RCA ANT3900 User manual
Limited One-Year Warranty ANT3900
Amplified
Outdoor Antenna
VHF•UHF•FM
User’s Guide
universal
Designed for use
with single or
dual output LNB
satellite dish
antennas for sharp
local channel
reception
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 1
2
Table of Contents
Important Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Lightning Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
About Your New ANT3900 Outdoor TV Antenna . . . . . . . . .4
For Best Reception Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Installing Your New ANT3900 Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Step A: Installing the ANT3900 on your satellite dish . . . .5
Step B: Installing the inside diplexers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Installing ANT3900 with a Multi-switch . . . . . .10
Installing ANT3900 with an Antenna Input
Multi-switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Installing ANT3900 with a Non-antenna Input
Multi-switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Step C: Setting up your TV to use the ANT3900 . . . . . .12
Limited One-Year Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
WARNING! Use extreme caution when installing or
removing an outdoor antenna that is located close to
overhead wires such as power lines, telephone lines or
cable TV lines. If any part of the antenna makes contact
with overhead power lines, touching the antenna or the
antenna cable can cause electrocution and death. If the
antenna is in contact with any type of overhead wires, call
your power company and ask them to send a qualified
technician to remove the antenna. Do not attempt to
remove it yourself!
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 2
3
Important Safety Precautions
WARNING! Many do-it-yourself and professional antenna
installers are injured or killed each year by electric shock.
While anyone can see the obvious danger of falling, the most
resourceful sometimes fail to recognize overhead wires as
being potentially lethal. To touch any part of the antenna to
these overhead wires is the same as touching the wires with
your bare hand. A very serious shock is almost sure to result
when contacting an electrical wire, and, in the case of
primary wires on the tip of poles, the shock is similar to
being struck by a bolt of lightning. Many power wires are
within 20 to 25 feet of the ground and can easily be touched
by an assembled antenna.
Please read and follow these important
safety precautions.
• Get help from a qualified professional when removing the
old antenna if there is any doubt of clearing overhead wires.
• Never install the antenna outdoors at night or in inclement
weather conditions.
• Make sure the antenna downlead cable is connected
to suitable lightning arrestors.
• Make sure the antenna installation is secure.
Lightning Protection
Always plug your TV and other electronic devices into a
quality surge protector for maximum protection against
lightning and power surges.
• Do not try to guess which overhead wires carry
high voltage. Check with the power company.
• If you notice anything making contact with the overhead
wires, call the power company to have it removed safely.
• Do not run the downlead cable over power lines.
All outdoor antenna installations should be properly
grounded. To effectively protect the installations, the coaxial
cable(s) should be grounded before they enter the house.
The grounding of the coaxial cable is made using a “ground
block” and copper wire (not supplied). For information and
the materials needed to ground your antenna installation,
visit your local electronics store.
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 3
4
The ANT3900 is the perfect complement to a mini-
satellite dish system. It picks up VHF and UHF signals,
so you can enjoy local programming at no extra cost,
along with your satellite programming.
The ANT3900 features an internal amplifier that minimizes
signal loss. The DBS receiver powers the amplifier, so no
additional power supply is required. Because the ANT3900’s
antenna elements are manufactured to be weather-resistant,
they’ll perform at their best for many years to come.
For Best Reception Results
For the best reception results, the satellite dish and antenna
combination should be high off the ground with minimal
signal obstructions. On the side of your house (close to
the roof) or on the roof itself generally offers the best
environment for reception.
Remember, you can always rotate the antenna on the dish
to adjust your reception.
Note: To change from satellite to local programming, it is
necessary to push the appropriate button on the remote control.
About Your New ANT3900
Outdoor TV Antenna
Before You Begin
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the various
elements in the ANT3900 package. Please make sure that
your package includes all of the necessary pieces (see Fig 1).
For proper installation with a multi-switch, you may need
additional cables. If your multi-switch has an antenna input,
you will also need additional diplexers and short connector
cables (1ft. each). (sold separately).
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 4
5
The ANT3900 installation consists of three basic steps:
Step A: Installing the ANT3900 on your satellite dish.
Step B: Installing the inside diplexers.
Step C: Setting up your TV to use the ANT3900.
Please be sure to complete all of these steps before attempting
to watch local channels with your ANT3900. If your dish
uses a multi-switch, please skip to the multi-switch section
on page 10.
Installing Your New
ANT3900 Antenna
TV SAT
TV/SAT
INSIDEDIPLEXER
TV SAT
TV/SAT
INSIDEDIPLEXER
Step A: Installing the ANT3900
on your satellite dish
1. Make sure all satellite receivers are turned off and
unplugged from the electrical outlet.
2. Unsnap the antenna from the back notch of the mounting
clamp (see Fig 3).
3. Hold the antenna to the back of the dish so that the circular
housing is centered with the RCA logo facing out (see Fig 2).
4. Maneuver the clamps over or around the edge of the dish
one at a time (see Fig 4).
5. Tighten the mounting clamp by turning the thumb-wheel
screw clockwise and re-snap antenna on to back notch.
Note: We recommend the use of the enclosed security clips.
Snap the security clips onto the ANT3900 and slide down
towards the mounting clips.
Fig 1
Fig 2
Security Clip
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 5
6
6. Remove the LNB from the arm of the satellite dish
to expose the satellite cables. (see Fig 5).
7. Disconnect the satellite cable(s) from the satellite dish’s
LNB and pull them out through the bottom of the satellite
dish arm (see Fig 5).
8. Connect the satellite cables to the terminals marked
OUT 1 and OUT 2 on the ANT3900 antenna (see Fig 6).
9. Slide the black 32”antenna cables up through the
satellite arm and connect to the LNB (see Fig 7).
10. Reconnect the LNB to the dish arm (see Fig 8).
11. Connect the remaining end of the black 32” antenna
cables to the IN 1 and IN 2 terminal on the ANT3900
antenna (see Fig 9).
12. Continue to “Step B: Installing the Inside Diplexers”
(page 8).
Fig 3
Fig 4
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 6
7
Fig 5
Fig 9
Fig 6
Fig 7
Fig 8
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 7
8
Step B: Installing the inside diplexers
1. Disconnect the satellite cable from the
“SAT IN” terminal on your satellite receiver.
2. Connect the satellite cable to the terminal marked
“TV/SAT” on the inside diplexer (see Fig 10).
3. Connect one of the supplied white 12” connector cables
from the terminal labeled “SAT” on the inside diplexer to
your satellite receiver’s “SAT IN” terminal (see Fig 11).
4. Connect the other white 12” connector cable from the
terminal labeled “TV” on the inside diplexer to your
satellite receiver’s “ANT IN” terminal (see Fig 12).
5. Connect a coaxial cable (not supplied) from the satellite
receiver’s “TV OUT” terminal to your television or VCR
(see Fig 13).
6. Continue to “Step C: Setting Up Your TV to Use
the ANT3900” (page 12).
Fig 10
Fig 11
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 8
9
Fig 12
Fig 13
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 9
10
Installing ANT3900 with a Multi-switch
These instructions are intended for satellite systems that
contain a multi-switch only. There are two types of multi-
switches. The first has an antenna input for TV antennas.
The second does not and tends to be larger. Before continuing,
please determine what type of multi-switch you have.
Note: For multi-switch installations, you may require
additional indoor diplexers (RCA model D926) and
RG-6 coaxial cable.
Installing ANT3900 with an Antenna Input
Multi-switch
1. Follow “Step A: Installing the ANT3900
on Your Satellite Dish” on pages 5-7.
2. Locate your multi-switch and disconnect the satellite
wire from the 18-volt (or Satellite “B”) terminal.
3. Connect the satellite wire to the TV/SAT terminal
of the indoor diplexer (see Fig 14, page 11).
4. Use one of the supplied white 12” antenna cables to
connect the TV terminal of the indoor diplexer to the
ANTENNA INPUT on the multi-switch (see Fig 15, page 11).
5. Use the other supplied white 12” antenna cable to
connect the SAT terminal of the indoor diplexer to the
18-volt (or Satellite “B”) terminal of the multi-switch (see
Fig 16, page 11).
6. Continue to “Step B: Installing the Inside Diplexers” and
follow the remainder of the standard installation procedure.
RCA ANT3900 4/29/03 9:19 Page 10
Table of contents
Other RCA Antenna manuals
RCA
RCA ANT1268E User manual
RCA
RCA ANT525 - TV Antenna - Indoor User manual
RCA
RCA ANT5000 User manual
RCA
RCA ANT800 - HDTV Antenna - Outdoor User manual
RCA
RCA ANT1750E User manual
RCA
RCA Satellite TV Antenna Assembly instructions
RCA
RCA ANT3036XR User manual
RCA
RCA ANT711 User manual
RCA
RCA ANT1600 - TV Antenna - Indoor User manual
RCA
RCA ANT4500X User manual
RCA
RCA ANT1700F User manual
RCA
RCA ANT1050 - HDTV / TV Parts list manual
RCA
RCA ANT301 - HDTV / TV User manual
RCA
RCA ANT1560E User manual
RCA
RCA ANT122E User manual
RCA
RCA ANT1ME User manual
RCA
RCA VH126N User manual
RCA
RCA ANT751 - Outdoor Antenna Optimized User manual
RCA
RCA ANT751 - Outdoor Antenna Optimized User manual
RCA
RCA CANT1400F User manual
Popular Antenna manuals by other brands
Alfa Network
Alfa Network APA-L01 Specifications
Naval
Naval PR-422CA Operation manual
Feig Electronic
Feig Electronic ID ISC.ANTH200/200 Series manual
TERK Technologies
TERK Technologies TV44 owner's manual
Directive Systems & Engineering
Directive Systems & Engineering DSE2324LYRMK quick start guide
HP
HP J8999A instructions
CommScope
CommScope CMAX-OMFX-43M-I53 Installation instruction
Ramsey Electronics
Ramsey Electronics DAP25 Kit assembly and instruction manual
COBHAM
COBHAM SAILOR 800 VSAT Replacement procedure
Trango Systems
Trango Systems AD900-9 Specification sheet
Steren
Steren ANT-100 user manual
Proxim
Proxim 5054-PA-23 quick start guide