permanent damage.

My original post was concerning making sure one is not running the cable signal through the amplifier in the OTA antenna line. These amps are different from cable TV amps.

http://www.cabletvamps.com/faq.htm

Edited by: pulpwood007
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Old 09-02-2013, 08:14 AM   #13
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Considering that I spent 4 years in technical college and that I have spent many years dabblingin 2 to 10 meter radio with a number of dirty amplifiers, etc. to my credit I wouldsaythe answer is "yes" I have seen a receiver damaged by overdriving the signal to the amplification portion of the receiver. it can and usually depending on how long of the exposure to the signal will overheat the finals or final portion of the amplifier and render it useless. Now, having said that you may find on the higher end of the name brand products some care may be built in to protect the unit from that type of damage but I would have to research a number of brands to back that up and I believe I have run on enough without really adding any real value here.... My suggestion is to be careful to follow your product documentation to determine any possible damage by using the amplifier provided on the connection in your RV.


Just saying.......
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Old 09-03-2013, 06:20 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ken07734

Considering that I spent 4 years in technical college and that I have spent many years dabblingin 2 to 10 meter radio with a number of dirty amplifiers, etc. to my credit I wouldsaythe answer is "yes" I have seen a receiver damaged by overdriving the signal to the amplification portion of the receiver. it can and usually depending on how long of the exposure to the signal will overheat the finals or final portion of the amplifier and render it useless. Now, having said that you may find on the higher end of the name brand products some care may be built in to protect the unit from that type of damage but I would have to research a number of brands to back that up and I believe I have run on enough without really adding any real value here.... My suggestion is to be careful to follow your product documentation to determine any possible damage by using the amplifier provided on the connection in your RV.


Just saying.......
Yes, I would agree the possibility more likely in RF applications, but have you personally ever seen this happen with a television receiver? I'm by no means a television technition but have always assumed there were AGC circuits built in to regulate the incoming signal. I know a signal that is too strong will affect picture quality i.e. tilting and distortion, but never heard of it destroying the receiver.


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Old 09-03-2013, 12:36 PM   #15
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I have been in the Cable industry for 15 years and have not witnessed a television being damaged to an over amplified signal. Trust me with our cable plant many high gain dual amplifiers sometimes get unbalanced and exceed the noise threshhold and we have not replaced any tv's. Now we get hammered with digital tiling calls.Edited by: Seabeecamper
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Old 09-03-2013, 12:39 PM   #16
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And here in Florida we turn all of our AGC's off. Doesn't get cold enough here to have them on.
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Old 09-03-2013, 01:49 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by Seabeecamper
And here in Florida we turn all of our AGC's off. Doesn't get cold enough here to have them on.
In the hot Texas summers we reverse the polarity on them and use them for cooling.
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Old 09-04-2013, 05:21 AM   #18
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Thinking about this more as I read these responses I remember a time that I had to get a new cable box when I had Com*&amp;^% service as it burned out my TV. They refused to replaced my TV but did replace the box after I had to go to them to get it. So, I have had it happen. Not in an RV but at home so from a BIG YES that it can and does happen.....
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Old 09-04-2013, 11:15 AM   #19
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Probably because it dumped AC voltage into the tv and not because of too high a signal level.
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Old 09-04-2013, 12:32 PM   #20
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Yes probably caused by ac voltage. I highly doubt the RF frequencies had anything to do with it.
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