Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: joeszeidel on June 26, 2016, 06:57:11 am

Title: new tv booster sw
Post by: joeszeidel on June 26, 2016, 06:57:11 am
My current booster sw does not seem to be working. Checked fuse and it seems fine. I plan to purchase a booster for each tv and hook them inline with the coax connection at the two tvs. Will this work. I will then only use the selector switch to go from cable or antenna. Seems like simple solution. Comments please.
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on June 26, 2016, 07:45:02 am
Mine wasn't working well, I wanted to get rid of the switch, I got rid of the VCR player so I got one of these Winegard RFL-332 SensarPro Black TV Signal Strength Meter.  Signal strength, boost, tv or cable input, two tv output, works great.

Amazon.com: Winegard RFL-332 SensarPro Black TV Signal Strength Meter:... (https://amazon.com/gp/product/B007AORLC4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: joeszeidel on June 26, 2016, 08:08:58 am
Roger thanks for the quick response. My current weingard box is under the rear  closet floor with the power select sw. Above the closet. Door. I asume I would mount this above the closet door and route cables from below up to it. Or maybe in the back bedroom which e b er is easier.
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on June 26, 2016, 08:33:35 am
Ant and Cable in, tv1 and tv2 out, needs 12v too. I added a switch to shut it off completely.  DVD and DirecTV are straight to TV using HDMI cables.  BR TV gets broadcast or cable. Very rare  that we use it but I watched bits of a Mork and Mindy Marathon yesterday while working on a different project.  Pretty funny. Boost switch was on, ant was down, coach in the barn, 35 miles or more fromTV broadcast antenns.  Our input/output box was up front overhead so swapping was pretty easy.  PO might have moved it.
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: joeszeidel on June 26, 2016, 06:51:51 pm
Roger I'm still reading and trying to learn about antennas. I plan to see if I have 12v at the mast. I don't think so. So then I will try and find out why I don't have 12v at the booster sw. The breaker is good and there is a fuse at the winegard box under the closet floor which I need to test. The sw was working and all of a sudden it quit. If I am able to get it working I might get the Jack antenna, lots of forum members seem to like it. If I get cant get the booster sw to work then I might use the sw. you suggest. This is confusing. 
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on June 26, 2016, 07:51:34 pm
...there is a fuse at the winegard box under the closet floor which I need to test.
If your Winegard box is like the one in our coach, that fuse is a AGC 1/4 amp 250V.  I can just barely see the tiny filament inside the glass tube.  Fortunately, the tube gets black when it blows, so easy to tell.  They are not easy to find - I had to go to a local speciality electronics supply house to get them.  $12 for a tin of 5 fuses...OUCH!

AGC-1/4 Fuse - Bussmann,1/4A,AGC,Glass Fuse,Fast Acting,250V,1/4 Amp |... (http://www.allfuses.com/bussmann-agc-1-4)
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: joeszeidel on June 26, 2016, 08:08:34 pm
Chuck thats the one. My element is different. I will check it with a continuity tester. Looking at it it doesn't look blown. Have you changed your bo out or does it still work ok? 
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on June 26, 2016, 11:40:49 pm
Have you changed your bo out or does it still work ok?
Our Winegard distribution box still works fine - sends the 12 volt up to the antenna just like it is supposed to.  I installed one of the Jack replacement antenna heads on the original arms - it provides excellent reception.  The Jack head has a red LED in the under side, so when it it raised up you can see (from the ground) if it is getting power.  Highly recommended upgrade.
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: joeszeidel on June 27, 2016, 06:38:40 am
Chuck if I get the 12v back and to the antenna I will go with the Jack.
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: Rick & Robyn on June 27, 2016, 08:27:00 am
The Jack Antenna we purchased came with it's own booster.  Requires 120V outlet.
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: joeszeidel on June 27, 2016, 08:57:13 am
Rick where did you install booster and can you feed both tvs and still switch to cable? Did you disconnect existing winegard booster sw?
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on June 27, 2016, 09:24:23 am
Joe,

All of the Jack OTA antenna products come with a power injector.  Only thing is, like Rick says, it needs 120V to work.  To answer your installation questions, see the Owner's Manual and FAQ links on the page below:

KING Jack Head | KING (http://kingconnect.com/product/king-jack-head/)
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: lgshoup on June 27, 2016, 09:27:52 am
Says there is an AC to DC converter as wel as able to use existing power for Jack head. I think I'd find a way to run the thing from 12 volts.
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: Rick & Robyn on June 27, 2016, 09:28:37 am
Our original booster works, so we did not use the one supplied with the antenna.  The booster provided installs in-line and appears it could be installed in place of the original which should make it available to both tv's.  Lacks a power switch, however. 
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: wolfe10 on June 27, 2016, 09:31:29 am
CORRECT-- the Jack does need 12 VDC to the antenna head.  EXACTLY AS DOES THE WINEGARD.

If you have 12 VDC on the roof on the coax cable (center positive, outer jacket ground) just continue to use the Winegard booster to power the jack.

If not, you will need some supply of 12 VDC to it-- just exactly as you do if you stay with the Winegard antenna.
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: joeszeidel on June 27, 2016, 09:46:21 am
Thanks to everyone. Step one see if I have 12V at mast. If not see if I can find problem. If not use source supplied by jack.
,
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: joeszeidel on June 29, 2016, 06:53:27 pm
Well thanks to everyone who helped me solve my tv booster. I was able to find the problem with the sw. I replaced a coax end up at the antenna and installed a new King Jack head on the existing mast. Now I just have to see if the antenna is as good as many of you say it is. As old Sgt. Preston would say "Well King looks like this case is closed."
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: BamaFan on July 09, 2016, 07:55:30 pm
Does anyone know where that booster fuse might be located on a 2001 U320? Thanks, Royce
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: joeszeidel on July 10, 2016, 06:59:15 am
Royce, if the switch is above the large closet doors see if you have a false bottom in the closet. If so then a aluminum box should be there with a in line glass fuse. Good Luck 
Title: Re: new tv booster sw
Post by: BamaFan on July 10, 2016, 07:53:32 am
Thanks Joe. No, my booster switch is in the cabinet behind the TV, but I can't tell where the wires go without removing the flat screen TV and a lot of the customized cabinetry. I may have to move the switch and do some rewiring.