[kcsupratt]

Does anyone have Radio Shack Bow Tie Antenna Part number is 15-623 ? How did you hook it into your TV. Has those 2 plugs and my Zenith SAT 520 takes a coax connection ?


What do i need to do ? Is there any booster also to increase the range ?


Thank you


Kenny

 

[Bob Dycus]

This antenna comes with 300 ohm leadin cable.


It works better if you drill out the rivets that attach the cable to the antenna, and use small bolts to attach a 300 ohm to 75 ohm matching transformer to the antenna. Then you can use 75 ohm coax to run to the RF input of the TV.


If you don't want to do that, you must buy a 300 ohm to F connector attachemnt to connect to your TV. This also is a matching transformer.

 

[kcsupratt]

Bob, I think i will pass on drilling holes and attaching new bolts on. I will look for a 300ohm to F Connector.



Thank you for the help.

 

[kcsupratt]

Can I uses this part 15-1253 and then attached the 2 leads, then use a coax to connect to my 520 ?


Thanks

 

[arxaw]

You can always try connecting it that way; you may luck out.


If it doesn't work well, try the modification.

 

[kcsupratt]

Well picked up the 15-1253 and it kind of works. All i get get is CBS in HD all the other ones I get no signal. I live in Central NJ and I choose Trenton as the city. Do you think I can do better ?


Thanks

 

[tombarry]

I unsoldered the 300 ohm wires and soldered the 75 ohm wires in their place. This direct connection is the best. I went from 3 stations to 8, including the VHF station.


Now my only reception problem is the complaint from my wife that she doesn't like 'that thing' in the Christmas decorations on the fireplace mantle.


Tom

 

[kcsupratt]

Tom, By chance do you have any pictures on how to do this ? Maybe be simple for you but not for me

And tell me what parts do i need.


Thanks


Kenny

 

[Bob Dycus]

Kenny,

You need a 300 ohm to 75 ohm matching transformer that you can get at Radio Shack. It has a short piece of 300 ohm wire coming out of a cylinder with a 75 ohm screw on connection on the other end of the cylinder.


Solder the 300 ohm wires on the matching transforer to the spade lugs that the rivets attach to the antenna. Use rosin core solder. Clip off the old 300 ohm cable that came with the antenna. You now have a 75 ohm connection that it properly impedance matched to the antenna.


Click on my gallery button to see a picture of the modified antenna.

 

[rgathright]

Will rivets work in place of solder?

 

[Bob Dycus]

Anything that makes a good metallic connection will work.

 

[arxaw]

Couldn't you just shorten the existing 300 ohm wire and connect it to one of these with a barrel connector inserted in it for the coax?
http://www.skyvision.com/store/media/3000016.jpg

 

[Bob Dycus]

That outta work too.

 

[Bob Dycus]

By the way, I happened by our local RS the other night looking for my brother an antenna and I caught a RS DBT for $1.97!


I bought it for my brother.


I paid $18+ for mine.

 

[UncD2000]

It has been stated in other threads that there are significant differences in insertion loss among 300/75 baluns, especially at UHF frequencies. I have always felt that many of the dramatic SS gains attributed to the "DBT mod" actually resulted from the removal of the cheapie type with the piercing screws/barrel connector and replacing with a good quality "spade lug" design balun that can be attached directly to the DBT. I made this exact balun change on my attic DBT and SS improved about 10 units on every channel. I have had very good luck with the CM 7281 balun over the years and have 3 of them in use, but it may be discontinued. Winegard makes some good baluns, and I think RS used to have one around $10 in their catalog that tested out well.