antenna hook up

fiddlefoot · May 2019

Hi all,
After several years of happy camping with rabbit ears and mostly without my working husband, who was working, we now require a better antenna. (I always figured if the tv did not get any stations, read a book). However after being at a somewhat remote campground during the final four, and my husband's retirement, we require a better antenna. I've found one that fits the bill but am trying to sort through the hook up prior to purchase.
All of these antenna are amplified and require low voltage electricity. The antennas in my home that are amplified either plug in to the usb port on the tv or an adapter and into the wall. The connections on the back of the stock interior tv in my 2016 CSS are a DC12, an HDMI and a standard coaxial connection. There is an empty usb port, which I'm thinking is for the amplified antenna.
Has anyone figured out an amplified signal outside antenna hookup? Maybe just an extension cord and plug it in outside?
Thanks for your help, safe travels and happy trails.
Denise

ScottG · May 2019

@fiddlefoot, I deleted your same post in the other old thread, just so we don't end up having two parallel discussions.

Sorry I can't help you with your TV. Mine is in a box in my basement. :-/

fiddlefoot · May 2019

Thank you Scott.

BrianZ · May 2019

@fiddlefoot ,
When we got the amplified antenna below, it came with the pictured power injector, which is a short coax cable with a small box that accepts a power input from a provided USB cable which plugs into to back of our TV. We just plugged the coax cable that comes in behind the tv from the outside coax port, into the power injector cable which then goes into the TV. Power is injected into the antenna which is plugged into the outside port & raised on a painter pole mast attached to a front handle.
I think this is typical for any of the powered antennas.
Or does your T@B not have the outside coax port?

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pthomas745 · May 2019

You could connect an inverter to your battery in the tub that could be used to plug in the power supply from the antenna. When I played with an antenna that needed power that seemed to me to be the easiest way. My coax connection is on the front driver's side of the trailer, and it wouldn't be hard to connect the antenna's power supply over that short of a distance.

I still have the setup in the trailer, but then I found that my remote campsites I like are too far away from the transmitters to be of much use!

DenisP · May 2019

I tapped into the 12v power for the TV for the power injector for a King omnidirectional antennae. I also used an inline switch to stop the TV phantom draw (blue light on the Jensen TV in our 400).

fiddlefoot · May 2019

Thanks all, looking at a King omnidirectional, will have good questions for the manufacturer
Denise

N7SHG_Ham · May 2019

Travels with Delaney has a you tube video reviewing the King antenna, I watched it a while back so don't recall the details, but I belive it was an easy install and zero power required at the antenna itself. You will need to power the amp, not sure if it is 120v or 12v and if 12v if that is an option? Bottom line is I think it was pretty much plug and play.

MuttonChops · May 2019

For my 320 S purchased an Amplifier and Antenna (two items). Not a combination package so installation was easy. What you need, IMHO, is an Antenna Amplifier that is not at the Antenna end of the wires.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/ag/6qtcrcg3dkxs.png

Ninabean · May 2019

I purchased and installed the King omnidirectional antenna as presented by Travel’s with Delaney. It works great with the amplifier on 120volts. I picked up 25 stations in a very rural area. When I went to solar power 12volts it did not work and I was only able to pick up 5 stations and not very good reception. So I am going to assume you need 120v.

Bayliss · May 2019

@MuttonChops, I am not totally clear on what the "USB Extension Cable To Back Shelf" specifically refers to. Is that a cable that is going to the USB plug at the back of the trailer to power the amplifier? If so, how did you run it.........under the bench seat and then up to the USB port? Thanks! (Greg)

MuttonChops · May 2019

Bayliss said:

@MuttonChops, I am not totally clear on what the "USB Extension Cable To Back Shelf" specifically refers to. Is that a cable that is going to the USB plug at the back of the trailer to power the amplifier?

Yes. My Television Amp only has a 2-foot or so USB Cable for it's 5VDC power. So when using the Amp I plug the short USB cable into a 6-foot extension cable and use the USB Port back near the shelf.

USB Extension just lays on the seat back and is stored away when not needed.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/jh/2a0vd1j1k2hb.png

JEB · May 2019

Ninabean said:

I purchased and installed the King omnidirectional antenna as presented by Travel’s with Delaney. It works great with the amplifier on 120volts. I picked up 25 stations in a very rural area. When I went to solar power 12volts it did not work and I was only able to pick up 5 stations and not very good reception. So I am going to assume you need 120v.

I doubt the two are correlated. The booster runs only on 12V DC. You are either getting it directly from a 12V DC source (cigarette lighter socket) or you're getting it from a 110V AC source which is converted to 12V DC via a transformer (which is why the plug is so big). Are you doing your comparative testing in exactly the same location, once with a 12V source and once with a 110V source?

EDIT: Thinking through this further, you might have a problem if you're getting your 12V DC power from a USB port. USB is notoriously underpowered--usually limited to about 2.1A or lower. If you find you are getting lousy reception from your antenna and you're using USB, try a cigarette lighter socket. You'll get more amps. At least 5 and possibly as many as 15, depending on how it's fused.

fiddlefoot · May 2019

So there is a USB port on the television that is labeled DC12, I am hopeful that this will power the antenna, it will arrive next week and adventures with electricity will continue. I saw Travel's with Delaney as well and that was more informative than anyone selling the product. Ninabean, did yours come with a USB plug?
Great info and graphics, thanks all.
Denise

JEB · May 2019

fiddlefoot said:

So there is a USB port on the television that is labeled DC12, I am hopeful that this will power the antenna, it will arrive next week and adventures with electricity will continue. I saw Travel's with Delaney as well and that was more informative than anyone selling the product. Ninabean, did yours come with a USB plug?
Great info and graphics, thanks all.
Denise

I also have the King Omni antenna. I recall the booster coming with a plug/transformer for plugging into standard 110v shore power and a cigarette socket plug for plugging into 12V. I do not remember seeing a USB cable.

MuttonChops · May 2019

MuttonChops said:

For my 320 S purchased an Amplifier and Antenna (two items). Not a combination package so installation was easy.

Well, well while reading a Facebook post learned the Jensen TeleV has a USB Port. So no need for that USB Extension to power my Amplifier. Just plug the short amplifier USB cable into the TeleV.

Feeling just a bit dumb . . . . . . .

JBurris · August 2019

I have connected the King Omni antenna to my Jensen TV in my Tab 320S as directed in instructions and by Delaney Youtube instructions but I still get a "no signal" message. When I go to menu, try to go to channels option, that is not a selection that is allowed, the menu cycles back over to the first option. The Channel and Lock options are not accessible with the arrow over process. Tell me --- where have I gone wrong and how can I remedy my no tv signal situation???

Cbusguy · August 2019

Did you try scanning for channels, it is kind of a longish 5-10 minute process. The TV needs to sweep the airwaves for stations. Every new camp location this needs to be repeated

If you live in a metro area try scanning the channels without the amplifier portion in the behind the TV.

I found at home I get 6 more stations without than with. Same for our trip to Winton woods in cincinati

MiquelCamo · August 2019

Follow the directions for setup until you get the maximum number of lit LEDs then go to the television's menu 'channel' section and as noted above select scan for channels. If you are not getting any LEDs to light then you are not getting a signal. Here's a link to the manual for the antenna:

https://kingconnect.com/support/product-support/initial-setup-king-jack-antennas/

JBurris · August 2019

@Cbusguy and @MiquelCamo , I can not get to the Channel portion of the menu. When using the arrow in the menu, it skips the Channel and Lock dropdown and goes back to the first selection in menu.

Bayliss · August 2019

@JBurris, I don't know if it will work, but check the "Source" to make sure it is set to "TV." It seems like something is causing your set-up menu to bypass the "Channel" button. I'm not sure if you would even see that menu on some other source (other than TV), but it is worth checking if you haven't already tried that.

MiquelCamo · August 2019

@JBurris I went out this morning and changed the source on mine from TV and then the lock/channel options were not available. Bayliss has the correct theory, select "Source" and change to "TV". It should work from there.

JBurris · August 2019

@Bayliss and @MiquelCamo just wanted to report that I followed your suggestion and I finally have TV. Thank you both for your advice.

Bayliss · August 2019

Great news, @JBurris! My thanks to @MiquelCamo as well.

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