winegard box getting hot

[first time 5er]

just bought a 2009 cougar. i have a winegard distribution box. at the dealer when i bought it the tv picked up a couple of station on the antenna. got it home and could not get any. check the back of the box and the "antenna in" terminal was empty. i ohmed out the antenna cable and connected it to the "antenna in" and the terminal and the top of the box got hot. by the way this box also has a button for antenna power which was on. ok the box is fried. i disconnected it from the box and hooked it up directly to the tv. still no channels. my question is could the box issue damage the antenna? the paperwork i got with the trailer says its a winegard sensar.