TV reception with JACK HD antenna

[Doering]

Purchased the JACK and it really does bring in the channels with a crystal clear reception. When I connect the antenna to the exterior connector on the trailer, the TV detects very few channels and the signals are weak (many non-viewable). In contrast, when I hook the antenna directly to the back of the TV, 20+ channels are found and all are strong and crystal clear.

Is the signal strength lost via the external connector because of all the splitters and distance travelled before reaching the TV?

Is there a way to get the strong signal strength to the TV via the outside connector?

[Evereddie]

I don't know your trailer but are there 2 connectors on the outside where you are hooking it into? How are they marked?

[Doering]

Originally Posted by Evereddie

I don't know your trailer but are there 2 connectors on the outside where you are hooking it into? How are they marked?

There is no marking on the connectors. There is a single connector with a rubber cap. This one is beside an outlet where you lift the flap. There are 2 connectors inside this outlet. I just assumed the single was an "in" and the 2 inside the box were "out".

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Doering

There is no marking on the connectors. There is a single connector with a rubber cap. This one is beside an outlet where you lift the flap. There are 2 connectors inside this outlet. I just assumed the single was an "in" and the 2 inside the box were "out".

The 2 under the flap should be marked Cable and Satellite. The single is a telephone jack????

[Evereddie]

The single connector with the rubber cap is an OUT. It should come off of the antenna if the antenna is hooked in like it comes from the factory. (there is at least a two way splitter in that antenna system) The 2 connectors under the door are both in's. One of them should go directly to a connection around your TV panel. In most it is marked cable on the outside. Try using that one.

[Evereddie]

Why can't you bring the signal from the new antenna in on the original cable that was on the roof for an antenna?

[Ddubya]

It could be a bad cable connection, bad cable, or the antenna amplifier switch in the wrong position

[Herk7769]

Still confused about the "Jack" using the satellite/cable connection on the outside. There is no way to get power to the Jack to even work...

[Doering]

Originally Posted by Evereddie

The single connector with the rubber cap is an OUT. It should come off of the antenna if the antenna is hooked in like it comes from the factory. (there is at least a two way splitter in that antenna system) The 2 connectors under the door are both in's. One of them should go directly to a connection around your TV panel. In most it is marked cable on the outside. Try using that one.

I'll give this a try next time out. (Strange there are 2 "ins"?). Yes, I could go to the roof. The idea was to place the antenna (made a stand for it) on the truck bed and just connect it to the trailer. The factory antenna is fine for certain locations and I wanted to leave this as is.

[Doering]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

Still confused about the "Jack" using the satellite/cable connection on the outside. There is no way to get power to the Jack to even work...

I hook the JACK to my spare 12V battery in the truck bed.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Doering

I hook the JACK to my spare 12V battery in the truck bed.

OK, then try this:

Use the "IN" Marked "SAT" and connect your TV to the SAT/AUX marked wall plate connection.

You "might" be able to use the one marked CABLE, by turning off the wall plate (no light on) and then you can use the distribution network off of the TV/TV2 output of the wall plate.

Remember you will still need to scan for TV channels every time you re-orient the Jack antenna.

[Doering]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

OK, then try this:

Use the "IN" Marked "SAT" and connect your TV to the SAT/AUX marked wall plate connection.

You "might" be able to use the one marked CABLE, by turning off the wall plate (no light on) and then you can use the distribution network off of the TV/TV2 output of the wall plate.

Remember you will still need to scan for TV channels every time you re-orient the Jack antenna.

Ok, that makes sense. We won't be out with the trailer till the beginning of August. I'll give all these suggestions a try. THX!

[Evereddie]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

Still confused about the "Jack" using the satellite/cable connection on the outside. There is no way to get power to the Jack to even work...

I was thinking about that also but when he said he hooked the Jack directly to the TV and got all those channels I figured he had a power injector inline already.
I still think replacing the old antenna on the roof with the Jack and be done with it is the way to go.

But after reading his last post I think there is a much bigger problem. Having to wait all the way until the first of August to go out in the camper is a crime!

[Doering]

Originally Posted by Evereddie

But after reading his last post I think there is a much bigger problem. Having to wait all the way until the first of August to go out in the camper is a crime!

Good one! Not retired yet. We do get between 4-5 weeks of trailer time each year. We have about 2 weeks left this year.

[Evereddie]

Well that's plenty of time. We are not retired yet either but take every other weekend off, sometimes 3 day weekends, and find something within a few hours drive time. We are blessed with a lot of options where we live in North Carolina.

[GAC2460]

Make sure all the connectons going into the wall jacks are good. Have a 2014 Rockwood 2104S and all the connections in the wall jacks had come loose. I couldn't get but three channels, and after checking the connections behind the panels I was getting 30. Same thing happend to my power button for my awning, the wire came loose from the spade.