Radio Shack VU-160XR Manuals

© 2000 Tandy Corporation. All Rights Reserved. RadioShack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation. RadioShack.com is a trademark used by Tandy Corporation. OWNER’S MANUAL — Please read before using this equipment. VU-160XR VHF/UHF/FM Antenna with Matching Transformer Your RadioShack VHF/UHF/FM Antenna performs better than standard antennas because of its special design features. UHF Bowtie — delivers more of the UHF signal to your TV. Since UHF signals are more difficult to receive than VHF sig- nals, this antenna gives UHF signals the extra boost they need. VHF/UHF Isolation Network — prevents the two types of TV signals from interfering with each other. This results in cleaner signals and a better picture on your TV. BEFORE YOU BEGIN Before you begin installation, read this manual and the sepa- rate Consumer Product Safety Commission information sheet. For your safety and convenience, plan each step of the installa- tion and purchase the necessary hardware in advance. The hardware required and the order in which you perform the steps depend on the mounting and connection method you choose. Warning: When you install your antenna, use extreme caution. If the antenna starts to fall, let it go! It could contact overhead power lines. If the antenna touches the power line, contact with the antenna, mast, cable, or guy wires can cause electrocution and death. Call the power company to remove the antenna. Do not attempt to remove it yourself. ASSEMBLING THE ANTENNA Assemble the entire antenna on the ground. 1. Use the supplied hardware to assemble the two main boom sections, as shown. If necessary, lift one end of the main boom so the crossover wires reach the threaded posts. Note: To access slots or holes during assembly, move the antenna’s elements out of the way as needed. 2. Use the supplied hardware to loosely attach one of the sup- plied mast clamp assemblies to the main boom, as shown. 3. Attach the other mast clamp assembly to the cradle boom. (Be sure it faces the same direction as the main boom’s mast clamp assembly, shown above.) Fold out the two sets of metal support straps on the cradle boom and attach them to the corresponding holes on the main boom using the two supplied 11/2-inch screws and large wing nuts. 4. Press the supplied large end plugs into the main boom and the cradle boom. 5. Pull the UHF bowtie’s two halves away from the main boom until they lock into place. Then slide each half’s unattached end over one of the antenna’s lead-in terminals (one for each half of the UHF bowtie on each side of the boom). Note: Both sections of the UHF/VHF isolation network should remain parallel to the main boom. CONNECTING LEAD-IN CABLE TO THE ANTENNA We recommend RG-6 cable and, if you prepare your own ca- ble, a quality F-connector. You can also use 300-ohm flat, twin- lead cable. (RadioShack carries a variety of suitable cables and connectors.) Large Wing Nuts Splint Threaded Posts Large Wing Nuts Flat Washers 11/2-Inch Screws Crossover Wires U-Bolt Mast Clamp Backup Plate Main Boom Lock Nuts Main Boom Cradle Boom Mast Clamp Assemblies Metal Support Straps Metal Support Straps UHF Bowtie Lead-In Terminal UHF/VHF Isolation Network 15-2155a.fm Page 1 Wednesday, April 26, 2000 7:55 PM 2 Note: If you prepare your own coaxial cable, be sure to slide the supplied matching transformer’s weather boot onto the ca- ble before you attach the F-connector. Using Coaxial Cable To connect coaxial cable to your antenna: 1. Thread the supplied matching transformer’s spade termi- nals through the antenna’s strain-relief tab. 2. Slide the spade terminals around the antenna’s lead-in ter- minals (on both sides of the boom), then secure them with the supplied flat washers and large wing nuts. 3. Screw the cable’s F-connector onto the matching trans- former. 4. Slip the weather boot over the connection. If you use a rebuilt cable without a weather boot, cover the connection with weather-resistant tape. Using Twin-Lead Cable To connect flat, twin-lead cable to your antenna: 1. Split one end of the twin-lead cable for a length of about 3 inches. Then strip about 1/2 inch of insulation from both leads. 2. Thread the stripped leads through the antenna’s strain- relief tab. 3. Wrap each lead around one of the antenna’s lead-in termi- nals (on both sides of the boom). Be sure there is enough slack between the strain-relief tab and the antenna termi- nals to prevent stress on the cable or the terminals. 4. Secure the leads with the supplied flat washers and large wing nuts. UNFOLDING THE ANTENNA’S ELEMENTS 1. Hold the main boom’s elements near the pivot points and pull them away from the boom until they snap into the self- locking plastic support insulators. Caution: To avoid damage to the elements, do not pull them near their outer ends. Once the elements are locked into position, do not attempt to unlock them. Doing so might break the self-locking tabs. 2. Hold each wing boom and turn its elements until they snap squarely into place (perpendicular to the boom). 3. Press the supplied small end plugs into the wing booms. 4. Bolt the triangular wing boom brackets onto the main boom using the supplied 11/2-inch screw and small wing nut, as shown. 5. Insert the top and bottom wing booms into the wing boom brackets. Secure them with the four supplied 11/4-inch screws and small wing nuts, as shown. ATTACHING TO THE MAST We recommend that you enlist the help of another person be- fore you put up the mast or attach your antenna to it. How you set up your mast depends on your specific installation. Refer to the separate Consumer Product Safety Commission informa- tion sheet for recommended methods. 1. Slide the antenna’s mast clamp assembly over the end of the mast. 2. Tighten the mast clamp assembly’s lock nuts to hold the antenna in place. Do not overtighten the lock nuts. Caution: The crossover wires must not touch the antenna boom, the mast, or each other. If necessary, carefully bend Lead-In Terminal Weather Boot F-Connector Matching Transformer Strain-Relief Tab Flat Washers Large Wing Nuts Spade Terminal Main Boom Lead-In Terminal Spade Terminal Lead-In Terminal Strain-Relief Tab Twin-Lead Cable Flat Washers Large Wing Nuts Main Boom Lead-In Terminal Wing Boom Brackets Main Boom 11/2-Inch Screw Small Wing Nut Small Wing Nuts 11/4-Inch Screws Top Wing Boom Bottom Wing Boom Wing Boom Brackets 15-2155a.fm Page 2 Wednesday, April 26, 2000 7:55 PM 3 the crossover wires to provide at least 1/2 inch of clearance between parts. 3. Set up the mast, then rotate it so the antenna’s shorter ele- ments point toward the broadcast antennas of the stations you want to receive. ROUTING THE CABLE TO YOUR TV/VCR/FM RECEIVER If you use coaxial cable: • Use plastic tape or mast standoff insulators to secure the coaxial cable to the mast at about 3-foot intervals. Continue down the roof and the side of the house using roof and wall standoff insulators. • Use coaxial cable nail-in clips every few feet to secure the cable between the mast and where the cable enters the house. • Use a 75-ohm grounding block at the point where the coax- ial cable enters the house. Read the Consumer Product Safety Commission sheet for grounding instructions. • Use a wall-through lead-in tube (not supplied) to neatly route the coaxial cable through walls. If you use twin-lead cable: • Be sure the twin-lead cable remains at least 4 inches away from all metal surfaces. • Use standoff insulators about every 4 feet. Twist the twin- lead cable about three turns between standoff insulators. • Read the separate Consumer Product Safety Commission sheet for grounding instructions. CONNECTING TO YOUR TV/VCR AND FM RECEIVER Connect the antenna’s lead-in cable to your TV/VCR and FM receiver’s antenna terminals according to the type of cable you used. RadioShack carries a variety of splitters. Choose one that best suits your needs. Below are some sample connections. Make connections as shown if you have: • Coaxial antenna lead-in • Twin-lead UHF terminals • Coaxial VHF terminal • Twin-lead FM antenna terminals Make connections as shown if you have: • Coaxial antenna lead-in • Twin-lead UHF terminals • Twin-lead VHF terminals • Twin-lead FM antenna terminals Crossover Wires Mast Toward TV Stations’ Antennas Main Boom Long Elements Wing Boom Elements Main Boom Short Elements RadioShack Splitter with 75-Ohm Input Cat. No. 15-1252 UHF 300 Ohm VHF 75 Ohm To FM Receiver Coaxial Lead-In from Antenna RadioShack Transformer/Splitter Cat. No. 15-1139 UHF 300 Ohm VHF 300 Ohm To FM Receiver Coaxial Lead-In from Antenna 15-2155a.fm Page 3 Wednesday, April 26, 2000 7:55 PM