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Topic: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing (Read 580 times) previous topic - next topic

TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

All the wiring in our 95 is factory with one exception, the TV boost switch. Anyhow, I plan on replacing our batwing with a Jack antenna which I will mount directly to the roof. My intention is to completely bypass the factory boost in favor of the Jack's own amplifier.

Anyhow, I rigged it up temporarily today to see if it worked before doing any roof cutting. I connected the Jack using the factory coax connection on the roof. I plugged the TV end of that coax into the Jacks power unit (12 volt) and ran a coax to the TV. Turned on the Jack and no signal. Then I switched on the factory boost switch and all worked great. What has me puzzled is why would this be necessary? The only connection from the rig to the Jack is the coax. (batwing is gone and the four wires coming up to the roof are cut). So, how does this TV boost system work? Where is the amplifier?

Here's how our 95 is wired:
* On the roof, I have a coax and four wires (2 purple, red, blue)
* The coax runs down a chase, under the floor and reappears near the TV (I'm not sure where the rear TV coax is)
* 1 purple goes to the boost switch, the other purple and the red go down a chase
* The 4th wire becomes white and is a ground
* The boost switch is getting its 12v from another wire which was tapped
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Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #1 –
Don't know if this will help, but under my closet floor, in closer proximity to where the rear TV and its switches (VCR, Ant, etc) were, was a powered switch unit of some sort that was necessary for the system to work properly.  This is in my old 1990 U280.  I remember it gave me a hassle when I added a satellite on the roof.  No such thing in the 2002 I now have, it seems to be a much simpler design with push buttons in a non-powered switch in the front overhead.  Hard to tell when they switched things. 

Hopefully, you can track it down on your 1995 electrical schematic.  ALL white wires in my 2002 are 12 volt, and green is used for all my grounds.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #2 –
The batwing amplifier is located in the antenna head. 12v is supplied from the boost switch to the amplifier via the coax.

Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #3 –
I moved from a batwing to the Jack antenna as well, as much to get rid of it bouncing going down the road as any other reason.  We have a 99 so I am not sure of the changes, but i used the factory booster and it works really well.
Jerry
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #4 –
I would check under the closet floor for the controller for the winegard amplifier
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #5 –
Thanks to all. Before I threw it, I looked inside the top of the batwing and saw what was probably the amp. I'm going to look tomorrow in the closet area and see if there is some kind of controller present that the coax runs through. Just can't figure out how the regular booster would affect this new install otherwise. There's no batwing anymore and the four wires are cut.

Here's another interesting issue that adds to my confusion. When I was starting on this deal, I unscrewed and the stuffed a little tin foil in the end of the coax on the roof (had been attached to the batwing) and tested for continuity on the two available coaxes in the cabin. One was open and one had continuity. So far, so good. Then I removed the tin foil and tested again. Still had continuity! The coax has got to be running through some box somewhere. Unfortunately, none of my schematics show this setup.

Jerry, that's interesting that your Jack works with the onboard. My Jack instructions state that it won't. So much for instructions!

Anyhow, here's my old setup. You can see the coax and the loom with the four wires.
jor
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Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #6 –
OK. There must be a Winegard power supply somewhere so I'll look for it tomorrow and call the Oracle Monday if I can't find it. I'm thinkin' I can just bypass it and use the Jack amplifier or failing that, just use the existing setup. It works after all. I had hoped to avoid that as it's rinked up and bothers me. Thanks.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #7 –
BrettW just answered on rv.net and indicated that he's using the Jack with the built in Winegard system. Still hope to use the Jack but either way, I'll have TV!
jor
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99 320

Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #8 –
I just used the winegard booster switch with the jack antenna and it works good. Just cannot use both the jack and the winegard boosters. It looks like the wires from the winegard head were some type of sensors maybe to tell you the antenna head is raised.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #9 –
Quote
Just cannot use both the jack and the winegard boosters.
Yep, Ron, that's it. I was using both. I just found the Winegard power supply under the closet. Tomorrow, I'll bypass it and see what happens. Probably work great. At least, that's the plan. Thanks.
jor
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99 320
 

Re: TV Boost Switch, Jack, Batwing

Reply #10 –
The older Winegard units powered the electronic switching and injected 12v into the cable going the the head to power the amp. My remote connection box is under the aft closet across from the shower.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT