TV and radio trouble

scout3351 · 08-20-2014, 05:11 AM

I looked a little this morning but didn't find anything relating to the same issues I am having with the tv and radio. They may well be connected. I don't know. The tv is like stop action. Works for a short time then the picture freezes for a short time, jumps to catch up and starts and stops over and over again. The radio has a similar problem. Plays for a very short time then static - a lot. very irritating. Trailer is a Work and Play toyhauler (WPT28DB)

thanks

fonzie · 08-20-2014, 05:18 AM

Could it be because of LED lighting if you have in your unit ??

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ise-36278.html

RSchleder · 08-20-2014, 06:27 AM

We have full LED trailer and the DVD and TV work perfectly!

**Herk7769** · 08-21-2014, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scout3351

I looked a little this morning but didn't find anything relating to the same issues I am having with the tv and radio. They may well be connected. I don't know. The tv is like stop action. Works for a short time then the picture freezes for a short time, jumps to catch up and starts and stops over and over again. The radio has a similar problem. Plays for a very short time then static - a lot. very irritating. Trailer is a Work and Play toyhauler (WPT28DB)

thanks

Not much to go on.

How old is the camper?
Did it just start doing this behavior?
Is it only when using "Over The Air" (roof antenna).
What kind of TV?
What kind of radio?
How far to closest TV/Radio tower?

Have you used a tower finding program like www.TVfool.com or www.AntennaWeb.org to find out if you have reliable digital radio/TV reception?

scout3351 · 08-23-2014, 06:48 AM

Camper is 2008 Work and Play toyhauler and we have had this problem since we bought it from PO. We usually camp out in the sticks or along the river so are not using anything but the roof antenna. The TV is a Polaroid flat screen and the radio is, I think, a Jenson. Whatever Forest River puts in. The trailer is sitting right next to my shop and the radio in the shop plays fine. TV has a good clear picture when it's not screwing up and usually finds 10 - 12 channels when scanning.

**Herk7769** · 08-23-2014, 11:25 AM

Do you routinely remove the radio from the camper?

Is there a different antenna for the radio? - could be a broken core wire

Do you turn the TV antenna to point the white box at the TV towers you need to tune on?

scout3351 · 08-23-2014, 03:15 PM

Radio is built in - never leaves camper and has separate antenna. TV antenna is round so it does not get moved. Seems strange to me that both pieces of electronics are having problems.

Ford Idaho · 08-23-2014, 03:21 PM

Start with the basics, are all of the connectors wired and grounded correctly and tight?

This is from the antenna to the back of the radio and tv.

In a thread which I can not find now someone posted that they found the ground shielding cut off on some connections.

scout3351 · 08-23-2014, 07:26 PM

I'm going to go through everything tomorrow and hopefully can find something. I was working on relocating my LP tanks tonight and was soaked from the heat and humidity. I was kneeling on the ground and leaning against the tongue and was getting a little tingling where I touched the trailer. Anywhere I touched ground and the trailer I got bit. Could this be part of the problem?

Ford Idaho · 08-23-2014, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scout3351

I'm going to go through everything tomorrow and hopefully can find something. I was working on relocating my LP tanks tonight and was soaked from the heat and humidity. I was kneeling on the ground and leaning against the tongue and was getting a little tingling where I touched the trailer. Anywhere I touched ground and the trailer I got bit. Could this be part of the problem?

If you are sure it was not caused by static then yes it is a real problem.

If you have it plugged in, how, power or extension cord?

scout3351 · 08-23-2014, 08:39 PM

trailer is sitting next to my shop and plugged in to an outside outlet with a 12 ga extension cord. what would cause the tingling? I'm pretty sure it isn't static electricity as damp as it is here.

fonzie · 08-23-2014, 09:04 PM

Probably miss-wired receptacle or extension cord, somewhere hot and neutral most likely reversed.

scout3351 · 08-23-2014, 09:17 PM

"Probably miss-wired receptacle or extension cord, somewhere hot and neutral most likely reversed."

So you are saying something in the shop is miswired? If that is the case then this probably isn't part of the problem with the radio and tv as that problem exists when on the generator too.

Ford Idaho · 08-23-2014, 09:23 PM

Is the ground prong there ?
I would run a continuity test on the cord first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scout3351

"Probably miss-wired receptacle or extension cord, somewhere hot and neutral most likely reversed."

So you are saying something in the shop is miswired? If that is the case then this probably isn't part of the problem with the radio and tv as that problem exists when on the generator too.

With the same extension cord that you are using now?

scout3351 · 08-23-2014, 09:35 PM

Just grabbed a flashlight and checked cord - no ground prong. When using the generator I use the 50 amp cord with adapters. The cord on it now at the shop stays home when we go.

BooBoo23 · 08-23-2014, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scout3351

I'm going to go through everything tomorrow and hopefully can find something. I was working on relocating my LP tanks tonight and was soaked from the heat and humidity. I was kneeling on the ground and leaning against the tongue and was getting a little tingling where I touched the trailer. Anywhere I touched ground and the trailer I got bit. Could this be part of the problem?

For the tingling you got you might search "shocked by frame to ground" on this forum. That may be your problem there.

As to the picture breaking up could be weak TV signal. Digital over the air needs a good clean signal or it will act up. Even a rain storm or other weather event between you and where the signal is coming from can cause a picture problem. The old analog signals would tolerate it but digital will not. In my trailer the tv signal acts up when I use the microwave. DW discovered that when I was heating something up and she was watching the tv the picture went goofy. Apparently the microwave mfr in China slide past the rf emissions test. I know it says Dometic on it but it isn't made by them, just has their name on it.

scout3351 · 08-24-2014, 10:07 PM

Checked cord for ground prong as suggested by Ford Idaho. No ground prong. Swapped in a different cord. No more bite. Thanks for the help guys. Now, the TV and radio thing is still going on so feel free to give advice. We are leaving Tuesday AM for the week in the woods so I won't have access to the internet till next Monday.

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