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Antennae boost switch

Could you use the antennae boost switch located in the front overhead cabinet as a power switch for a winegard  t 4in motion dome??  Is it not just a 12 v power source?
I am installing an in motion satellite that requires a 12 v power source. It comes with a switch but i would like to not have to drill more holes, and since i do not use the power booster for anything thought i might tap in to it. Feasible ??
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Peter –
Could you use the antennae boost switch located in the front overhead cabinet as a power switch for a winegard  t 4in motion dome??  Is it not just a 12 v power source?
I am installing an in motion satellite that requires a 12 v power source. It comes with a switch but i would like to not have to drill more holes, and since i do not use the power booster for anything thought i might tap in to it. Feasible ??
The switch itself will not work (it's a self contained amp and only coax goes from it to the roof) but there is 12 volts behind it that you could utilize for the new switch... There's probably already a penetration through your roof that serves something that is unused (cell or cb antenna?) Was your coach possibly prepped for satellite?
2000 Foretravel GV320 4010 #5717
"SuperDutyFiver" on most other boards

*** East coast based - literally "all over the east coast!"

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #2 –
Yes and i currently have a king  satellite dome on the roof. This is the third one i have had(all same models) that has failed and the company says "buy a new one" or send it in to be fixed. I am in canada so cost wise that would be as expensive as a new purchase... all said and done..not very happy
So i am going the winegard route as starlink is:
More expensive
And i have personal feelings about the company

I have all the cable wiring already on the roof installed but the winegard uses a power cable instead of cable powered system and new one has a separate cable
So...ready to go except the power connection
Instead of me running around looking for the 12v power i require i thought the power booster connections might do the trick

Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #3 –
You should be able to find the power wire going to the booster and connect into it. That would provide you with a constant 12 volt power source.
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: Antennae boost switch

Reply #4 –
There is a pile of wires under the dash that have EXT printed on them and most go to the back of the
coach and I believe a few of them go up behind the TV. They are spare wires that Foretravel put in.
 
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #5 –
So looking to use the existing 12 volt power wires from the antennae boost switch. I tested touching the white wire to negative on voltage tester and the green wire to positive on tester. I got about 14 volts.  BUT i want to ensure these are correct and the white wire  is not a false ground. Can you confirm green is positive and white is negative ? Is this the standard colors for wiring with Foretravel?
My new wingard t4 antennae power wire has a red for positive and black for negative
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #6 –
Peter, check for continuity from white wire to metal frame of coach. Jim.
Jim and Dona
2002 U295 36'
Lily, blue healer. Our fury person
Manx mid travel Ecotec turbo
2022 Bronco badlands Sasquatch
Trail 90 and 110cc

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #7 –
Being more on the dumb side today.. how do you do that? The only other possibility for ground up there would be the metal frame going across the cabinetry but i think it is aluminum
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #8 –
Peter, I assumed you had a digital volt/ohm tester. For basic use a inexpensive one can be had from Harbor Freight etc. Use the ohm setting and one lead to the white wire and other lead to coach frame. Jim.
Jim and Dona
2002 U295 36'
Lily, blue healer. Our fury person
Manx mid travel Ecotec turbo
2022 Bronco badlands Sasquatch
Trail 90 and 110cc

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #9 –
Well my guess is i will have to dig under the front dash for a ground point and run a wire from it to the meter as my meter cables are not long enough.  Then i can check the continuity.  I dont see any other ground point by the tv
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #10 –
Maybe i should ask this a different way. Is green positive on wiring and white negative??
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Peter –
Maybe i should ask this a different way. Is green positive on wiring and white negative??

Green is negative, ground, or chassis ground, What ever you want to call it.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #12 –
So white would be power?  Funny i directly wite it to my house batteries and everything works as it should?!!!
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #13 –
Peter, do you have any of the coach manuals that go to the coach? There's a good electric wireing diagram in there.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel
 

Re: Antennae boost switch

Reply #14 –
Wow....found some other positive and negative wire s over the driver seat and bingo..it works.. so the power to the antennae booster is not a confident power source... thanks to all for the tips
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox