External TV Antenna

[tfmdgm]

I have a 2016 Salem Cruise Lite with an "Omni-Directional" TV antenna. The reception is fair. I have a cable connection on the side of the trailer. If I connect a good "directional" antenna on a pole to the cable connection, will it feed through my booster and work?

[Bama Rambler]

I'm not sure if your booster blocks 12 volts on the cable port, but if it does you could pull the booster and hook the 'Cable' cable to the antenna port and that would work.

[bubbles]

That panel is not a booster it is where the 12 volts is input to the booster (amplifier) which is located in the antenna. You can hook up any kind of antenna to the cable input port and just treat it like it was a park cable input. The 12 volts for the booster is via a fuse somewhere in your unit.

[tfmdgm]

So, 12 volts for the booster in the antenna should be fed back through the cable connection?

[Bama Rambler]

I mistakenly called it a booster when it's really a splitter/power supply.

My statement is still true. Some of those units block 12 volts from passing through the Cable port, so assuming you're using an amplified antenna, you'll need to move the 'Cable' cable to the antenna port in order to power the amplifier.

[bubbles]

If you will be using a regular home type antenna there should be no issue. Just be sure to turn the booster off (same as if connected to park cable). Of course where transmitter is located makes a difference (just like at home) for station pick up.

[tfmdgm]

I have a "Jack" Digital RV antenna that I used on a previous trailer. The previous trailer had the inside mechanism that you turned the antenna with. This trailer's antenna is mounted stationary on the roof. I really don't want to cut a hole in the roof and add the turning mechanism, so I thought I would just put it on a pole and connect to the cable port.

[bubbles]

In that case you need to do what Bama Rambler said. The Jack is an amplified antenna.

[tfmdgm]

Thanks all! Big help.

[Electra glide]

I never thought of adding an external antenna. The stock one on my camper is basically junk. Going to look into this for this years travels.

[tfmdgm]

My thoughts are to use 3, 5ft sections of EMT conduit joined together with conduit couplings. 15ft in the air, 5ft +/- while storing. Drive a metal sake into the ground by the back bumper. Sit the conduit over the stake and strap it to the bumper. 25ft of cable would get from the antenna down to the cable connector.

[JustB_Rad]

I've had the same thoughts about adding an external antenna because I don't wanna deal with trying to replace the crappy factory antenna.

My initial though would be to get a tripod for an old camcorder or a laser level to get it off the ground. Obviously not as great as getting it 15 ft off the ground, but it's gotta be better than the factory antenna.

If there was a way to mount it to my telescoping flag pole, I'd be game for that too.

[JustB_Rad]

Maybe mount a King Jack to something like this.

[JustB_Rad]

Sorry, missed the link on what I was trying to do.

AdirPro Telescoping Rotary Laser Pole with Tripod and Mount - Tiger Supplies

[tfmdgm]

That might work.