switch for KeyTV

[skids]

I do not have a switch for the KeyTV (that I know of). Normally I either have shore power hooked-up or I disconnect the battery. When boondocking, I want to conserve power. I don't know what the sacrificial drain is from KeyTV, but I would like to be able to switch it off. Anyone install a switch for that? If power to KeyTV is disconnected, will the antena still work for the radio?

[ChuckS]

No... there is no 12 volt power switch for the KeyTV module.. its always powered up when battery or shore power is connected...

You could install a simple SPST swtich at the module and break the power source input wire...

When there is no power to the keyTV module your antenna on the roof will not work because the built in preamp circuit is an "active" circuit... meaning it needs power to work

[chuckster57]

Your radio might work and if it does, you probably will have limited reception.

[ChuckS]

Looking at amp draw from Furion RV antenna.. The other popular makes will be similar in specs the amount of current draw is next to nothing.

Also the FM antenna is an active gain antenna meaning it needs 12 vdc power to work... AM might work without power

[chuckster57]

Not trying to argue but I have had plenty of FM radios work without 12V going to the antenna. I will say the reception is better with the booster (or KeyTV) powered on.

[ChuckS]

Nope. Not arguing... just explaining to OP... the antenna he has with his KeyTV is an active antenna design. Without power he’s got a piece of coax running to what amounts to a dummy load...

However... the coax will act as a bit of an antenna for either range of frequencies... will he receive some radio stations? Perhaps close by ones...

The AM antenna is most likely just a loop on a ferrite

OP now knows the KeyTV draws very little current...

A better antenna for receiving FM stations out in the woods is going to be a simple dipole antenna fed with coax from the radio for good FM reception...

Each leg dipole roughly 29.5 inches ...

This antenna will outperform anything he currently has on the roof for FM reception

[chuckster57]

Nope. Not arguing... just explaining to OP... the antenna he has with his KeyTV is an active antenna design. Without power he’s got a piece of coax running to what amounts to a dummy load...

However... the coax will act as a bit of an antenna for either range of frequencies... will he receive some radio stations? Perhaps close by ones...

The AM antenna is most likely just a loop on a ferrite

OP now knows the KeyTV draws very little current...

A better antenna for receiving FM stations out in the woods is going to be a simple dipole antenna fed with coax from the radio for good FM reception...

Each leg dipole roughly 29.5 inches ...

This antenna will outperform anything he currently has on the roof for FM reception
Yup!! I remember as a young lad, using a dipole antenna in my bedroom with my pioneer SX 838.

[ChuckS]

I still have a bit of interest in radios..