Campground cable TV

[tinlizzie23]

We have a new-to-us 2004 Designer that came to us with a living area Panasonic television, and set up (cable) for a bedroom TV. There is also a Mintek DVD player and a Flexvision black box connected to the TV and DVD player. Since all the original literature was still in the blue Jayco plastic folder, and only the Mintek brochure was there, I assume that the Panasonic and Flexvision may have been added by the original owner.

The problem - we can play music CDs just fine, and also DVD movies in the Mintek are fine on the TV, but when we connect the outside cable to the campground cable receptacle and to our cable connection on the outside of the camper, we get decent sound but a very snowy picture on the TV. This has occurred at two different campgrounds, with the same result, so something must be wrong with our units, or the way they are hooked up.

By the way, there are two cable connections on the outside of the camper (SAT and CABLE), and there is nothing at all on the TV when cable is connected to SAT, but the snow is on when connected to the CABLE port.

I confess to be a rank amateur when it comes to electronics, so I am clueless as to what might be wrong. Any ideas out there ?

[nylyon]

There is usually a button on the TV receptacle which is for the amplified antenna. This should be off when using cable. There is usually a red indicator light when in powered antenna mode.

[tinlizzie23]

nylyon - not sure exactly what you are referring to. Inside the cabinet below the TV are some power receptacles and some cable connections in the wall on plastic plates similar to light switches. One is labelled AUX SAT on top and TV on the bottom one. There is a green light glowing between them. Is this the light you mention ? There is also a button next to the light, labelled on-off. Pushing the button turns the light on and back off. Is that light supposed to be off for cable ? Please forgive my ignorance on this, but I am a mechanic used to dealing with non-computer and non-electronic stuff, and I get really confused with these newfangled contraptions. LOL.

[Larry G.]

Yes....light off for cable.

Give it a try.

[nylyon]

If it looks like this, then...
That's the one. switch it so the light is off when you want to use cable, and on when you use the roof antenna.

[tinlizzie23]

Yes - it looks exactly like this. The light was on all the time, at both campgrounds, and I had no idea that it was anything but an indication that power was present. Thanks to both of you for your help on this. Just goes to show that us old dogs can still learn something every once in a while - just need the right folks to do the teaching.

[Riverbum]

you want to turn it back on when using your tv antenna that is your booster

[tinlizzie23]

OK, thanks. Will do.