Hooking up a TV in your RV is troublesome, not to mention fixing problems of the device. Do you know how to ace RV antenna repair when it’s not working? It’s troublesome to either stop the trip and bring your vehicle (with the antenna) to a professional or go on with the RV antenna not picking up channels. The best way out of the trouble is to repair the device yourself and trust me, it doesn’t generate toils and hardship when the problem is not too severe, once you know what to do.
In the article, I will share my experience with my RV antenna and some suggestions to help you when. Hope you may find something helpful in the short post. Now here we go!
Types of RV Antenna
Sometimes, the troubles just come from the types of antenna you have bought. So, it’s essential for you to get some basic information about antenna categorizing and the boons and banes of each type.
Outdoor RV Antenna
The ones are more effective in receiving the signal from local stations. However, due to the bulky appearance, it is easy to get stuck in a tree or even cause an accident if you forget to lower it down while your RV is moving. Once you reach the destination, the devices will show the great ability of the extended antennas.
Therefore, when there is no signal from your RV antenna (outdoor), you should check if it has got physical damage due to getting stuck in branches, wires, or rain, wind.
Indoor RV Antenna
The great merit of the kind is that they are compact and can be placed permanently. There will be no adjusting, no moving, and no trouble on the way. If you want better reception, homemade boosters are available so you can try to build and utilize. But there is a minus point, the range of an indoor antenna is less compared to that of an outdoor.
So, if the indoor RV Antenna is not getting signals, check the booster first to see if it’s working, then go on with other measures.
How to Repair RV antenna – Step by Step
Step 1. Switch on the wall plate (also known as the booster) and check if the light is on (which could be green or red).
Step 2. Climb on the RV’s roof and separate the antenna head and the coax cable. Investigate for any signs of corrosion. If it is corroded, change the coax cable and check if the antenna is working.
Step 3. If the corrosion is not the problem here, check the cable’s voltage, which should be about 12 volts DC. If you have never used the voltmeter before, keep in mind that the red lead is positive and the black on is the ground lead. Put the former on the coax’s center conductor and the latter on its outside.
Step 4. Till now, if everything’s still okay, the problem should lay on the amplifier, which is located inside the antenna head. In this case, you have to have the antenna head replaced. However, you shouldn’t try doing the task on your own. The replacement requires much technical knowledge, and if you accidentally ruin the circuit board, the producer will not be responsible for fixing the damage.
Step 5. If the voltmeter doesn’t point at 12, so you have to measure the voltage on the wall plate switch’s back. Remove it from the wall and disconnect the coax cable which connects the board mounted coax connector on the right with the antenna head. Keep the switch on and measure the jack’s voltage.
Step 6. The voltage you get should be about 12. Keep in mind that you should never put the probe of your voltmeter directly into the jack because the large probe could cause damage to the connector. Instead, replace it with a small diameter wire or a paper clip. Put the red lead on the metal clip and the black lead on the jack’s outside.
Step 7. If the voltage check doesn’t earn a positive result and the light is working, it is your wallplate switch that needs replacing.
Step 8. If the voltage is still right, so the cable between the connector and the antenna head is responsible. Most of the cases, the damage lies in the coax connection, which is located under the baseplate. From the boot collar on the said location, pull the boot back and search for the connectors. Check out for signs of corrosion and replace the part if you see where it’s gone wrong.
Some other hints you need to know
- When you check the wallplate, if you see the red light on, examine the front coax connection’s backside for the bent-over pin. Straight it back.
- If the light is not working when you have the right voltages, then it could have been burnt out.
- If the light just comes and goes suddenly, then the problem is in the antenna head or the coax. Disconnect the two and check the light again. If it is on, the head is shorted. If it is off, go on to disconnect the coax cable and recheck. Unless the light doesn’t stay, the coax cable needs replacing.
- Now, if you see the light on but the cigar plug has no power, check the connection on its back to see if the plastic there is melted. Replace it if needed.
Final thought
All of the tips above are to fix when there is no signal from TV antenna. With them, you have got the grip on how to do RV antenna repair when it’s got into trouble. Of course, the guide is not complete, and you can’t expect any kind of damage to be fixed by just the simple checking and replacing. If you have tried all the measures, and your TV’s still getting no signal, then it’s the best to turn the device to a specialist. He or she will know what to do without causing further damage (as we may do). Good luck and stay tuned for our next tips and guides.