TV Antenna Booster in Forester 3011DS

[Rockin M]

Can someone tell me where I can find the antenna booster box in my 2014 Forrester 3011DS. This is my first experience with an antenna that looks like "Home Plate" and it seems I am not getting a full complement of local channels.
Thank you

[vwexpert]

Mine is behind the front tv.

[Rockin M]

I was afraid you would say that. The previous owner installed a swing arm TV mount that I am going to replace with a fixed mount. I will look behind the panel during that exchange. Thank you

[Brian217]

Make sure the switch is on where the knob is to rotate the antenna. First time I was trying to use ours I didn't realize there was a switch. You'll see lights come on when it's in the on position.

[bbcutright]

My antenna doesn't rotate. but the booster is behind the radio/DVD control center. Also there is a little button on the side of the coaxial connection if pressed will turn on a red light when its functioning. Make sure you are plugged into the coaxial not the satellite connector.

[sgtlm17]

The switch on antenna is just to position antenna. You turn switch off after you find strongest signal. The plate that coax plugs into has the booster power button on it. Booster must be on for ota TV and must be off if using park cable.

[brucemc]

Originally Posted by sgtlm17

The switch on antenna is just to position antenna. You turn switch off after you find strongest signal. The plate that coax plugs into has the booster power button on it. Booster must be on for ota TV and must be off if using park cable.

Interesting! I'll tinker with this some day when we are within signal distance, but I thought both had to be on. Turning on the one at the power outlet/coax outlet turns on both.

We are 40ish miles from transmitting antennas; in order to pick up a signal at our house, I put an 80 mile antenna atop a 30' mast. Fortunately we live in a rural area so we don't have HOA or city restrictions to deal with.

Thanks for the tip!

[benagi]

Originally Posted by sgtlm17

The switch on antenna is just to position antenna. You turn switch off after you find strongest signal. The plate that coax plugs into has the booster power button on it. Booster must be on for ota TV and must be off if using park cable.

Do you or anyone else know if it is the same way on a 3171? I always thought the switch on the antenna was the booster and needed to stay on while watching your TV's OTA.

[sgtlm17]

You both have newer units which should have the king jack antennas. The booster is the wall plate with the button where the coax connects. The power button on the antenna itself that lets you see a series of blue lights is to help in positioning the antenna for best reception. This is simply put a signal meter. Once you turn the antenna to get the best position indicated by the most blue lights illuminated you may shut that off. The booster wall plate powers the antenna for use. That button must be left on or the antenna will not work. When using park cable that button must be off.

[Rockin M]

Still looking for mine. A friend with the sister unit to mine advised that his booster was in the cabinet above the entrance/exit door. Not on mine! I do not have a power indicating crank up device. Mine is the old turnable wind up antenna crank. But I do have an antenna that looks like "home plate" on the baseball diamond. Do these style antennas also need a booster??
I'm still searching. Thanks for all the replys.

[Creativepart]

Just find the 12-v receptacle on a plate on the wall near the TV. Kind of hidden behind there is a tiny black push button. "In" is on and you should see a red LED light up. Out is off.

The plate has the 12-v receptacle and a coax connection that feeds the TV directly.

When this tiny button is in you power the booster which sits behind the plate. When the button is out you switch off antenna TV signals to the coax that's right there and it provides for direct cable tv source to the TV when the outside cable tv coax is connected.

On my Forester this is mounted sideways and the coax completely hides the power button. Just reach around there and you'll find it.

Here's what the plate looks like - that black dot is the booster switch (the smaller dot is the LED light):

[Rockin M]

I talked to Travis today at Forest River Technical support about not finding the antenna booster. After a couple of failed suggestions of places to look for the booster we determined that the video switch box, which is mounted under the TV has a built in antenna booster. The switch box has 12vdc running into the back of it. So the theory is that when I switch the box to "antenna" the booster is energized and de-energized when I switch it to another input device. This is the first switch I have ever with power running to it.

[Steeljag]

Did it work ?

Also, title of topic is info on 3011DS, and your signature reads you have a 3055DS ?

[Rockin M]

Thank you for bring that to my attention. I do have a 3011DS.

[Steeljag]

No problem Berry...that's the unit I'm looking at. Did you locate the booster? Get it working?

[Garrette]

Originally Posted by Rockin M

I talked to Travis today at Forest River Technical support about not finding the antenna booster. After a couple of failed suggestions of places to look for the booster we determined that the video switch box, which is mounted under the TV has a built in antenna booster. The switch box has 12vdc running into the back of it. So the theory is that when I switch the box to "antenna" the booster is energized and de-energized when I switch it to another input device. This is the first switch I have ever with power running to it.

That is correct. 12volt input means booster. I have a VCS-10. A word of caution. If you are doing coax work, cutting and adding new ends, unplug the 12volt from the box otherwise, you could short the box, if you cross the stinger and shield on the coax. Of course, you can find replacements on Amazon. The bad thing about these boxes, no indicator of power or booster. You will not know if it is shorted. The TV will just not receive a signal.

Yes, the flat Rayzor from Wineguard is a boosted antenna.


Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums

[Rockin M]

Thanks Garrette for the words of caution. I do plan on adding some coax as I add my Direct TV box to the system.