TV antenna problems

[tomJerram]

I have a strange problem We have 2 televisions (like most people) The problem is that the bedroom TV receives all of the local channels however the living room television will not receive several of the local channels (of course they are the channels we watch most). Sometimes they come thru but most of the time they aren't available.

I have changed the cable from the wall to the TV no help. I have tried the bedroom TV in the living room still doesn't receive those channels. I opened the box where the coax connects to the wall and tried to tighten the connection. Still no help. Any thoughts?

Thanks

[jimcol]

I had a similar issue going back to 06. Many documented instances on this forum, since then. Following advice from this forum. I finally changed all the coax cable ends to good compression fittings. Fixed 98% of the issues. I think the good compression tool and ends at Loews was like $35, but that was several years ago.

[Foldbak]

Sounds like a splitter or cable end connect problem.

[rohrmann]

Years ago I discovered there is a splitter behind our living room TV, mounted above the TV, and all the connections were not even finger tight. Once tightened, solved the inconsistent signal reception.

[tomJerram]

Thanks. I Found all that and tightened everything but, no help.

[DutchmenSport]

Just a suggestion... there is, no doubt, at least 2 coax connections in your camper. 1 for regular television and the other for satellite connection (outside dish). Is it possible one television is wired correctly and the other is connected to the satellite system wiring? It's just a though?

[ChuckS]

Had the very same issue.. Great OTA TV reception and cable reception in BR but LR would scan half the channels and sometimes would loose them.

I too checked the LR TV wall outlet, put a new F connector on the end of the coax at wall plate.. Still same issues..

I then used a section of coax and connected to BR TV wall outlet and ran directly to LR TV.. Scan found all channels with great reception.

I knew now I had an issue with the BR to TV feed coax and even though it tested OK with standard coax TV cable tester there was an issue in the coax line somewhere... from the BR TV switch box to the LR TV set.

In my case this splitter was defective.. see image and yellow arrow points to splitter I removed it and installed a quality splitter rated to pass Sat antenna signals..

Now have great TV reception in the LR

image of my coax layout ... yours may be different but will give you and idea.

** EDITED** The splitter I had to replace was buried up underneath the stairs leading into the BR...

[twindman]

I forget if I am remembering my 2006 or my 2013, but where the bedroom coax comes from the wall, inside the wall I think was a splitter or some device that the LR coax connects to. Maybe this connection is loose???

[Bourbon County]

After having gone through every coax connection in my rig; I agree the coax terminations would be a good place to start. The ones I took apart obviously weren't done by a skilled worker, to be kind. You do get signal loss with splitters and all splitters aren't created equal. Mine came supposedly wired for satellite on 3 different TVs (I have one outside) and none of them worked. Raw signal from the satellite dish to receiver is very high frequency and all components in the system should be rated for (if I remember right) 2.0 or 2.5 MHz or higher.

There's always the option of adding an amplifier, maybe a distribution amplifier at the point the antenna signal comes in (likely bedroom in a front bedroom model) with multiple outputs. send one output to the bedroom and find the coax feeding the living room and attach to the other output. I've used these guys in the past and they actually have knowledgeable people to talk with over the phone and have very pleased with their recommendations: www.solidsignal.com

[wed]

Make sure up run the channel update on both tv’s not sure if you have the key tv connection

[twindman]

Another thing to try, in the bedroom find the coax to the LR and hook it directly to the input line in that area. Then you know if the splitter is bad or the coax.

[rames14]

Look where the coax comes under the slide. Each slide has a connector underneath..found it out the hard way. After all, they install the slide room after the wiring is done. All of the connections are behind a small panel behind the sheet metal. Check that connection. I ran a coax from the bedroom outlet to the living room TV to prove it wasn’t the booster or TV. Found the splitter behind the fireplace. Good luck.

[VagabondLove]

Here’s a completely different thought…In my RV, the overhead LED lights interfere with the weaker TV channels. Now whenever we run the channel scan, all led lights are off.

[twindman]

I heard this also about LEDs when they first came out.

[jimcol]

Originally Posted by VagabondLove

Here’s a completely different thought…In my RV, the overhead LED lights interfere with the weaker TV channels. Now whenever we run the channel scan, all led lights are off.

My vent fan in the commode closet has the same effect.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by VagabondLove

Here’s a completely different thought…In my RV, the overhead LED lights interfere with the weaker TV channels. Now whenever we run the channel scan, all led lights are off.

Interesting. When I first install LED landscape lighting my electric gates wouldn't work. It turned out that the frequency of the LED's were interfering. Went through 3 different brands before I found one that worked. I'll try your trick next time.

[ScottnSue]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Had the very same issue.. Great OTA TV reception and cable reception in BR but LR would scan half the channels and sometimes would loose them.

I too checked the LR TV wall outlet, put a new F connector on the end of the coax at wall plate.. Still same issues..

I then used a section of coax and connected to BR TV wall outlet and ran directly to LR TV.. Scan found all channels with great reception.

I knew now I had an issue with the BR to TV feed coax and even though it tested OK with standard coax TV cable tester there was an issue in the coax line somewhere... from the BR TV switch box to the LR TV set.

In my case this splitter was defective.. see image and yellow arrow points to splitter I removed it and installed a quality splitter rated to pass Sat antenna signals..

Now have great TV reception in the LR

image of my coax layout ... yours may be different but will give you and idea.

** EDITED** The splitter I had to replace was buried up underneath the stairs leading into the BR...

Sorry, I know this is an old thread. How did you get to the splitter under the stairs ? Did you have to remove them ?

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by ScottnSue

Sorry, I know this is an old thread. How did you get to the splitter under the stairs ? Did you have to remove them ?

What problem are you having?
I seriously doubt your TV wiring is anything like ChuckS'. You have a 2011 Mountaineer and I think ChuckS has a much newer RV (possibly an Alpine? Forgive me if I am wrong). His wiring, based on the diagram he provided, looks a lot different than yours.

There is a Thread at https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=37324 that shows the 3 TV wiring diagrams we know about on Montanas. I am guessing your 2011 is wired similar to the 2nd picture. Note: there are no splitters shown in this diagram.




That is how my 2012 is wired. I have two TVs, one in the liiving room and one in the bedroom. But the RV is wired to allow you to move the TV from the bedroom to the pass through compartment. You have to chnage a jumper in the bedroom closet where the antenna/cable switch box resides to send the bedroom signal to the pass through compartment.

A Search on "tv wiring diagrams" will uncover many discussion Threads relating to your era TV wiring. The Thread I listed above has 3 pages of discussion so it is a good place to start.

[ScottnSue]

Thanks Carl, the links and diagrams helped.

I pulled the wall plate in the BR closet out and found the wire that is supposed to go the splitter for the living room and cargo bay was not connected to anything. Looks like I'll have to cut some paneling to find the splitter. The wire is only 12 inches long so the splitter can't be to far away

[ScottnSue]

Well I've found the problem. I made a quick cut with the oscillating tool (love that thing) and peeled back the paneling. I found the splitter and the "in" connection had snapped off.
Easy fix now. Just need to get a new splitter and make sure all of the connection are tight. We finally will be able to watch TV in the living room.
Darling wife will be so happy