Couple questions on my Springdale 179QBWE

[Dan.in.Seattle]

A couple things I can't figure out. My owners manual is severely lacking. There are a couple cable outlets behind the TV that are not labeled. I've connected to all of them with no results. I was hoping the saucer shaped thing on my roof was an omnidirectional TV antenna, but if it is, I can't figure out how to hook up to it.
Below the saucer on the side of the trailer there is a "satellite Prep" outlet, but again I can't find any info about it.

I've enclosed a couple photos to see if anyone recognizes what these are??
Sorry, I can't figure out how to rotate the pics

[chuckster57]

Your roof top UFO is an omnidirectional antenna. Performance will be affected by any number of factors. When using it the booster has to be ON, press the button and the light should come on.

That loop is for cable/satellite. If you hook up park cable that loop stays installed and the booster is turned OFF. If you hook up a sat dish, then the booster stays OFF, take the loop off. One end is SAT IN and the other is SAY OUT to tv.

[Dan.in.Seattle]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Your roof top UFO is an omnidirectional antenna. Performance will be affected by any number of factors. When using it the booster has to be ON, press the button and the light should come on.

That loop is for cable/satellite. If you hook up park cable that loop stays installed and the booster is turned OFF. If you hook up a sat dish, then the booster stays OFF, take the loop off. One end is SAT IN and the other is SAY OUT to tv.

Thanks for your help, I'll give it another try but what is that cigarette lighter thing?

[Terry W.]

The lighter thing is where the antenna booster gets it power. There is a small push button that turns the booster off and on. On green light
no green light off

[Dan.in.Seattle]

Originally Posted by Terry W.

The lighter thing is where the antenna booster gets it power. There is a small push button that turns the booster off and on. On green light
no green light off

Thanks, I tried again and still not getting any reception at all. I pushed the small button and the green light comes on and nothing is hooked up to the lighter socket. Maybe because I'm hooked up to shore power?? I tried a couple different cables just in case. Might be where I'm parked. I have it next to a big tree that could be blocking the reception. I'll try it again next time I move the trailer.

[MarkEHansen]

That cigarette lighter thing is a power outlet, providing 12V for whatever you want, but it won't provide much current. The antenna jack just below it is what you should connect to the TV's antenna connection. Make sure the booster is turned on and then tell the TV you want to scan for off-the-air channels (not cable channels).

[MarkEHansen]

I was going to say that it seems like you were wondering if you needed to connect something to that 12V power port to get the TV to work, and the answer to that is No.

Also, being connect to shore power doesn't stop any 12V appliances from working. They run off the batteries - which are being charged by the converter while you are on shore power. Likely, your TV is plugged into a 120V outlet, so it will only come on when you are connected to shore power (unless you have some Off The Grid set up).

[wrvond]

So, to sum it up:
Leave the jumper coax in place unless you are using satellite.
Connect a coax from the connector just below the 12v power outlet to the antenna in jack on the back of your television
turn on the amplifier (green light on)
Select antenna for your signal source on the television (aka "over the air")
Scan for channels on your television
You should get at least a few channels coming in pretty solid with probably the majority showing occasional pixilation and then several more that are simply unwatchable.

[wiredgeorge]

Dan, the directions given will yield over the air television reception IF you are within the distance necessary to receive stations. Go to the Play Store and download DTV Antennas app. This will tell you which stations you can expect to receive. Since you appear to have an omni directional antenna, you should get all the stations the app claims you should in any direction. Are you within, say, 50 miles of television transmitters? Is the ground fairly level (hills kill TV signals)?

[Dan.in.Seattle]

Thanks for the help everyone.

I figured out the problem is in the TV. Carried it into the house where I have a known good antenna connection and still could not receive anything. Had it set to Air and TV but didn't work. Something wrong inside the TV with the antenna connection. I did find out it works with the DVD player in the trailer, and a fire TV stick, so as long as I'm in a campground with a good WiFi connection I should be good. Stereo entertainment system works fine too so it will be good enough for my upcoming trip.