Antenna Booster

[Yakherder]

On the road from Manitoba and heading to New Mexico and back home via Washington and into British Columbia before back to Manitoba.

Presently in Sioux Falls, SD and trying to get the cable to work on the TV. I tried both Cable/Satellite outlets at the back of the trailer. (they are not marked so had to try both). Hit the red light on and off on the booster and scanned each time but nothing showed up. I ran the cable through a window and direct to the TV and found good reception on a number of Cable channels.

My booster box, which is inset into the ceiling like a regular electrical receptacle fell out as the screws were not holding it any longer so I'm thinking that this could be the problem.

I tried at Camping World next door to the KOA we are staying at but they do not have this part. They have one for a Windgate which looks similar but is set up for Satellite as well.

Is the booster my problem?

Is that the actual name for this coax connector for antenna/Cable that is used in a Sunset Trail Reserve?

Where would I find one?

How do you take one out to replace? There seem to be a pile of wires in that hole and don't want to reck anything else.

Any thoghts?

Thanks

[mark5w]

Check out Amazon if it has your part or replacement box.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rv+antenna+booster+box

[Yakherder]

Thanks Mark. I checked out your link and came up with a Winegard Model RV7542 in white that has a TV and Sat connectors. It appears that there is the on/off switch for the TV/Cable side. It only showed the face side of the plate and not the wiring set up on the back. I think I will need a connector for the radio which is installed lower in the same wall. I haven't really got that far with it. This would probably work but would like it in Brown or Black if I could find one.

I did come across what looks like the exact match from RecPro Model RP-1939-KT. It did show the back wiring and did include a cable for the radio.

In both cases I cannot seem to find an outlet who sells them. I'm in Sioux Falls, SD right now and Camping World doesn't have either of these.

I'll be checking places along the way of our 8000 mile trip so somebody should have one.

Does anyone else know who would carry these items? Travelling through SD, KS, CO, NM, AZ, NEV, ID, OR, WA, BC, AB, SK, MB

[Wingerdinger]

The booster box is normally wired to the coax coming from the roof antenna, and would not normally be wired to the coax coming from the 'cable' and 'satellite' outlet.
Trace the coax coming from the cable/satellite outlet box to see where they terminate. Mine were loose cables ending in the space behind the TV.
The box would not normally quit working just because it came loose from it's mount, unless the wires were pulled loose as well.

[Yakherder]

Thanks Doug, Patience and Shelby for the info. I think mine is wired a bit differently than yours.

The plate that I have is mounted in the ceiling directly above the TV. When you take the plate down there are three connections on the back to which are attached three coax cables. One for the TV antenna, one or the cable and one for satellite.

The three coax are inside the ceiling and meet at this box. One from the antenna and two from the outside inlet boxes at the outside rear of the trailer and somewhere through the wall/ceiling.

The coax connector for the antenna and the cable are next to each other and when in use are split by the 12vdc box next to them and their output to the TV is made by pressing the button on the outside of the plate which has a red light on mine. If the red light is on the roof Antenna is providing signal/reception to the TV if it is off the signal reception is coming from the Cable.

The satellite is connected to a completely separate fitting on the back of the plate with the other end on the outside of the plate. If you were using satellite I believe you would disconnect the coax from the Antenna/Cable outlet and screw it on the Satellite fitting which is connected direct to the TV.

The splitter box used for the Antenna/Cable feature has 12vDC wires running to it. How the whole thing works, I have no idea!

I have run a coax through a window direct to the TV and it works fine. The problem I have is that the Cable running from the back of the trailer to the plate seems to be the problem or it is the plate mechanism itself. Apparently they to have to be replaced the odd time and I can't seem to find one, as yet.

Still working on it.

[Lloyd]

Some times the connectors/fittings themselves are the problem. I have seen where a sloppy job installing the connector onto the coax is the problem.

[Yakherder]

Well, I finally made it back home after two months and 8,000 miles and finally getting to work on the power plate, TV/Cable, Satellite connections.

I purchased a Klein Tools VDV512-101 to check the coax cables to see if they were broken and what they are connected to. I found that my coax for the Cable, which runs from the outside rear of the trailer was OK but when connected to the old Power Plate showed a fault. This would indicate, to me, that the Power Plate was faulty.

A number of campgrounds had cable service so I finally figured that instead of running the coax through the window to get the service, I connected it to the rear of the trailer and connected it direct to the satellite fitting on the Power Plate and attaching the cable from the TV to the Satellite Out on the plate. I could still get over the air TV by switching the TV cable back to the TV Out on the Power Plate.

Purchased a Winegard RV-7542 once I got back home as there were none in any of the RV shops I checked along the way, and I checked everywhere we stopped. I have hooked it up and I can get Over the Air TV and the Cable hook up appears to be connected but as yet have not had the chance to use it.

I am now in the process replacing the Genesis GT-2.0 stereo system with a Furrion DV1230 which has an HDMI Out function that I can use for the TV to get away from the RCA plugs. More wires to play with. I'll be back with another problem once I get into the nuts and bolts of this project.

[Lloyd]

Sounds like you have found a few things to keep you busy and out of mischief for awhile.
You had quite a road trip this summer! Good for you.