Wineguard Switchbox Malfuction

GG1 · 09-16-2008, 05:22 AM

We have cable TV where we are staying. The picture has a lot of snow and is poor on all channels when in cable mode. When I switch to satellite the picture is perfect. All other functions are good ie: vcr crank up antenna all good. I have run a seperate line from the campground connection to an additional tv outside and it works good. Does Winnebago have a wireing diagram to show where the cable connections are and do the Wineguard switch boxes ever go bad?

GG1 · 09-16-2008, 05:22 AM

We have cable TV where we are staying. The picture has a lot of snow and is poor on all channels when in cable mode. When I switch to satellite the picture is perfect. All other functions are good ie: vcr crank up antenna all good. I have run a seperate line from the campground connection to an additional tv outside and it works good. Does Winnebago have a wireing diagram to show where the cable connections are and do the Wineguard switch boxes ever go bad?

Petro · 09-16-2008, 05:31 AM

GG1;

You did not say if you have a satellite antenna or not and if that works well on the satellite switch?

There may be a wrong connection on the back of your box. When you look on the back each cable input is marked.

Don

FrankO · 09-16-2008, 08:51 AM

Did you try tightening the Coax in the back of the Winegard where your Cable Coax comes into the Winegard? If that is tight and the other end is tight (check that one first), then you might have to run a new cable and that will not be easy.
Frank O.

UFO Pilot · 09-16-2008, 09:12 AM

I had the box replaced under warranty and it still wasn't right. Took it back and they discovered it was wired wrong. They rewired the box and all is well.

GG1 · 09-16-2008, 04:50 PM

Petro;
The satellite works fine on all tv's front back & vcr, the vcr sends a good picture to all the tv's, also the connections on back of the wineguard have never been touched. Its the original box since 02.

John Hilley · 09-16-2008, 07:59 PM

It probably is a loose coax F-connector on the switch or Cable Input in the rear. It is possibly a bad switch position, if so, your Aux position probably isn't being used and you could move Cable to Aux.

DriVer · 09-16-2008, 08:27 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by GG1:
We have cable TV where we are staying. The picture has a lot of snow and is poor on all channels when in cable mode. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>GG!, Just a thought, I stayed in some campgrounds that had lousy cable infrastructure. If you go to another CG and you get the same problem then you can rule out the bad infrastructure theory.

My A/V box was recently replaced after getting blown up at the GNR by lightning.

I also just installed a digital converter box on my VCR circuit - it works great!

UFO Pilot · 09-16-2008, 08:43 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I have run a seperate line from the campground connection to an additional tv outside and it works good. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Wouldn't this rule out bad CG service?

ROMAD · 09-16-2008, 08:49 PM

Also look at the connection on the back of the outside cable input connector. Since the cable in connector is used a lot it would be likely that the connection could be loose.

porscheracer · 09-16-2008, 10:02 PM

I just went through all this on a friend's Monaco. In his case, it was the powered antenna connection, and replacement was the only option. I would try moving the coax from the CATV position to the AUX position, as was suggested.

Also, if you really want a direct replacement, shop around the auction sites. The only replacement currently available new is 2 or 3 generations away from the one you have now - and IMHO, not nearly as good.

bjbkkb · 09-17-2008, 02:10 AM

This probably doesn't apply but I just moved from a campsite where I had to use my traditional antenna to a campsite that has cable TV. After running the channel setup twice and the channels still being snowy I remembered that I have to turn of the antenna signal booster when using cable

Problem disappeared.

Dsouthw524 · 09-17-2008, 04:15 AM

You mentioned that you tested by running a "seperate cable" to a outside TV and it worked good. Try the same test using the cable you are connecting to the motorhome to the outside TV to determine if the problem is the cable you are connecting to the MH. I suspect the problem can be just a bad cable connection to the connector(s) of your hookup cable.

smlranger · 09-17-2008, 07:20 AM

Interesting...I had a similar problem on our current trip. We were at a KOA in Rapid City and on satellite (Kingdome). Front TV had perfect picture rear TV had snowy, jumpy picture. We were not hooked to cable. I checked all my connections and diddled with the switch box. Nothing seemed to fix the problem.

At our next stop in Sheridan, WY, rear TV pic was fine and has been since. I'm wondering if there wasn't some strange RF interference involved???

Rocket Heart · 09-17-2008, 09:38 AM

If you have used this connection before and didn't any problems at other CG's, then I would look to the connections and or the condition of the cable company hook-ups to the campground.

Been in some place that the cable was really bad and moved to another CG and it was fine.

GG1 · 09-17-2008, 05:13 PM

Spoke to Wineguard tech they suggested I check the voltage coming from the switch box to the front tv when in the cable mode with the antenna booster off it should be 12-18 volts, this will see if the output on the switchbox is putting out enough power in cable mode. NOTE: I very seldom use the cable hookup maybe 5 times in 7yrs the picture has never been 100% in cable mode I just attributed it to poor campground cable. Tomorrow the voltage will be checked,(when I can locate my meter) thanks for all the input.