Bad antenna wire - Page 2

**Herk7769** · 04-21-2011, 06:13 PM

As Jim said, the Winegard Sensar antenna is a POWERED antenna. There is almost no signal down from the amp in the white plastic head that the bat wings come out of without 12 volt power. The green light on the amp must be on. That not only switches the wall plate from cable to roof antenna but it routes power up the coax to power the amplifier located up on the roof.

If you bypass the wall plate you will get no (or very little) signal. Without the green light on, I get no over the air signals even though the tower is 6 miles away.

Make sure the coax wires are connected to the correct connections on the back of the wall plate.

rockin'ray · 04-21-2011, 07:01 PM

You could have a similar problem as I had on our new trailer that we bought last year. I tried every way to get it to work with our dish set up outside, even with cable it would not work regardless of what I did with the switch for the amplifier. i even disconnected it from the back side of the receptacle and still did not work. The only thing I could get it down to was that either a nail or staple went through the cable when it was being built. I ended up running a new cable from the Cable outlet on the outside to the jack inside and all is well. Of course this was probably a lot easier to do on my trailer than it would be on yours seeing as it is going through the ceiling.

**Herk7769** · 04-21-2011, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockin'ray

You could have a similar problem as I had on our new trailer that we bought last year. I tried every way to get it to work with our dish set up outside, even with cable it would not work regardless of what I did with the switch for the amplifier. i even disconnected it from the back side of the receptacle and still did not work. The only thing I could get it down to was that either a nail or staple went through the cable when it was being built. I ended up running a new cable from the Cable outlet on the outside to the jack inside and all is well. Of course this was probably a lot easier to do on my trailer than it would be on yours seeing as it is going through the ceiling.

I think you are talking about a satellite dish; correct? You can NOT get a satellite signal though the cable TV input on the trailer since it goes through the wall amp. It has to be "home run" from the outside of the camper directly to the sat receiver; unless there is a port on your wall plate that says SAT on it and you use the SAT connector on the outside of the camper.

rockin'ray · 04-21-2011, 09:55 PM

This was actually bypassing the amp. At first I did not know about the amp not allowing Sat signals to pass through. After I found this out I disconnected the cable that comes from the outside connection from the amp and ran it straight to the receiver and still had nothing. It was not until I ran a new cable in from the outside connector that I was able to get it working. So I chalked it up to there being a short in the cable somewhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

I think you are talking about a satellite dish; correct? You can NOT get a satellite signal though the cable TV input on the trailer since it goes through the wall amp. It has to be "home run" from the outside of the camper directly to the sat receiver; unless there is a port on your wall plate that says SAT on it and you use the SAT connector on the outside of the camper.

Big-Dog · 04-22-2011, 06:20 AM

Thanks for the info Lou and all, I hate to say this but I was on the wrong cable. After looking at the attachment you sent me, the right cable is the black one on the left. I hooked it up going through the amplifier and still no signal so I just hooked it up straight to the TV with a coupler and got a signal. Now I'm thinking that the amp is bad. Where is the best place to buy one of these ?

**Herk7769** · 04-22-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big-Dog

Thanks for the info Lou and all, I hate to say this but I was on the wrong cable. After looking at the attachment you sent me, the right cable is the black one on the left. I hooked it up going through the amplifier and still no signal so I just hooked it up straight to the TV with a coupler and got a signal. Now I'm thinking that the amp is bad. Where is the best place to buy one of these ?

I would email winegard (or whoever made your wall plate) and explain what is happening. They have pretty good customer service. If you are nice, they just might mail you one.

If not, any RV store (and I mean any) can order you a wall plate. I even think you can order online. There are several different kinds and the new one with the signal strength meter built in is the "cat's meow"

SensarPro RFL-342 TV Signal Strength Meter

However you would lose the SAT connector off the plate. You could cut in a new plate from Lowes or Home Depot with just a single F connector on it.
Shop Pass & Seymour/Legrand White COAX Wall Plate at Lowes.com

Big-Dog · 04-22-2011, 07:47 AM

Thanks again Lou. I will see if I can get up with winegard. Looks like the new one is the way to go if I have to buy one.

jimh · 04-22-2011, 08:28 AM

i haven't done a much looking around. i purchaced a replacement batwing ant at campingworld. i would suggest buying the whole thing. that way u have it all.

**Herk7769** · 04-22-2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimh

i haven't done a much looking around. i purchaced a replacement batwing ant at campingworld. i would suggest buying the whole thing. that way u have it all.

There is always a chance that it is a "double failure" (both the wall plate and the amp in the antenna), but the odds are against it if there is any signal at all coming down from the roof.

Since the power supply in the wall plate is also a "switch" (toggling between roof amp and cable), if the circuitry that switches back and forth is locked in "cable"; power will not go to the antenna amp.

Big-Dog · 04-22-2011, 09:16 AM

I think that I will take the antenna off my Lance pick-up camper and put it on the 5th wheel and try it. That will let me know if it the antenna is bad before I order a box for the wall. Winegard is closed anyway for Easter right now. I may even take the box out of the camper also if I still have the same problem by changing the antenna. One good thing about 2 campers I guess.

**Herk7769** · 04-22-2011, 09:19 AM

I think it would be a LOT easier to swap the wall plates IMO.

jimh · 04-22-2011, 09:48 AM

A lot better. Usually Murphy is hanging around when I tackle a project.

**Herk7769** · 04-22-2011, 09:56 AM

I have found that Murphy was an optimist.

Big-Dog · 04-25-2011, 01:20 PM

Checked out the antenna over the weekend with the amplifier from my pick-up camper and still no signal so I just order a new Winegard SensarPro from Camping World. I will report back as soon as I get it installed. I hope I get it before the weekend because I have to leave for Alaska on Sunday for 2 weeks work for NASA. But the good part is that when I get back and get my expense report done then I will be retiring for the last time. Life is GOOD

jimh · 04-25-2011, 03:30 PM

how many times have u retired for good....

abt murphy, i believe its his evil twin brother that follows me. has a cloud over his head....

i was looking under my slide and saw a large white, large black, and a large orange (i thought the orange was a faded red) wire ...couldn't figure what such large wires were doing going into the slide. then i remembered the post abt ant wires...live and learn.

Big-Dog · 04-26-2011, 06:17 AM

I guess that this will be the third time. Now is the time to enjoy life with some of the toys. Life is GOOD so don't pass it by. This is a good learning site if you read all the write ins. I know I have learned a lot just from reading. Thanks to all that have wrote in.

Dodge Guy · 04-27-2011, 09:49 PM

Check to make sure the copper wire in the middle of the coax is long enough to make contact with the socket in the outlet. on our Cherokee they cut the wire to short and I couldn`t get a signal from the cable side of the connection, my ant. side was OK.

Big-Dog · 04-29-2011, 06:10 AM

Well here is a up-date. I ordered a new Sensar Pro RFL-342 amplifier and hooked it up last night, still on signal on the meter. I unhooked it and ran the TV cable straight to the antenna with no amplifier and I can pick up 2 local stations. I guess the only thing left to do now is replace the BAT WING and the roof.

**Herk7769** · 04-29-2011, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big-Dog

Well here is a up-date. I ordered a new Sensar Pro RFL-342 amplifier and hooked it up last night, still on signal on the meter. I unhooked it and ran the TV cable straight to the antenna with no amplifier and I can pick up 2 local stations. I guess the only thing left to do now is replace the BAT WING and the roof.

I can assume that the numbers and such were lit up on the new amp and the selector was on antenna when you read no signal strength.

Are you sure the white part of the roof antenna is pointed DIRECTLY at the antenna farm in your area. 10 degrees off and you will not get digital VHF stations. Digital UHF stations are only good for about 10 miles without the Wingman clip-on elements (then 30 miles).

I am concerned that you get 2 stations when direct wired to the TV from the antenna head, but not when using the amp in the middle. That does not sound "right" to me. When using the wall plate amp, have you tried running a long coax between the antenna head and the wall amp; then a new coax from the wall amp to your TV; thus bypassing the wiring in the camper completely?

Big-Dog · 04-29-2011, 07:10 AM

Yes I had the lights on Antenna/scan with 0 signal on the meter. I had the antenna on the station before with a signal before hooking up the meter. I will try the long wire from the antenna straight to the meter and another one to the TV when I get home this afternoon and will report tonight on the home computer. Thanks again Lou

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