Not getting digital tv signal

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Not getting digital tv signal

December 16, 2015, 02:19:16 pm

Yesterday we came into Menifee , Ca, got settled and I raised my Weinguard antenna with Wingman, turned on my booster, set tv for scan and got nothing. Tried numerous antenna positions- nothing. It was working while we were in Az, outside of Yuma and we did spend 1 night in a Passport America campground with cable- all was fine. I was not able to get any reception during my stay at Pio Pico, but I thought it was because we were in the canyon. Here I have had good tv in the past so.............?

Today I went on the roof and changed the cable out with a good cable to see if the antenna cable had gone bad- same results.
I have no idea what to check now, so I am asking my forum friends for ideas. Digital tv has worked well for us and we have 2 less than 1 year old digital tv's.

Thanks for your help

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #1 – December 16, 2015, 02:29:17 pm

Do you have the TV set up using air instead of cable?

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #2 – December 16, 2015, 02:30:01 pm

We've had that problem with DISH, as well. Every time, a simple call or e-mail has gotten us back in business.

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #3 – December 16, 2015, 02:30:22 pm

Yes I do craneman- thanks for asking..........sometimes I do overlook the obvious.....................

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #4 – December 16, 2015, 02:31:55 pm

Mike- great you got it taken care of with Dish, but I just use the OTA free digital signals, so who should I call?

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #5 – December 16, 2015, 02:34:16 pm

The tv has a setup for air and does your coach have the push buttons to use ant?

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #6 – December 16, 2015, 02:43:20 pm

I have the push buttons- have been using them for 8 years. Could there be a problem in the switch box?? If so, how would I be able to test that? I am not a great electrician or tech, but can do some basic things if I have an idea where to look. Right now I am lost......lol

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #7 – December 16, 2015, 02:49:04 pm

depending on accessibility to the back of the tv and switch box you can take the ant. from the box and hook it directly to the tv. if it still doesn't work the problem lies with the television.

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #8 – December 16, 2015, 02:57:13 pm

Good idea, however this is a problem on both tv's. I have my original Weinguard batwing with the Wingman on top- do these antennas ever go bad? I know there have been improvements made so I am wondering if replacing the 15 year old antenna with a modern one might be a good idea??

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #9 – December 16, 2015, 02:58:52 pm

Quote from: Ted & Karen – December 16, 2015, 02:19:16 pm

...Tried numerous antenna positions- nothing...

Hi Ted - given that the cable you swapped was good and you ran it directly from the antenna to the back of the amplifier wall plate bypassing that push button switch box, then the issues is either in the amplifier wall plate ($20) or antenna head ($45).

My original was not a Winegard but the head died. Since it was discontinued I replaced the whole antenna. I'm sure there is a way to test if there is power on the coax out from your amplifier wall plate. Maybe someone can chime in and help narrow down what is needed.

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #10 – December 16, 2015, 03:00:10 pm

Ted,

The Winegard antenna requires 12 VDC to the antenna head on the roof. Disconnect the coax from the antenna and check between center and outer/ground.

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #11 – December 16, 2015, 03:21:33 pm

Brett- I have 12 volts power to the antenna

Mark- I just tested the cable on the roof from the antenna to the plate on the roof where it comes into the coach. I had replaced that cable one time years ago and thought it might be bad now.

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #12 – December 16, 2015, 03:24:24 pm

Mark- how did you tell the head died? That is what I am thinking at this point, but hate to buy a new antenna or head if there is another issue.

Thanks for the help

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #13 – December 16, 2015, 03:37:55 pm

If you didn't try to put the ant. into the television you still haven't eliminated the switch box. It can fail and it would not send a signal to either tv. It is a long shot but the fact you're not getting anything on the televisions is unusual as you can get some digital channels with nothing hooked up.

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #14 – December 16, 2015, 03:41:43 pm

Ted and Karen,

Being as 2 TV's do not work it is probably someplace other than the TV's. If you are reasonably close to a broadcast tower, just sticking a 3 or 4' length of wire in the center of the cable connector on the TV should pick up a station. Digital is much better for doing that than the old analog. If you get a signal, then move the piece of wire to the next device to see if it works there as a means to find what isn't working. The push button switch box in my coach stopped working and isn't made any more so I had to bypass it. I use a spliter after the antenna amplifier to feed both TV's.

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #15 – December 16, 2015, 03:47:19 pm

Guess I will be taking things apart today......lol

It could be the switch box and since we don't use it for anything else, using a splitter would be a good solution.

Will let you know what happens.

Thanks for the ideas guys

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #16 – December 16, 2015, 03:48:01 pm

If you could find a male to male coax connector and just direct wire the antenna to one of the tv's it would tell you if the switch was bad.
Len

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #17 – December 16, 2015, 03:57:42 pm

Quite honestly, I'd celebrate no t.v., no cell, no wi-fi. We traveled for years without the "connections". Could we survive without them, now ? HELL NO!

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #18 – December 16, 2015, 04:18:17 pm

Len- I did just that. Took the cable from antenna and connected to tv1- still nothing. So I'm now thinking it is not the switch box, but could be the booster- although I do have power to the antenna. Does the coax from the antenna go through the booster and then to the switch box? If so, I need to find a way to test that.....

Mike- we had 3 weeks no tv, I did break down and get the campground wifi since my Verizon mifi wouldn't work at Pio Pico.
Phone and internet are more important than tv, but I want it.............s

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #19 – December 16, 2015, 04:38:38 pm

Did you consider maybe just maybe there wasn't a signal to receive?

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #20 – December 16, 2015, 04:43:48 pm

Yes Stump I did, however there are others near me with their antennas cranked up. Also I have been here before and got tv just fine.

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #21 – December 16, 2015, 05:11:16 pm

Well I have by passed the switch box- nothing.

Have power to the antenna

Booster is operating as I can see the red light on it when I turn it on

Coax cable on roof seems good as the new acts the same.

I guess it's time for a new antenna head. I was looking at the Wineguard Razor antenna- anyone used it? Good or bad experience?
What other antenna head should I look at? Jack is the other one I have heard of.

Thanks for the help guys

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #22 – December 16, 2015, 05:12:20 pm

Easy way to check for number of stations, signal strength and direction: http://www.antennaweb.org/Address.aspx

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #23 – December 16, 2015, 05:18:33 pm

Thanks Brett

Re: Not getting digital tv signal

Reply #24 – December 16, 2015, 05:21:07 pm

I will try finding those signals after I put everything back together so I have the boost connected and switch box etc.

If not- time for a new antenna I guess. 15 years and 130000 miles- can't get anything to last these days............lol

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