Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: TV Box (Read 563 times) previous topic - next topic

TV Box

This handy little box on top must be handy when it works but just what is it for?

I have a remote for it and I know it has to be on for the TV's to work but is seems to have a interminint loss of power.

So what does it do and if I put in a HD antenna do I need it?

Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: TV Box

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Super8mm –
This handy little box on top must be handy when it works but just what is it for?

I have a remote for it and I know it has to be on for the TV's to work but is seems to have a interminint loss of power.

So what does it do and if I put in a HD antenna do I need it?


Assuming you are talking about the RCA on top. Probably a TV tuner as some TVs don't come with one and rely on one of these boxes to receive OTA (over the air) TV. HD antennas are just TV antennas to receive digital TV and not really any different. Read reviews before buying one. We live 64 miles from Sacramento TV transmitters plus being behind a hill. A big fringe area antenna does an excellent job getting about 30 or more stations. The smaller variety I mounted on our U300 also does a good job, many times better than a bat but is not in the same league as the big antenna.

Lots of new 4K TVs on the market now. They are really the ticket now with a much better picture compared to 1080P TV. Even though TV stations don't broadcast in 4K, the new sets do a remarkable job improving a lower quality signal.

Costco has an excellent 50" TCL 4K TV for $299. Roku is built in. For a little extra, Vizio makes an excellent TV and seems to take so-so resolution and do the most with it especially with motion.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: TV Box

Reply #2 –
If you haven't up graded your TVs to digital  it may be a converter to analog.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: TV Box

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Assuming you are talking about the RCA on top. Probably a TV tuner as some TVs don't come with one and rely on one of these boxes to receive OTA (over the air) TV. HD antennas are just TV antennas to receive digital TV and not really any different. Read reviews before buying one. We live 64 miles from Sacramento TV transmitters plus being behind a hill. A big fringe area antenna does an excellent job getting about 30 or more stations. The smaller variety I mounted on our U300 also does a good job, many times better than a bat but is not in the same league as the big antenna.

Pierce
well I can search of channels on both this box and my old standard def TV's  But I lost power to this the other night and now no TV but on the way back home the light came back on.
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: TV Box

Reply #4 –
Quote from: bbeane –
If you haven't up graded your TVs to digital  it may be a converter to analog.
No they were never updated, I do have one new flat screen I am going to put in as soon as I figure out where to mount it and what mount to get
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: TV Box

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Super8mm –
well I can search of channels on both this box and my old standard def TV's  But I lost power to this the other night and now no TV but on the way back home the light came back on.
Unplug the TV box and then press the power button on it. Leave it unplugged for at least 30 minutes and then try it.

Your new flat screen probably (but not certain) has a tuner in it. Depends on what coach you have as to where to mount the TV. We have a big flat wall so a 50 inch fits perfectly but others may need a fold down mount. Carol and Jeff had a huge TV in the front where we watched the Super Bowl in Q.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: TV Box

Reply #6 –
As others have said that box is a digital tuner that enables an old tube type TV to receive over the air digital TV which started in 2009.  If it is working intermittently, check the power plug and the coax cable connections.  If that doesn't help, you may need a new tuner, which you probably can find for free from people who don't need them, but still have one  or two.  Digital TV is much better than the old analog TV, no ghosting although a weak signal will cause pixallating, higher definition, etc. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: TV Box

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
Unplug the TV box and then press the power button on it. Leave it unplugged for at least 30 minutes and then try it.

Your new flat screen probably (but not certain) has a tuner in it. Depends on what coach you have as to where to mount the TV. We have a big flat wall so a 50 inch fits perfectly but others may need a fold down mount. Carol and Jeff had a huge TV in the front where we watched the Super Bowl in Q.

Pierce
Thanks Pierce, I will give that a try.  The one TV I have does have a tuner, I need to take a peice of cardboard the size of the TV and see where I want to put it, then I can figure out what mount to get
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: TV Box

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker –
As others have said that box is a digital tuner that enables an old tube type TV to receive over the air digital TV which started in 2009.  If it is working intermittently, check the power plug and the coax cable connections.  If that doesn't help, you may need a new tuner, which you probably can find for free from people who don't need them, but still have one  or two.  Digital TV is much better than the old analog TV, no ghosting although a weak signal will cause pixallating, higher definition, etc. 
Thanks Jerry, I do want to go with HD TV's,  I picked up a HD antenna for my 5er but ended up fixing the old one so I kept the HD antenna.  I will replace the one I have now and while I am up there plugging holes I will pull the old dish off too,.
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: TV Box

Reply #9 –
Steve,

Here is where I mounted the 50 inch TV. It's a flat mount that can tilt down slightly. Since then, I've seen a mount that allows the TV to be turned a bit so the viewing angle is good from the sofa on the opposite side of the coach. It's good now but I think even better if it's angled a bit.

Don't forget to think about your coax if your reception is marginal. RG-6 has less loss. As it is, our coach had the pre-amplifier at the back of the coach by the heater. So the signal had to travel from the roof, down into the coach and then to the back and then back to the front of the coach. Since our main TV is now at the back wall of the main salon, I brought the coax down through the roof and immediately into a preamp up in the compartment then down through the wall to where the OEM TV was and then back. With a splitter, you can still use the existing cables to send the signal back to the bedroom if you have a TV there.

Any kind of antenna will benefit from a preamp for the best reception. The existing Winegard was just in a bad location in our coach.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)
 

Re: TV Box

Reply #10 –
Thanks Pierce, I never thought about that wall, I guess because my VCR and this handy box it at the front in the overhead.

I think the think with the buttons under the RCA box in my picture is a splitter but I dont mind running new coax if I need to.

I do have 2 tv's but I think they both tune to the same channel with either remote?
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5