Radio Shack 80" Boom Length, 32-Element Antenna Review

crystal clear VHF

"I bought this terrestrial antenna back in the spring of 2006 right after I moved into my new home because back then they did not offer the local "free over-the-air" channels on my satellite subscription in "high def". They didn't have HD DVR's yet either but that's another story, but I had the best HD satellite receiver and I wanted everything perfect.



The funny thing is that shortly after that they did start offering my local channels in HD on my satellite service, and since I hadn't installed my new antenna yet, there it sat for over 3 years in the box.



Well I just installed the thing a month ago and I thought I would share my experience with it. I like the VU-90XR but you will want to purchase a separate matching transformer, the one that comes with it in the box cracked apart on me and twisted wires together and I couldn't use it, I'm not complaining because everything is reasonably priced.



Okay what about performance, well the VHF is perfect but absolutely no UHF what-so-ever in my case. I live exactly 30 linear miles from Cedar Hill where all of the 1900 ft trasmission towers are located and since I installed the antenna in my attic (single story), I guess that is the reason? Unless I'm doing something wrong?



With my degree in electronics something tells me that the wavelenght characteristics of UHF at that distance inside my attic just doesn't have what it takes to make it through? I noticed that there are no direct electrical connections from the shorter UHF elements & reflector booms, it must be imposed through capacitance with air as the dielectric or something is my guess. Also it doesn't have an oval shaped loop like some other antennas I've noticed do, not sure why that is?



The product write-up on-line says that the UHF range is up to 30 miles, but the box says up to 90. I think I'm going with the 30 miles and of course if its outside and up high!! I went to "Antena Web dot org" and I just was not able to use any info from it, it was just confusing me so I used my map program and drew a line from my house to Cedar Hill and saw how the line crossed my street, so that was my reference for pointing my antenna!! I figure if you can get perfect VHF then it must be pointing in the correct direction.



Well that's about it, I really don't even need the thing but hey it has been an education and if my satellite goes out when the dark clouds roll in, I can still watch the local weather or have a back up for some channels anyway!"