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Television reception

Yahoo Message Number: 113892
As somewhat RV newbies, I am perplexed by cable TV reception issues. We have a TrakStar satellite on our roof but I understand it is pretty much incompatible with DISH or Direct TV anymore. We use the RV parks cable when available but the various channels can be very "snowy" at times. Is this an issue with the RV park or our set-up. We know to have the antenna booster off and to scan channels. The last park we were at, the front TV began getting Fox News channel then quit getting it but the bedroom TV kept getting it which I don't understand. We know to switch TV to cable or air; however, our front TV scans both antenna and cable channels and was able to pick up both. Any ideas/suggestions would be most appreciated.
Thank you so much,
Vicki
2006 Country Coach Inspire 360 Davinci

Re: Television reception

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113893
Can be some parks. But you will need to do some troubleshooting. It can be any of the connections or cables between you and the TV. Sometimes getting a quality cable between coach and park can improve. The hard way to verify is to run a quality cable from park directly to TV. I know it's a pain but necessary. Most coaches have switch to change inputs from cable to antenna so make sure you check that. Of course you need to switch TV setup to cable also.

08 Allure 31597

Re: Television reception

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113895
I'd also suggest you take the time do the troubleshooting.

From pole to each TV, try and trace and locate each connection. Take em apart, clean, and protect and reconnect.

I like to use Deoxit to both clean, though any hardware store will have electrical cleaner that should work as well. But after everything is dry, I spray before reconnecting with Deoxit Gold.

Over the years, connections can build up 'crud' (That's not the techie term:)!), that reduced the connections ability to send a clean signal.

And when connecting to the pole, I keep a zip lock baggy with 0000 fine steel wool. I'll clean the male threads at the pole, when it looks like it needs it. And be sure you get a good solid tightening of the cable. I've helped people at RV parks that were having problems, and a few would stop screwing the female cable on, as soon as it has a few thread turned. Snug it up:)! And be sure all connections in the path, are also snugged up after cleaning too.

All that being said, many parks 'cables' are fed via satellite and or antenna. So changes in signal feed can happen from changing weather patterns.

Best of luck to you,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Television reception

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113898
Smitty,
I'm having the same type problem as Vicki related to. I finally gave up on the satellite antenna also.

I would love to follow those TV wires from the side of the coach all the way into TV area. But, what
type of equipment do I need to do that? My wires for the "Cable TV Connection" disappear into the black
hole where all the other wires go. These wires end up somewhere in the cabinet that has all the electronic
equipment and that feeds into the area above the entry door. I took one of the panels off and beside all the
small boxes that seem to have any and all TV type wires are forty other one that go fore and aft.

As most of us, hate to screw up a bad thing by making it worse. Sure wish it was a simple fix, but its not.
I guess med or poor TV reception is better than no TV reception, sometimes.

Dave

07 Country Coach Allure 430 #31495
12 Jeep GC Toad
Mountains of So Cal and
Henderson, Nev

Dave & Jodi
2007 CC Allure 40’ Tag #31495
2012 Jeep GC
Big Bear Lake, Ca & Henderson, Nev

Re: Television reception

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113899
Hi Dave - It sure can be a rats nest of wires:)!

But from the point of entry to he coach their are logical 'auctions'. (Now, just because they should be logical, does not mean that they are:)!) And remember, I'm going off of my vast knowledge of two RV's:)!

But suggest the following points of connections for cleaning:

1) Port of entry to the coach, which for my coach, is in the water bay.
2) That should 'home run' to your Entertainment Cabinet. On my OEM coach, that was a sort of 'master command/switcher center', that chose cable (Front and Bedroom options) as well as Antenna and or Dish (KVR In Motion as OEM). The key, this should provide two areas to be checked and cleaned: 1) The 'In' cable; 2) The 'Out' Cable to the TV. (In my years, this was a R59 cable, and it fed a Tube Panasonic 24" TV.)
(But note, of you do access the back of a 'master command/switcher center' - of course clean all of the connections. For example in my 04 Allure, we also had a switch option for the BOSE 321, and VCR too. So undoing all of the cables, one at a time, cleaning and reconnecting, is a good thing.)
3) Connection to the TV's. Both front and back.
4) I'll add two more, not directly related to the parks pole 'cable feed'. 1) Roof top antenna has a R59 (Or newer cable.) connection; 2) If you have a satellite of some kind, it too probably has a RJ59 like connection too.

I did have a KVR In Motion satellite, that I never re-activated after purchase. I ended up disconnecting my cable, and putting a cable end cap on it, and it did reduce interference I was seeing my tube Pansonoic.

Note: I've totally scrapped the setup. Nothing remains, but one buried (And for now not used.), R59 cable from the old entertainment front cabinet, back to the bedroom. (The bedroom TV has been removed.).

It can be a PITA getting into the entertainment cabinet, and accessing cable connections to 'master command/switcher center', VCR's, DVD's. Heck if a Tube TV, even getting to the back of these are not always easy.

That being said, it's the easiest way of self help on chasing down bad connections - IF it's not just a bad 'signal at the park's pole':)!

Best to you, and all,
Smitty
04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Television reception

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113900
I had a bad ground on the main cable that runs from the basement to the audio/video cabinet. It actually burned up a dish receiver. Ran a new line from the cabinet to the basement. Haven't had any more troouble.

Tom
2005 Inspire
51177

Re: Television reception

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113901
Guy's:While we are talking about tv reception, permit me to ask a question. My CC Prevy has two of the Archer video selector switches (this is a 1994 model) I have great reception from the old TracStar and from the off air antenna, but when I hook up to park cable I barely get enough reception to receive sound and. Since these video selectors are powered, I have been told that these cause interference on the updated tv's we have installed. There is a video selector in the bed room and also one in the living room. Has any one else ever had this problem

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On Wednesday, January 31, 2018 10:00 PM, "Dave Hansen dhansen871@... [Country-Coach-Owners]"  wrote:

Re: Television reception

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113902
OK, this has bugged me from day one. First of all I have a lot of years in telecommunications and I have a toner.

Re: Television reception

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113903
Yuell,
I'm so jealous.. Prior to sending the direct boxes back to Direct TV. I was at Quartzite
Dave & Jodi
2007 CC Allure 40’ Tag #31495
2012 Jeep GC
Big Bear Lake, Ca & Henderson, Nev

Re: Television reception

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113906
In the "for what it's worth department", our TV reception issue was quite simple. The cable "RG6 type" installed on our coach was quite adequate 20 years ago. Apparently, there are numerous changes and improvements in cables since then. Our "quick" test for improving TV reception was another new short cable from Walmart attached to the park outlet and direct to our TV. Immediately, reception cleared up!
We're not going to rewire the entire coach but park connections, when used (we've installed new satellite and digital antennas otherwise), we run a new cable direct to TV.

Jim Kelso
95 Affinity 5295 (22+ year old great coach)

Re: Television reception

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113908
Sorry! It is a 1994 Country Coach Edmonton

On Thursday, February 1, 2018 11:31 AM, "dhansen871@... [Country-Coach-Owners]"  wrote:

Re: Television reception

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113913
I just noticed that my signature is not on a "Reply" type message, just something I
Originated. Strange!

Dave & Jodi
2007 CC Allure 40’ Tag #31495
2012 Jeep GC
Big Bear Lake, Ca & Henderson, Nev

Re: Television reception

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113915
Jim, I would love to hear how the replacement goes and who did it. Like I said I was a phone guy for many years and I am itching to replace the cable, money has the last say in all matters.

Re: Television reception

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113924
Wally,

Rewiring the RG6 from the input in rear of the coach was not attempted.  (pulling ceiling panels, snaking through 35 feet or so isn't worth it to me). Didn't mean to mislead anyone. The only "new" cables I've run have been from the replacement satellite dish and replacement digital roof antenna. Those new cables were simply run from the roof to a coaxial switch box, satellite receiver & around the interior of the front cap to the TV. The other additional "new" cable from the park's is nothing more than running an extra 25 ft extension RG6 directly to the TV through the window.

I suppose with a little ingenuity, time and patience I could make it like "new" but that's for another day.

Jim Kelso
95 Affinity 5295

Re: Television reception

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113927
You forgot to add the $$$$$$ to that equation.

Wally & Elta Mae
2007Allure 470 Sunset Bay #31535

Re: Television reception

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 113929
Unless you have been invaded by field mice, there is a 95% or higher chance that your problem is very close to the end of your cable. The trick is finding time to work on this mess when you have "park cable" to hook up to.I plan to go to a camp ground near my home when the weather warms a little and resolve this issue one way or the other.I Am going to start by finding the wire that goes from the cable input to the splitter and take it loose to see if this cures the problem. Unfortunately given CC'S penchant for engineering every thing to death, I have to tear the whole upper front of my coach out to get to this stuff, but as a rule, you are not going to have a bad cable unless it has been pinched or bitten or pulled into .

On Saturday, February 3, 2018 12:05 AM, "Jim Kelso jim.kelso@... [Country-Coach-Owners]"  wrote: