VU-120XR VHF/UHF (150-2154) Installation Faxback Doc. # 7611 FM Antenna The VU-120XR VHF/UHF/FM Antenna is specially designed to provide improved performance compared to similar-sized antennas. Radio Shack's engineers have made this possible by using two special design features: UHF Bowtie - delivers more of the UHF signal to your TV. Since UHF signals are more difficult to receive than VHF signals, 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 better pictures on your TV. ASSEMBLING THE ANTENNA We recommend two people assemble the entire antenna on the ground, then mount the assembled antenna on the mast. Follow these steps to assemble the antenna. 1. Fold out the elements on both sections of the main boom by holding them near the boom and pulling them until they snap into place. Caution: Do not pull out the elements by their ends. If you do, you could damage an element. 2. Fold out the elements on the smaller, separate wing booms until they snap into place. 3. Fold out the two halves of the UHF bowtie until they lock into place. Then place the free end of each half of the UHF bowtie over its lead- in terminal. 4. Bolt the triangular wing boom brackets onto the main boom. 5. Insert the top and bottom wing booms in the triangular bracket and secure them with the four 1 1/4-inch screws and small wing nuts. 6. Use the supplied hardware to assemble the two main boom sections. If necessary, lift one end of the main boom so the crossover wires reach the threaded posts. 7. Use the supplied hardware to loosely attach one of the supplied mast clamp assemblies to the main boom. 8. Use the supplied hardware to attach the other mast clamp assembly to the cradle boom. Then snap the plastic H-blocks onto the cradle boom. 9. Press the supplied end plugs into the ends of the cradle boom and each antenna boom. Then snap the main boom onto the cradle boom's H-blocks, with the mast clamp assemblies aligned and the blue plastic pieces on the main boom facing up. CONNECTING LEAD-IN CABLE TO THE ANTENNA Follow these steps to connect lead-in cable to the antenna. We recommend RG-6 cable and, if you prepare your own cable, a quality CF-56-F-connector (both available at your local Radio Shack store). You can also use 300-ohm flat, twin-lead cable. Note: If you prepare your own coaxial cable, slide the supplied matching tranformer's weather boot over the end of the cable before you attach the F-connector. Follow these steps if you use coaxial cable. 1. Thread the ends of the supplied matching transformer through the strain relief tab. Then use the supplied washers and wing nuts to secure the transformer's leads to the antenna's lead-in terminals. 2. Screw the cable's F-connector onto the matching transformer. If you use a prebuilt cable without a weather boot, cover the connection with weatherproof tape. Otherwise, slip the boot over the connection. Notes: Use plastic tape to secure the cable to the mast at about 3 foot intervals. Use coaxial nail clips every few feet to secure the cable to walls. Use a 75-ohm grounding block to ground the cable where the cable enters the house. Use a wall-through tube to neatly route the cable through walls. Follow these steps if you use twin-lead cable. 1. Split the cable for a length of about 3 inches. Then remove about 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends of the twin-lead cable. 2. Thread the ends of the twin-lead cable through the antenna's strain- relief tab. Then use the supplied washers and wing nuts to secure the twin-leads to the antenna's lead-in terminals. Notes: Allow enough slack between the strain-relief tab and the antenna terminals to prevent stress on the cable or terminals. Be sure the cable remains at least 4 inches away from all metal surfaces. Use standoff insulators about every 4 feet. Twist the cable about three turns between each standoff. Use a 300-ohm static discharge unit to ground the twin-lead cable at the point where the wire enters the house. ATTACHING TO THE MAST Caution: The crossover wires must not touch the antenna boom, the mast, or each other. If necessary, carefully bend the crossover wires to provide at least 1/2 inch of clearance. SETTING UP THE MAST How you set up the mast depends on your specific installation. After you set up the mast, rotate it so the antenna's shorter elements point toward the broadcast antennas of the stations you want to receive. CONNECTING TO YOUR TV/VCR Connect the antenna's lead-in cable to your TV and FM receiver's antenna terminals according to the type of cable you used. A few methods are as follows: If you have: Coaxial antenna lead-in Twin-lead UHF terminals Coaxial VHF terminal Twin-lead FM antenna terminals We recommend you use Radio Shack Cat. No. 15-1252, Splitter. If you have: Coaxial antenna lead-in Twin-lead UHF terminals Twin-lead VHF terminals Twin-lead FM antenna terminals We recommend you use Radio Shack Cat. No. 15-1139, Transformer/Splitter. If you have: Coaxial antenna lead-in Combined coaxial VHF/UHF terminal Coaxial FM antenna terminal We recommend you use Radio Shack Cat. No. 15-1141, Hybrid Splitter/ Combiner. If you have: Twin-lead antenna lead-in Twin-lead UHF terminals Coaxial VHF terminal Twin-lead FM antenna terminals We recommend you use Radio Shack Cat. No. 15-1251, Splitter. (br/all-9/20/94)