cable vs Satellite input

pamwinn · 01-19-2009, 05:11 PM

Is there something simple that can be done to the cable input on the exterior of the trailer to make it usable for a portable satellite? I don't understand why it won't work if the booster is off.

**JohnB** · 01-19-2009, 08:35 PM

There appear to be 2 different power supply wall plates.

This one has a 4th cable connection for satellite. The cable connections are. Roof antenna, cable input and 2nd TV set and satellite. The satellite connection never touches the PC board. It goes straigth thru the wall plate.
http://www.winegard.com/mobile/pdf/2451487.pdf

Ours has one similar to this one with only 3 cable connections. Roof antenna, cable input and 2nd TV set. No satellite.
http://www.winegard.com/mobile/pdf/2451489.pdf

I do know from trouble shooting ours one time that when the power switch is off, the cable connection then connects direct to the TV jack on set 1 and TV set 2. I do not know why the satellite would not go straight thru.

The 1st wall plate up top "might" be so you can have everything all at once, roof, cable and sattellite.

A call to Winegard might clear this up unless someone else knows. We have never used cable nor satellite so I do not know.

Here is a Wingard email and phone number.
http://www.winegard.com/support.htm

Hope this helps

John

Steve Collins · 01-19-2009, 10:58 PM

If you have the simpler amplified TV/cable antenna connection (one that does not have a separate set of connectors just for satellite), the problem lies in the amplifier design. Even when turned off, it will not allow DC voltage to pass through. Your satellite receiver needs to send DC voltage out from the satellite receiver to drive the LNB on the dish itself. Cable works because there is no control voltage involved. The cable signal looks just like the antenna signal to the amplifier so it boosts it and sends it on to the TV.

If your rig doesn't have the setup with specific connections to bring satellite into the trailer, I would recommend installing a completely separate connector set for this. Parts are readily available at Radio Shack who probably has a weather tight model for the outside of your rig. If not, most RV parts counters will.

For an informative article about satellite in RV's, try:
http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/sat.htm
The info is a couple of years old, but still pretty relevant.