What I Learned Today.

[Bob K4TAX]

Today's objective was to determine why the TV in our travel trailer didn't pick up stations. There was 12V power to the antenna control panel. So up to the roof, disassembled the antenna and discovered that there was 12V at the amplifier. Initial conclusion, the amplifier must be defective. I noted that the PC board was quite hot in a couple of places.
The roof-mounted antenna had evidence of water in and around the PC circuit board. Not good!

Down back to the control panel and pushed the button and the LED extinguished. Humm..... power is now off. Back to the roof and there was still 12V at the amplifier as confirmed by my DVM. Back down to the control panel, DVM in hand, sure enough, the push button switch DID NOT turn the power off to the amplifier although the LED was off. The DVM confirmed that the 12V to the roof antenna DID NOT switch on and off.

Digging further, I disconnected the 4 coax cables and proceeded to determine where each one went. One to the antenna on top, one to the satellite connector on the outside, one to the cable connector on the outside, and one to the bedroom TV location.

The bottom line..... the push button switch and illuminated LED signified that the TV signal source switched to either the ANTENNA or the CABLE connection. The bedroom TV location also followed this switch logic.

So....... I learned that the switch and LED on the control panel DOES NOT control the amplifier .....but IT DOES switch the TVs signal source between the Antenna and the Cable. The Satellite coax cable terminates in a separate connector on the same control panel. The entire system is now in the junk pile.

I'm looking for a new TV antenna. Any verified suggestions?

Thanks
Bob