What Is The Proper Setup For My RV's Digital TV Converter Box and Video Distribution System?

by Rick H.
(Puget Sound, WA)

I have read and understand your article on installing a digital TV converter box: How Do I Install A Digital TV Converter Box In My RV?

In that article it is stated that the converter box should not be installed between the antenna and the video distribution box due to the possibility of 12 volt power also being in the line due to the antenna signal amplifier. Since my video distribution box has an on/off switch and red light, I assume that it is providing the 12 volt antenna signal amplification and not a separate wall power source.

And then I also assume that if I hook up the digital TV converter box as described above and then turn the power on at the video distribution box, I would also then be applying a 12 volt power source to the digital TV converter box thus ending up with a fried converter.

Are my assumptions correct and should the video distribution box only be operated without power to avoid a fried converter box? And if so, will that video distribution box work properly without power when hooked up to cable TV at a campground?

If the video distribution box must not be operated with power applied, I would suggest the original article above be amended to include such a warning.

Thank you!!!!!

ANSWER: Greetings Rick thanks for submitting your question on our Ask An RV Question Page.

Your Video Distribution Box may be powering your antenna, but you are actually installing The Digital TV Converter Box on the cables leading from the Video Distribution Box to your TVs as stated in the answer I gave to the question How Do I Install A Digital TV Converter Box In My RV? This is what it says:

"The back of video switch box will have labels on each of the cables that are either going in or coming out. The cables you are looking for are going directly to your TVs they will have labels such as "TV1 Out, TV2 Out, etc." or "To TV1, To TV2 etc." or "TV1, TV2 etc." Again, the labeling will vary by manufacturer. The Digital TV Converter Box will be installed on the cable leading to your TV from the Video Switching Box. Where you put the Digital TV Converter Box on this cable depends on where the TV is actually located."

There is no harmful power going through those cables so you are safe to install the Digital TV Converter Box on the cables leading out of the Video Distribution Box. The only place you cannot install the Digital TV Converter Box is on the cable coming from your RV's antenna going into the Video Distribution Box as that is where the power goes from the box to the amplifier on your antenna.

I hope that this clarifies any confusion.

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Happy RVing

RVing Al

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