Radio Shack TV • FM High Gain Mast-Mount Antenna UHF/VHF/FM Amplifier with Switchable FM... User manual

Cat. No. 15-1109
TV •FM High Gain Mast-Mount Antenna UHF/VHF/FM
Amplifier with Switchable FM Trap
This amplifier with Switchable FM Trap
provides up to 30 dB amplification of
signals from outdoor VHF, UHF, FM,
or combination antennas. This high
degree of amplification is necessary
when your antenna is pulling in signals
from weak or distant stations, when it
is positioned 100 feet or more from the
TV, or when a single antenna supplies
signals to several units — TVs, VCRs,
or FM receivers.
Note: This unit only amplifies signals;
it does not enhance distorted or noisy
signals.
FEATURES
Separate Amplifier and Power Sup-
ply Units — maximize operational effi-
ciency.
Built-In Adjustable Gain Control —
reduces signals by up to 10 dB to pre-
vent overload and allow custom
matching of amplification to signal
strength.
Switchable FM Trap — reduces or
eliminates FM interference, which ap-
pears as a herringbone pattern on the
TV screen.
Power Indicator — lights when the
amplifier is operating, and goes out if
power fails or the connecting cable
shorts.
Special Automatic Protection Cir-
cuit — guards against cable shorts
and prevents damage to connected re-
ceivers.
Surface-Mounted Components —
assure long-term reliability.
Please read and keep all of the in-
structions and warnings contained in
this Owner’s Manual, in the supplied
“Safety Instructions” sheet, and on the
product.
This symbol is intended to alert you
to the presence of uninsulated dan-
gerous voltage within the product’s
enclosure that might be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock. Do notopen the prod-
uct’s case.
This symbol is intended to inform
you that important operating and
maintenance instructions are includ-
ed in the literature accompanying
this product.
Warning: To prevent fire or shock
hazard, do not expose this power
supply to rain or moisture.
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
DO NOT OPEN.
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
COVER OR BACK. NO USER-SERVICE-
ABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVIC-
ING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
CAUTION
!
!
© 1997 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.
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2
INSTALLATION
Cautions:
• For outdoor antennas, install an
antenna grounding system, as
shown in the supplied sheet.
• The power supply has a protection
circuit that shuts down the ampli-
fier if there are stray wires
between the power supply and the
amplifier. If the amplifier does not
operate, check for stray wires.
Proper operation should resume
when the problem is corrected.
Installing the Amplifier
1. Mount the amplifier on the
antenna mast, about 12 inches
below the antenna. Position the U-
bolt and mounting bracket as
shown. Then install washers and
tighten the nuts securely.
2. Attach one end of the provided
coaxial cable to the amplifier’s F-
connector labeled TO ANTENNA.
Attach the other end of this cable
to the antenna’s terminals, using
the supplied 300-to-75 ohm
matching transformer if necessary.
Notes:
• Be sure to fully seat the weather
boots provided on the coaxial
cable over their corresponding
F-connectors.
• Leave a slight amount of slack
(called a drip loop) where the
cable attaches to the amplifier.
3. Choose a length of cable long
enough to reach from the antenna
to your TV or receiver. Ra-
dioShack stores have various pre-
cut lengths of cable with boots and
connectors in place. If you choose
to assemble your own coaxial
cable, use the supplied weather-
bootattheamplifier’s connections.
Antenna Terminals
Standoff
Matching
Standoff
Weather
Boots
Drip
Loop
Amplifier
Transformer
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3
Attach one end of a 75-ohm coax-
ial cable to the amplifier’s F-con-
nector labeled TO POWER SUPPLY.
Note: Do not splice the cable or
install any in-line devices such as
splitters or filters. You can install a
grounding block (Cat. No. 15-909),
which dissipates DC current and
provides a connection point for a
static discharge ground rod.
4. Use either standoffs or weather-
resistant electrical tape to secure
the cable to the antenna mast.
Use standoffs to secure the cable
to the building as you route the
cable to your TV.
Notes:
• If you use a power rotator for
your antenna, leave enough
cable slack for unrestrained
rotation of the upper section.
• Leave a slight amount of slack
(called a drip loop) where the
cable enters your house.
• Be sure to weatherproof all con-
nections, using plastic electrical
tape or a coaxial sealant.
Installing the Power Supply
Notes:
• The power supply is designed for
indoor use only.
• Do not mount the unit to any elec-
trical equipment or your TV set.
Choose a location for the power
supply near the TV or FM receiver,
and close to a standard AC outlet.
1. Drill a hole at the desired location
and thread the supplied screw into
the hole until its head extends
about
1/8inch from the wall.
2. Align the power supply’s keyhole
slot with the screw head and slide
the power supply down.
3. Connect the coaxial cable from the
amplifier to the power supply’s
FROM AMPLIFIER terminal. Do not
overtighten the connector.
4. Connect one end of a short length
of cable to the power supply’s TO
TV terminal.
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4
5. Connect the other end of the short
cable to the TV or FM receiver.
• To connect to one TV or FM
receiver with a 75-ohm input,
connect the cable directly to the
input.
• To connect to one TV or FM
receiver with a 300-ohm input,
use a 75-to-300 ohm trans-
former (Cat. No. 15-1140).
• To connect to UHF/VHF TV ter-
minals and an FM receiver, use
a VHF/UHF/FM splitter (Cat.
No. 15-1252).
Caution: Do not reverse the TO TV
and FROM AMPLIFIER connec-
tions. Voltage is present at the
FROM AMPLIFIER terminal, which
might damage an improperly con-
nected receiver.
6. When all connections are made
and double-checked, plug the
power supply into a standard AC
outlet.
Caution: To prevent electric
shock, match the wide blade of the
amplifier’s AC plug to the wide slot
of a standard AC outlet and insert
the plug fully.
Drip Loop
TV
15-1252
VHF UHF
15-1140 FM Receiver
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5
Multiple TV Connections
The power supply’s output, labeled TO TV, can supply a signal to more than one
TV. Connect a Four-Set Hybrid Splitter (Cat. No. 15-1142) to TO TV and follow the
splitter’s owner’s manual to make the connections to more than one audio/video
device.
Drip Loop Amplified
Coupler
To TV To TV To TV
To Splitter To A/V Devices
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6
OPERATION
Using the FM Trap
If the TV picture contains wavy or her-
ringbone-patterned dark lines, slide FM
TRAP to IN to reduce or eliminate this
interference.
If you have the amplifier connected to
an FM receiver and a TV, set FM TRAP
to OUT when you listen to the radio.
Note: If FM TRAP has no effect on the
picture, the interference might be from
a source other than FM. You might
need additional traps.
Using the Gain Control
If your TV receives too strong a signal,
the picture tears and becomes unsta-
ble, and FM sound can become dis-
torted. To prevent this, use a small
flathead screwdriver to rotate GAIN to
provide the maximum signal amplifica-
tion without overload.
• Rotate GAIN toward MAX for weak
or distant stations.
• Rotate GAIN toward MIN for strong
or nearby stations.
Automatic Protection Circuit
The amplifier contains circuitry to
guard against damage caused by a
short anywhere in the cable from the
amplifier to the receiving unit. A short
between the amplifier and the power
supply causes the power supply to
shut down automatically, turning off
the power indicator and amplifier. If
you suspect a short, follow these steps
to correct it.
1. Unplug the power cord and dis-
connect the coaxial cable you sus-
pect is shorted.
2. Wait 10 minutes for the power sup-
ply to reset. During this time,
repair or replace the cable.
3. With the cable disconnected, plug
in the power cord.
4. If the power indicator lights,
unplug the power supply, recon-
nect the cable, and plug in the
power cord again. The power indi-
cator should light again. If the
power indicator still does not light,
take the unit to your local Ra-
dioShack store for assistance.
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7
TROUBLESHOOTING
If you have poor FM radio reception,
be sure FM TRAP is set to OUT.
If the reception is poor on all units
connected to the amplifier:
• Be sure the power supply is
plugged into an AC outlet which
has power.
• Check all connections between
the antenna, the amplifier, and the
power supply.
If you have poor, or no, reception
on only one unit of a multiple re-
ceiver system:
• Check all F-connectors for dam-
age. In particular, examine the
center pins.
• Be sure the F-connectors are
properly attached.
• Verify that the TV or FM receiver
operates properly when used with
other signal sources.
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Response
(FM Trap)..............Greater than 25 dB
Attenuation at 95 MHz Typical
Gain....................30 dB (VHF or UHF)
Gain Control................ 0 to 10 dB Cut
Specifications are typical; individual
units might vary. Specifications are
subject to change and improvement
without notice.
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RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
9/97 Printed in the USA
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 the limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusion of in-
cidental 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, Dept. W, 100 Throckmorton St., Suite 600, Fort Worth, TX 76102
We Service What We Sell
3/97
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