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Old 06-29-2009, 01:47 AM   #1
beakyfudd
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antenna booster

I have the antenna booster that you turn on with a push button. When it is on, the indicator light is suppose to be on. While I push the button in, the light flickers, but doesn't stay on as it is suppose to. Consequentially, the radio reception stinks. I presume, the micro switch on the wall plate unit is bad. My question is this. Can I buy the wall plate unit at a Radio Shack, or is that a dealer item?
 
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Old 06-29-2009, 01:50 AM   #2
Bill-N-Donna
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You might contact Winegard assuming that is the manufacture of your antenna. If that is what you have they should be able to help you. I would think you should be able to just get the switch. It does sound like that is what is bad by your description.
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Old 06-29-2009, 02:11 AM   #3
H. John Kohl
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Not sure about Radio Shack but Any RV or Boating place that handles RV Antennas should have them. I think around $10 to $15. Good luck and let us know how the swapout works.
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Old 06-29-2009, 07:30 AM   #4
hazmic
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My TV would not work last week while others around me could get lots of channels. I figured it must be the booster. The light would work but the channels would not. I also will call Wine-guard today as they are very helpful.
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Old 06-29-2009, 04:51 PM   #5
Susantr
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Mickey and Mary:
Do you have the new digital TV? We have a 2007 Mountaineer and can't get any channels any more since the switch from analog to digital. We're in the process of getting a converter and hope that will solve the problem. It was kind of a "duuuhh" moment when we figured it out, because we'd been in Texas until the 12th and had no TV problems; now, we get one while at home and none on the road. Not too bad because we can always watch movies, but DH misses the morning news...
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Old 06-30-2009, 04:45 AM   #6
hazmic
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We have the"Box" and when we got home I tried the TV and it worked just fine. After talking to Wineguard tech I learned that in the Bat wing on the roof there is a booster there and 12 volts go out to the booster by the cable and the signal returns by the same cable at the same time. Our TV with the box worked fine while we in TX and this last week was there any problems. After talking to the tech I think that the boosters in the antenna is getting bad. If you have questions about the system ,I suggest that you call Wineguard as they are great Co to work with. Good luck and keep us informed. We do not have new TV'S at this time.
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Old 06-30-2009, 08:02 AM   #7
Susantr
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Oh, yeah, Winegard is great to work with -- they're in my hometown, so I'm very familiar with them...
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Old 06-30-2009, 02:24 PM   #8
RonT
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If you want to check whether the booster is okay, take a multimeter to the roof and unhook the coax to the antenna. Check the voltage using the center wire and the nut for the 2 meter leads. You should read 12V. If you read 12V the booster in the RV is okay. I did, though, have an antenna that read 12V at the end of the coax but still did not get a signal, I then changed the batwing, still no picture. I then removed the rubber boot from the coax where it goes through the base plate of the antenna on the roof. There I found a coax coupling that was corroded. I replaced the coupling and cleaned up the ends of both coaxes. Rechecked and finally had a good signal.
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Old 06-30-2009, 03:15 PM   #9
hazmic
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Ron That is what I need to do also. Maybe tomorrow. Susan,I live in Cedar Rapids
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Old 06-30-2009, 03:24 PM   #10
Susantr
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Cool! We're in Walford!
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Old 06-30-2009, 08:19 PM   #11
EagleRunner
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Check those cable ends. These old world craftsmen who install the cable wires use the cheapest connectors they can find. I recommend replacing the cable ends with compression fitting connectors available at any Home Depot. The tool used to compress these fittings to the cable runs around $15-20 and a box of connectors about $7-10. Well worth the time to do. I have found numerous shorts because of these cheap cable ends.
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Old 07-01-2009, 05:05 AM   #12
hazmic
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The cables coming [gray ones] are NOT made from the world craftsman but Wine Guard and they do use good connectors but that still can leak. The possibly of a bad connection is there and needs to be checked.
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Old 07-02-2009, 02:14 AM   #13
crandallbradley
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The old world craftMAN should have been retired years ago.On about half of my ends the wires were crossed.
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Old 07-04-2009, 03:15 PM   #14
beakyfudd
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Well, after getting help from my son, who had electronics in vo-tech, we discovered that the conection in the ceiling where the cable from the antenna connects to the cable from the booster, was not good. We were not getting a good ground. After tightening the conection, reception is good. We'll see how long it lasts. If it happens again, I will get the gold connectors mentioned above. Thanks to all for your ideas and concerns. Jim
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