Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Topic: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed (Read 1214 times) previous topic - next topic

Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

December 15, 2016, 02:33:13 pm

I'm in the process of ripping all of the old components and wiring out to replace with new.

Behind the front TV I found a small plastic box looks like an old style transformer that has a 110VAC plug on one side and a 110VAC receptacle on the other. There is also a label attached to the two wires that come from somewhere and feed the box which says 15amp relay/TV disconnect. It isn't plugged into anything so I'm going to "Deep Six" it unless someone tells me I need it.

I have to say that the audio/visual wiring and cables in the compartment over the driver's seat were the biggest rat's nest I have ever seen. Ray Charles could've done a better installation.

I will probably have more questions before I complete my latest upgrade.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #1 – December 15, 2016, 02:48:47 pm

Device to keep TV off when ignition on is my guess

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #2 – December 15, 2016, 03:01:03 pm

Probably right Tim.

It's ironic that they sell in-motion satellites now.

Thanks.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #3 – December 15, 2016, 03:26:26 pm

It is probably a law that front seat people cannot watch TV while vehicle is in motion, and this device opens a relay to remove 120-volt power from the front TV when ignition is on. To bypass so TV works with ignition, some unplug TV from the device and plug directly into an outlet, or find the 12-volt ignition wire on the front breaker panel and remove it so the device always thinks ignition is off.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #4 – December 15, 2016, 06:34:03 pm

I can't watch TV when I'm driving................too busy texting.

I just spent a great deal of time getting the front plywood panel removed from the overhead cabinet which not only exposed a myriad of wiring but also a couple more electronic boxes. I'm having a highball now, but tomorrow I'll have more questions for y'all.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #5 – December 15, 2016, 06:52:40 pm

We left off all the plywood panels that close off the cap to allow that space to be vented. The area behind our 47" TV is covered with ceiling fabric, but open behind that.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #6 – December 15, 2016, 08:46:08 pm

Quote from: Travelin' Man – December 15, 2016, 06:34:03 pm

I just spent a great deal of time getting the front plywood panel removed from the overhead cabinet

I know what you mean. I almost was not able to remove them. I will definitely trim them a bit before I reinstall them.

Trent

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #7 – December 15, 2016, 11:12:58 pm

I used removable fabric covered panels held on with Velcro. Works nice. Mine is closed up behind the TV but the front space is open to the right side front overhead cabinet and the cabinets over the driver. I have a 5" variable speed computer fan in the panel behind the TV that blows air (quietly) out from that space. Plenty of air comes in around all of the doors even when they are closed and keeps the space reasonably cool. The biggest heat producer is the DirecTV receiver.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #8 – December 16, 2016, 10:50:20 am

First question today;

There is a coax cable labeled ANT that has a coax/RCA jack adaptor (pic) that isn't plugged into anything, but from it's position
it could have been connected to the back of the Bose.

Could it be from the FM antenna on the roof?

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #9 – December 16, 2016, 03:16:39 pm

I would bet that RCA adaptor terminated a coax cable which was "T"ed off the coax from the TV antenna because the cable end of that adaptor is the same as the Ant connector on the back of a TV.
The coax from the AM/FM antenna will have the "plug in" connector you find on any car AM/FM radio and it is smaller than the TV type coax.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #10 – December 16, 2016, 03:41:35 pm

Yes....... Thank you P.W.

I haven't traced any wires yet but that would explain the coax splitter I saw way in the back.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #11 – December 16, 2016, 04:40:00 pm

I open my component cabinet and removed all of the old equipment and removed a bin full of un-used cables and wires. I will use the overhead compartment over the driver for my electronic eguipment.

John M

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #12 – December 16, 2016, 05:01:40 pm

All of the electronic stuff up there does generate heat. You might want to make sure it is well ventilated. I am not 100% sure but we had multiple cable box failures due to that cabinet getting too hot. Since then we have installed two louvered doors made by FT and a 4" computer fan in the end of the cabinet that moves air. No more problems.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #13 – December 17, 2016, 08:22:22 am

I'm good in that department with OEM fan and door louvers.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #14 – December 17, 2016, 11:35:42 am

For the rear TV.I went into the bedroom closet, took the back off the cabinet to access the rear TV. Roland had already replaced the old TV in our 97 U295 coach with a Sony flat screen. The picture was awful from the front source. Even when I hooked it direct to the satellite receiver. I tried an amp up front, it only made it worse.
I have installed hundreds of Satellites on RV's of all type. Never understood why Foretravel ran RG59, instead of RG6. To make it worse, it runs down along the floor, where it picks up all kinds of noise.
So I drilled a 1" hole very carefully in the upper roof/wall channel in side the TV cabinet. You need to be super careful, because the camera wires run in there also. I used a wire snake to the front TV cabinet inside the channel. When it came out the front, I taped a RG6 wire to it, pulled it back to the rear. Installed new crimp on RG6 ends. Don't use the screw on Radio Shack ones. Great for a temporary repair. I have replaced many of those in RV's and homes. The picture is now clear. Even when I hooked it through the RF coax switcher.
You can also run RCA's, but I have done this before in RV's. Again, even with an amp, they don't do well with long runs. They pick up too much noise. You can try to run RG6, then put conversion ends to RCA's, but most likely you won't like the quality of the picture. I know they make HDMI cables 50' long, not sure how the picture will look.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #15 – December 17, 2016, 01:08:56 pm

Chris,

I don't know what I have going to the rear TV, but I will check shortly. Here at the house I have a 50' run of HDMI that provides great HD to a TV, so it may be an option in the FT.

I have simple needs that include a flat screen HDTV up front that has HDMI feeds from both a satellite receiver and Blu-ray, with the TV plugged into the existing Bose system. I also want to have the coax coming from the OAT TV antenna on the roof to split with one feeding directly into the front TV and the other going to the rear TV. Front TV will use INPUT selector to select Blu-ray, Satellite or OAT.

If I have RG6 running from the rear TV then I guess it can be connected to the Winguard selector box, along with the OAT and SAT feed so I can toggle back and forth between OAT and SAT on the rear TV. But I don't think I can feed the Winguard with coax
from the satellite receiver. And I don't think if I split the HDMI going from the satellite receiver to the front TV that I can connect it to the Winguard selector box.

Not sure how to be able to toggle rear TV, but going out now to determine what coax I have.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #16 – December 17, 2016, 04:29:02 pm

For the rear TV in our last coach, I used an A/V box with 4 in, 1 out. I hooked the RCA's from the DVD, 1 sat, and the other Tivo sat. which had no coax outs.Left the fourth input empty. Then I used an RCA channel 3/4 converter box to coax (cheap at Walmart) hooked to the output of the RCA switcher. What ever source of RCA's went in, they were then Modulated to Channel 3 or 4 coax. I then hooked that to the Winegaurd coax switcher.I also hooked the RF cable from the Off Air ant. amp to the converter box "antenna in". What ever source I was switched to, that is what the coax converter box saw. When I switched to #4 on the A/V box (which was empty) I saw the off air ant.
You would still want to run RG 6 to the back. But you can try the factory RG59 if the picture satisfies you.
Splinting HDMI does not work. Both TV's have to watch the same thing. I use a Radio Shack HDMI switcher in our home 3 in, 2 out. You can then watch different sources at the same time on 2 differnt TV's. One note that took a while to figure out is, both TV's need to be on when your switching sources.HDMI inputs, need to hand shake with the HDMI output's to switch themselves. Hope this makes sense?
They way you are hooking the front tv up, works fine. Mine is that way also.

A/V switcher:

4 In 1 Out Composite Video Audio RCA AV Switch Switcher Box Selector TV Splitter

RF modulator

RF Modulator TV Switch Audio Video RCA Ant Input to F Type Coax Output New |...

Make sure you install the modulator, where you can get to the channel 3/4 switch. Some area's broadcast locals in 3 or 4, and you will get a crappy picture

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #17 – December 17, 2016, 04:30:04 pm

If it's grey coax, it's RG59...the smaller wire with less shielding.

Quote from: Travelin' Man – December 17, 2016, 01:08:56 pm

Chris,

I don't know what I have going to the rear TV, but I will check shortly. Here at the house I have a 50' run of HDMI that provides great HD to a TV, so it may be an option in the FT.

I have simple needs that include a flat screen HDTV up front that has HDMI feeds from both a satellite receiver and Blu-ray, with the TV plugged into the existing Bose system. I also want to have the coax coming from the OAT TV antenna on the roof to split with one feeding directly into the front TV and the other going to the rear TV. Front TV will use INPUT selector to select Blu-ray, Satellite or OAT.

If I have RG6 running from the rear TV then I guess it can be connected to the Winguard selector box, along with the OAT and SAT feed so I can toggle back and forth between OAT and SAT on the rear TV. But I don't think I can feed the Winguard with coax
from the satellite receiver. And I don't think if I split the HDMI going from the satellite receiver to the front TV that I can connect it to the Winguard selector box.

Not sure how to be able to toggle rear TV, but going out now to determine what coax I have.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #18 – December 17, 2016, 04:40:54 pm

1 in 2 Out HDMI Male to 2 HDMI Female Y Spliter Cable Adapter for HDTV PS3...

This will NOT work. You will have to unplug physically which TV you are not watching

Full HD 1x2 Port HDMI Splitter Amplifier Repeater 3D 1080p Female Switch Box...

This will work to slit HDMI, but both TV's will have to watch the same input

RadioShack HDMI Switcher / Splitter | eBay

This switcher works awsome. You can switch and watch differnt inputs, on 2 different TV's. But make sure both TV's are on when you switch inputs. Or it locks up

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #19 – December 17, 2016, 05:26:55 pm

I believe all my coax is RG6 based on the wire size and foil insulation, yet it's grey and says type 59.

The first picture below is the back of the front TV, the second is the back of the Bose and the third is the back of the satellite receiver.
The third picture shows the cable ends that come from the Bose which now are laying in the bottom of the TV cabinet since removing the old TV.

We would like to be able to have the Bose sound while watching satellite, Blu-ray or OAT antenna if possible. At present I have 2 HDMI cables run, one between the Blu-ray and the TV and the other between satellite receiver and the TV.

The front TV seems ready to go with the HDMI cables and OAT antenna plugged into it, but I need to know how to incorporate the Bose system. The rear TV only needs satellite and OAT antenna inputs, and Blu-ray would be a plus but not necessary.

I guess the satellite receiver can be connected to the Bose using RCA jacks, so that just leaves the OAT antenna and Blu-ray. Not sure about the OAT coax having a RCA plug adaptor...............will that alone provide audio?

Any help is appreciated.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #20 – December 17, 2016, 06:45:47 pm

If one is using a Directv Genie receiver, a simple way to watch Directv HD in the bedroom or elsewhere is to use a Directv wireless client receiver. No cables need to be run to 2nd or 3rd TVs.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #21 – December 17, 2016, 07:15:44 pm

Unfortunately we have Dish.

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #22 – December 17, 2016, 09:45:18 pm

Quote from: Travelin' Man – December 17, 2016, 05:26:55 pm

I believe all my coax is RG6 based on the wire size and foil insulation, yet it's grey and says type 59.

The first picture below is the back of the front TV, the second is the back of the Bose and the third is the back of the satellite receiver.
The third picture shows the cable ends that come from the Bose which now are laying in the bottom of the TV cabinet since removing the old TV.

We would like to be able to have the Bose sound while watching satellite, Blu-ray or OAT antenna if possible. At present I have 2 HDMI cables run, one between the Blu-ray and the TV and the other between satellite receiver and the TV.

The front TV seems ready to go with the HDMI cables and OAT antenna plugged into it, but I need to know how to incorporate the Bose system., it's the smaller cable with less shield. Like I said, on the front tv for off air, it is fine, but long runs to the back The rear TV only needs satellite and OAT antenna inputs, and Blu-ray would be a plus but not necessary.

I guess the satellite receiver can be connected to the Bose using RCA jacks, so that just leaves the OAT antenna and Blu-ray. Not sure about the OAT coax having a RCA plug adaptor...............will that alone provide audio?

Any help is appreciated.

You have RG59 beyond a shadow of a doubt.Bigger number, means smaller cable.The shielding is what the issue is.Never seen a FT with RG6. Maybe in the later years. For the off air connected to the front TV, it will work fine. But in long runs to the back, especially because it runs along the floor, it will be of bad picture quality. But you will need to be the judge of that. If you don't like the picture, then run a new RG6 through the upper roof channel.

http://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+RG6+and+RG59&espv=2&biw=1067&bih=529&tbm=isch&imgil=kFn_aolHBAzjeM%253A%253BFoppu-3uULXDaM%253Bhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.youtube.com%25252Fwatch%25253Fv%2525253Ds6iShJrc56E&source=iu&pf=m&fir=kFn_aolHBAzjeM%253A%252CFoppu-3uULXDaM%252C_&usg=__j3rFCraTUIRcWp198q68bi3pLe4%3D&dpr=1.5&ved=0ahUKEwinpde13vzQAhUBLmMKHVy5A8UQyjcIOQ&ei=DPpVWKfvMIHcjAPc8o6oDA#imgrc=kFn_aolHBAzjeM%3A

If your TV doesn't have an audio out, you can hook all 3 audio sources to the boise. It has 3 inputs.Your out of luck with the off air. You'll have to listen to those channels via the TV speakers

RCA spliters

Audio Y Adapter 1 RCA Plug to 2 RCA Jacks Extension Splitter

Here is an RCA 4 in, one coax out.What I was talking about doing before, but all in one. Use the RCA cables out of the sat, dvd etc. Send them to the rear tv on a single coax. Has ant. input also.

Radio Shack 4 way RF Modulator 9v DC Cat # 15-1215 | eBay

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #23 – December 18, 2016, 12:27:31 am

Grace, the 6 is a thicker wire than the 59( not the other way around) and for satellite signal the 6 is needed. Most applications only use the 6 now. My FT has the 6 in it.
JohnH

Re: Audio/Video Upgrade Info Needed

Reply #24 – December 18, 2016, 01:33:49 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – December 18, 2016, 12:27:31 am

Grace, the 6 is a thicker wire than the 59( not the other way around) and for satellite signal the 6 is needed. Most applications only use the 6 now. My FT has the 6 in it.
JohnH

You are right, exactly as I said . Larger number RG59, means smaller cable. Smaller number RG6, means bigger cable.Most earlier coaches, including the 97 we have now, used RG59 (smaller grey cable)
There is one correction I would mention. Satellite signal (dish to receiver) "requires" RG6, but I have used RG59 in many cases, when a house was pre-wired with it. I have even used diplexer's with RG59 to combine off air with satellite signal.
I have also used the RG59 in a FT many times to install a receiver in the bedroom, when the cable from the dish came in the front overhead.Just used a barrel connector.
You would be amazed, how many brand new homes I went into, that had RG59 wired by electricians. They even went so far as to use Radio Shack screw on ends. I was all surprised to see new homes wired loop to loop with RG59. One cable going from the outside, looped outlet to outlet to the last one.
On the other hand, I have ran 1000' plus RG6 cable runs from a remote dish, to a lake house. It worked flawless. Directv told me you couldn't do it.
CW

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