AM/FM Power Antenna (120-1330) Installation Faxback Doc. # 3794 BEFORE YOU BEGIN Installation of this antenna requires that you have a 1-inch hole in the selected mounting location. You might be able to use an existing hole made for a previously installed antenna. If, however, you must drill a new hole, choose the location for the hole carefully using the guidelines in "Choosing the Antenna Location." If you drill the hole in an improper location, it is difficult and expensive to repair the damage. CHOOSING THE ANTENNA LOCATION The normal mounting location for this type of antenna is under one of the vehicle's fenders. However, the extra size of a power antenna requires more than the usual amount of space below the mounting surface. Be sure you select a location that meets the following requirements. There must be at least 12 1/2 inches of space below the mounting surface. The mounting surface must be able to support the weight of the antenna. The mounting location must be close enough to the radio to allow connections using the supplied cables and cable extensions. Below the mounting surface, there must be a place to attach the support strap to a solid part of the vehicle. If the antenna is mounted in the trunk or other closed compartment, you must be able to drill a small hole for the water drainage tube in the bottom of the compartment. If the drainage tube is not long enough, you can get extra tubing at any auto supply store. DRILLING THE HOLE If your vehicle already has a radio antenna, check to see if you can remove the old antenna and install the power antenna in its place. The mounting hole must be 1 inch in diameter, and the location must meet the requirements listed in "Choosing the Antenna Location." If you cannot mount the power antenna in the old antenna's location, you can probably obtain a special plug from your vehicle dealer to cover the old hole. Use the following procedure to drill a new hole. 1. Carefully choose the location for the hole. 2. Cover the area for the hole with masking tape. The tape helps prevent chipping of the paint. Don't use tape with a strong adhesive that might pull off or damage the paint. 3. Use a hammer and nail to make a small pilot hole at the desired location. 4. Use a power drill to make the final hole. To obtain the desired results, you might have to gradually increase the size of the hole using progressively larger drill bits. The finished hole should be 1 inch in diameter - be sure it isn't larger than 1 inch. 5. Carefully remove the masking tape. MOUNTING THE ANTENNA In some cases, mounting the antenna takes two people-one to hold the antenna below the mounting surface and another to attach the mounting hardware above thew mounting surface. Note: To assure optimum reception, clean the top and bottom of the mounting surface before mounting the antenna. 1. Remove the chrome nut, chrome cap, plastic cap, and plastic washer from the top of the antenna tube. Leave the grounding base and the two metal washers on the antenna tube. 2. From beneath the mounting surface, insert the top of the antenna tube through the mounting hole. 3. From above the mounting surface, replace the plastic washer, plastic cap, and chrome cap on the antenna tube. Then, loosely attach the chrome nut to the top of the tube. 4. Position and/or turn the grounding base, plastic cap, and chrome cap so that the antenna tube is vertical. The antenna delivers best reception when it is vertical. 5. Tighten the chrome nut to hold the entire antenna assembly securely in place. 6. Bend the support strap as necessary, and attach one end of the strap to the bottom of the antenna assembly. Use a flat washer, a lock washer, and the larger screw. 7. Attach the other end of the strap to a solid part of the vehicle. Use the smaller screw as shown. Note: If you have to drill a hole to attach the strap to the vehicle, take care not to drill into the gas tank or through the outside surface of the vehicle. CONNECTING THE CABLES When routing the cables from the antenna to the radio, use the following guidelines: Try to route the coaxial antenna cable away from all power cables. This helps reduce the possibility of interference. Use the supplied extension cables only when necessary. Shorter cables are less likely to pick up interference. Use only the supplied antenna cables. Do not cut or alter them in any way. They are specially "tuned" for this antenna. Avoid routing the cables over sharp edges or near moving parts. Avoid areas of extreme heat. Antenna Cable Connect the antenna's black coaxial cable to the antenna jack on your radio. If your radio has an antenna trimmer control, adjust it following the instructions in the radio's owner's manual. Power/Ground Cables Caution: Be sure that your vehicle has a 12-volt, negative-ground electrical system, before you make any connections. 1. Connect the short black ground wire to the metal frame of your vehicle. Notes: Many parts of modern vehicles are made of plastic. Be sure that the black wire is not insulated from the vehicle's metal frame by a plastic part. If you have to drill a hole to attach the wire to the frame, take care not to drill into the gas tank or through the outside surface of the vehicle. 2. Connect the red power wire with the in-line fuse holder to the vehicle battery's positive (+) terminal or to a terminal on the fuse box that is a constant source of power. You can use one of Radio Shack's power taps to connect the red wire to the battery cable. 3. Connect the orange wire to the switched power wire on your radio. Most Radio Shack radios have such a wire and the wire is usually orange, also. If your radio does not have a switched power wire, see "Connecting a Manual Control Switch". With these connections, the antenna extends when the radio is on and retracts when the radio is off. If your radio has a built-in cassette deck, the antenna also extends when the cassette deck is on. If you want to be able to retract the antenna when using your cassette deck, see "Connecting a Manual Control Switch." CONNECTING A MANUAL CONTROL SWITCH With a manual control switch, you can extend or retract the antenna as desired whenever the vehicle's ignition is on. You can also set the switch so that the antenna automatically extends when you turn on the ignition and retracts when you turn off the ignition. 1. Connect the short black ground wire and the red power wire as described in "Power/Ground Cables." 2. Connect the orange wire to one terminal of a SPST (single-pole, single-throw) switch such as Cat. No. 275-701. 3. Connect a wire between the switch's other terminal and an accessory terminal on the vehicle's fuse box. The accessory terminal should provide power only when the ignition is on. Note: You can connect this wire to your radio's switched power wire to allow automatic antenna operation from the radio with a manual override. With these connections you have two operation options: If you leave the SPST switch set to on, the antenna automatically extends when the ignition (or radio) is on and retracts when the ignition (or radio) is off. When the ignition (or radio) is on, you can manually extend the antenna by setting the switch to on or retract it by setting the switch to off. (br/all-02/06/95)