Amplify a non-amplified Sensar

[daystrom]

I just bought a new Travel Trailer. The option list stated 'upgraded antenna' which I had assumed was an amplified Winegard Sensar.

Well to my surprise the antenna head has a label underneath it stating 'non-amplified'. The TV connection inside the trailer has an on/off button and a green LED.

When I took the plate off the wall the antenna lead was hooked to Set 2. When I connected the antenna to the antenna port the green LED would no longer light so I hooked it back up to the Set 2 connection. There is another cable on the cable jack which goes to another jack on the outside of the trailer.

Is the power connector inside the trailer doing anything as far as amplifying the signal? Since the antenna says 'non-amplified' I would think not.

Winegard sells the RA-7596 wall plate to amplify non-amplified antennas however I'm not sure if this is what I have. How does the 7596 wall plate amplify the signal?

Thanks for any info!
Todd

[Winegard-Mobiletech]

Does your wall plate say "Amplifier" on the front of it?

Yours is a somewhat confusing situation. It sounds like you have a power supply (for an amplified antenna) and you definitely have a NON- Amplified antenna.

Generally, NON-amplified just means that the amplifier is inside the coach instead of in the antenna head where it does its best work.

If your wall plate doesn't say amplifier, you will just need to look at a new antenna head to get your system going.

One thing to look into is a bac coax connection as the light should not go out when you power a non-amplified antenna.

[daystrom]

The wall plate does not say anything on it other than Winegard. There is also no real electronics behind the plate as an amplifer would.

I'll check the coax to see if there are any shorts. The LED does go off however when the non-amplified head is plugged in.

[daystrom]

I checked the antenna coax starting at the wall plate for impedance. The F connector showed a short. I disconnected the coax from the antenna head and still had a short. Great Had to be bad inside the roof!

I was able to fish out the male to male connector right above the inside antenna control rather easily once I found it. Typical quick RV assembly had twist on F connectors with a single hair thickness wire shorted across the center pin. That single piece of wire was the only thing on the barrel of the F connector. It's a wonder how it worked at all!

I re-stripped the coax and made sure everything was OK. I can now pick up 5 more stations I couldn't get before and the green LED no longer goes out so the short is gone.

I still need to find out why I have a power supply for an amplified head and have a non-amplified head outside??

[Winegard-Mobiletech]

I'm glad you found your issue.

If you want, contact us at the number below about the non-amplified antenna head.

1-800-788-4417

[daystrom]

This is between the dealer/manufacture now as I think I was supposed to get an amplified head but didn't.

Hopefully they do the right thing and swap it out.