Radio Shack Six-Element Triple-Drive FM Antenna User manual

©1998, 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.
Six-Element Triple-Drive FM Antenna
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 loosely attach the supplied
mast clamp assembly to the boom, as shown.
Note: To access the mast clamp holes, move the antenna’s
elements out of the way as needed.
2. Press the supplied large end plugs into the 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.)
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 1/2inch 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.
U-Bolt Mast Clamp
Backup Plate
Boom
Lock Nuts
Lead-In Terminal
Weather Boot
F-Connector Matching
Transformer
Strain-Relief Tab
Flat Washers
Large
Wing Nuts
Spade Terminals
Main
Boom
Lead-In Terminal
Strain-Relief Tab
Twin-Lead Cable
Flat Washers
Large
Wing Nuts
Main
Boom
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2
UNFOLDING THE ANTENNA’S ELEMENTS
Hold the 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 posi-
tion, do not attempt to unlock them. Doing so might break the
self-locking tabs.
ATTACHING TO THE MAST
For the best FM reception, do not mount the FM antenna on the
same mast with a TV antenna. We recommend that you enlist
the help of another person before 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 information sheet for recommended meth-
ods.
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.
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
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 FM RECEIVER
Connect the antenna’s lead-in cable to your FM receiver’s antenna terminals according to the type of cable you used. RadioShack
carries a variety of matching transformers, if one of these suits your needs. Below are some sample connections.
Make connections as described if you have:
• Coaxial antenna lead-in
• Twin-lead FM antenna terminals
Mast
TowardFM
Stations’
Antennas
Long Element
Short Elements
RadioShack
Indoor/Outdoor
Matching Transformer
Cat. No. 15-1140
Connect to FM Receiver’s
300-Ohm Screw Terminals
Connect
Coaxial Lead-In
from Antenna
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3
Make connections as described if you have:
• Coaxial antenna lead-in
• Coaxial FM antenna terminals
Make connections as described if you have:
• Twin-lead antenna lead-in
• Coaxial FM antenna terminal
Make connections as described if you have:
• Twin-lead antenna lead-in
• Twin-lead FM antenna terminals
Connect to FM Receiver’s
75-Ohm F-Connector
Coaxial Lead-In
from Antenna
RadioShack
Matching Transformer
Cat. No. 15-1253 Connect Twin-Lead
Lead-In from Antenna to
Screw Terminals
Connect to FM Receiver’s
75-Ohm F-Connector
Twin-Lead Lead-In
from Antenna
Connect to
FM Receiver’s
300-Ohm
Screw Terminals
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15-2163
04/00
Printed in the USA
RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Limited Ninety-Day Warranty
This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workman-
ship under normal use for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-
owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED
HEREIN, RadioShack MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THE WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTIES
CONTAINED HEREIN. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack SHALL HAVE NO LIABIL-
ITY OR RESPONSIBILITY TO CUSTOMER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY WITH RE-
SPECT TO ANY LIABILITY, LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY USE
OR PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCT OR ARISING OUT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS WAR-
RANTY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM INCONVE-
NIENCE, LOSS OF TIME, DATA, PROPERTY, REVENUE, OR PROFIT OR ANY INDIRECT,
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF RadioShack HAS BEEN AD-
VISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusion or limita-
tion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to
you.
In the event of a product defect during the warranty period, take the product and the RadioShack
sales receipt as proof of purchase date to any RadioShack store. RadioShack will, at its option, un-
less otherwise provided by law: (a) correct the defect by product repair without charge for parts and
labor; (b) replace the product with one of the same or similar design; or (c) refund the purchase
price. All replaced parts and products, and products on which a refund is made, become the prop-
erty of RadioShack. New or reconditioned parts and products may be used in the performance of
warranty service. Repaired or replaced parts and products are warranted for the remainder of the
original warranty period. You will be charged for repair or replacement of the product made after the
expiration of the warranty period.
This warranty does not cover: (a) damage or failure caused by or attributable to acts of God, abuse,
accident, misuse, improper or abnormal usage, failure to follow instructions, improper installation or
maintenance, alteration, lightning or other incidence of excess voltage or current; (b) any repairs
other than those provided by a RadioShack Authorized Service Facility; (c) consumables such as
fuses or batteries; (d) cosmetic damage; (e) transportation, shipping or insurance costs; or (f) costs
of product removal, installation, set-up service adjustment or reinstallation.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from
state to state.
RadioShack Customer Relations, 200 Taylor Street, 6th Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76102
We Service What We Sell 12/99
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