Wall switch problems

[mr.mcq]

Hello:

I am a new memeber, recently purchased a 2002 Outback 26RS. There are two television hook-ups and a crank up antenna. I am not sure if I have a RV-7042 wall switch or the RA-7296 with amplifier, not sure how to tell the difference. I have had it off the wall and see no markings on it, however it looks identical to both the RV-7042 and RA-7296 from the front. I don't have a photo of the rear of a RA-7296 but the photo I have of the RV-7042 is the same as the switch that I have.

My problem is on most occasions that I push in the button on this switch the green light does not stay on. On most occasions it flashes once as I push the button in but does not stay on. On some occasions it doesn't even flash. However, on some rare occasions the light comes on and stays on.

Yesterday, while the trailer was in the driveway and the AC was plugged into an outside plug the light on this switch came on several times. Today I go out to the trailer and it will not come on. There is nothing different about today from yesterday, on both days the antenna is down and nothing has been touched since it worked yesterday.

I have checked for loose connections on the rear of the switch, everything appears ok and there is 12+ volts going to the switch. Where do I go from here?

[Winegard Tech Help]

mr.mcq,

Disconnect the coax cable from the antenna and take a voltage reading on the end of the cable and see if you're getting the same 12 volts there. If you aren't, replace or run an external coax from the switch to the antenna and see if it makes a difference.

It could be a faulty wall plate or a cabling issue. I would check that first and see what you get.

[mr.mcq]

Thank you for your assistance. I believe I have isolated the problem to the cable. Whenever I unhook the cable that goes from the wall switch to the antenna the wall switch light comes on. As soon as I hook it back up to the backside of the wall switch the light goes out.It doesn't matter whether the other end of the cable is hooked up to the antenna or just laying loose the result is the same. When I run a temporary coax from the rear of the wall switch to the antenna the light stays on. Thanks again, now I'll see if I can figure out how to route a new cable.