A/V Problems. . .

Hey all! I have read numerous topics that have all given me good advice and half the answers I need. I figured I'd just start one topic to see if ya'll can help me put this all together for me.

I have quite a few questions on the AV setup in my 32QBBS. If you have any answers I'd sure appreciate them!

1) Antenna Booster - There is one antenna booster in the front bedroom. Is this the only one? Should this boost all the cable outlets?

2) Cable Outlets - I have 3 in the coach. Front, entertainment room and back bedroom. The entertainment center is labeled nicely (SAT IN, ANT IN). My main question is with the forward and aft plugs. Are these Antenna only? Is there a way to power the Sattelite or DVD player to the front and rear of the camper?

3) Antenna - Since the "digital conversion" I have been unable to pick up any over the air stations with the camper. My TV is only 5 years old. I am stumped. I noticed the antenna attachement that some of you guys use, I may add this to help out. Is there anything else I need to know about the wiring of the WC to improve the signal or am I completely missing something?

4) Sattelite Pointing - Does anyone have any good tips on pointing the satellite? Mine is a roof mount and in the year that I've owned the camper I've successfully pointed this thing one time. Are there any good signal meters that anyone uses? A certain "transponder" that works better than any other?

That about wraps it up for now! :) Some vague questions, but I am at my wits end. We don't use the AV setup that much in the 5er when camping, so it's not a huge loss. BUT I get very frustrated with it because when I want to use it, it's never working when I need it.

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

I had to by a digital converter box for my unit. I only run one tv in the main living area and it has a signal meter built into it. I power up the tv, concertone, and digital converter box when we arrive at a camp ground. I turn on the signal meter and adjust the antenna until I pick up the strongest signal. Then I search for channels. Depending upon where I am located, I either get a few or many. I have noticed heavy winds, storms, trees and sometimes the time of day will affect my signal. The wingman attachment I believe helped to some degree. I always need the booster on to achieve any of this. I am guessing if you have not recieved any signal since the conversion, you have an older tv that would require the digital converter box. The other alternative is to purchase a new tv with the converter built into the unit. Hope this helps.

The TV we use in the trailer is less than 5 years old... we bought it in late 2006 or early 2007. We have to use a digital converter when hooked up to the antenna.

Direct TV - the husband connects the dish to the cable outlet on the outside of the trailer. In the trailer he connects a coax from the TV to where the signal comes in to the entertainment center (he does NOT use a jumper cable to send the signal to the Concertone). Our dish mounts to the ladder. He uses a compass and points the satellite towards the southern sky. He comes in and turns on the TV and goes to the setup.... to the signal strength page. He turns the volume up so he can hear it outside, and then goes up and adjusts the dish until there is a strong rapid beep. Then I look at the TV and tell him the strength (percentage) of the signal. If it is 98 or better, that's good enough. Then I turn down the volume and wait a couple minutes - then I can click on Fox News. Note: He never changes the zip code.... it is our home zip code at all times.

Tater

Time to shop for a new TV with a digital tuner! That has to be the problem with that.

As for the dish. . . When I power up the receiver I can not get the MENU to work on the dish. The screen simply says "searching for sattelite signal". I find myself screaming "YOU AND ME BOTH!!!!" I think I'm resigned to calling my local DirecTv company that installed the unit @ my house. I'm thinking there is something with my receiver that makes it unable to work in the RV. Maybe they will have some pointers.

Thanks for the help thus far!

One simple way to get the dish right quickly ever time is this. At home or in a CG setup your dish and get the signal dialed in. Once you get mount a small compass on the dish mount and align it to North. After you do this from then on you setup the dish algin the compass to North and you should get the signal. One other item is make sure the antenna boost is off when using satelite or cable. coming in from the outside connection. If you are going direct in shouldn't matter and I agree it sounds like a receiver issue. If you don't have the same problem at home it has to be in the wiring. If you have a high def satelite at home and are using the old style in your RV you have to change the settings on the satellite receiver to work with the older style dish. This could be the issue.

Good Luck