Radio Shack U-75R UHF Near Fringe Antenna

Piggie · 06-23-2009, 09:28 PM

I don't recommend much from Radio Shack, but every one has a niche somewhere. To me most of the Radio Shack antennas are not so good, except the ones they resell for Winegard (and can be purchased cheaper on other sites). In particular avoid their pre-amps and distribution amps.

However there is a shinning star in their line up, U-75R UHF antenna.

40" Boom Length, 17 Elements Outdoor Antenna for UHF-Only - RadioShack.com

The one thing that makes this antenna unique, is all the big antenna makers have dropped their short boom UHF antennas of this style. Most of them are twice this size, which will adding gain, reduces the wide beam width of this antenna. It is also available in stock at most stores.

The specifications on this antenna are elusive, and I have never figured out who really makes the antenna, though it's similar to AntennaCraft design.

Here are some physical specs.

Dimensions
Product Length 40 inches
Product Height 32 inches
Product Width 16 inches
Product Weight 2.55 pounds
General Features

Model U-75R
Product Type UHF only
Enclosure Color Gray
Body Material Multi

Miscellaneous Features
Supported Languages English (Manual)
Outputs 2 x Screw Terminal(Lead-in Terminal) 300 ohms

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Range and Gain

I have not idea of the gain, but I am guessing from other antennas it is in the
7db over a dipole range

The Radio Shack site claims 75 miles but don't bother over about 45 miles line of site, and probably about 25 if not line of sight.

It has good Front to Back and Front to Side rejection for such a small antenna, which keeping a wide front beam pattern.

They call the antenna 17 elements which I don't get as mine only has 16. They break down to

8 Reflector elements in the Vee shaped corner reflector (where it gets it's good front to back ratio).
1 driven element that appears to be tuned to the bottom of the band
7 directors tuned toward the top of the band

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My personal experience with the antenna.

I had up a CM 4221A and had full scale reception on my UHFs, all Line of Sight, ranging from CH 31 with a 57 NM (db) running 500 KW at 300 meters 23 miles away, to my weakest station CH 28 with a 32 NM (db) running 163 KW at 300 meters 37 miles away. My stations are over a 54 degree arc, often tough to do without a rotor, and why I originally choose the 4221A.

But every time the wind blew with my CM4221A my UHF stations would break up from mulitpath. Not good for viewing!

I put up a U-75R in it's place, and my wind driven breakup ups went away! Problem solved.

It does have less gain and my signal dropped a little to 93 to 98, but well into the solid reception range and now without breakups in the wind. It also handled the 54 degree spread between my stations very well.

HTNut · 06-24-2009, 09:13 AM

Approx. 45 miles LOS for $35? Not bad. Most of those mileage ratings on antennas should have a little extra information like the type of conditions that the antenna was tested in.

Don_M · 06-24-2009, 10:28 AM

Here ya go, Boss. From attached spec sheet:

Average gain: 9.5 dB
Front-to-back: 14 dB
Beamwidth at half-power points: 47 degrees

Piggie · 06-24-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don_M

Here ya go, Boss. From attached spec sheet:

Average gain: 9.5 dB
Front-to-back: 14 dB
Beamwidth at half-power points: 47 degrees

Amazing I guessed so close. Guessing Radio Shack uses dbi so in dbd it would be 7.35 dbd using their figures.

I knew from my stations I have a 54 degree spread. My two strongest stations happen to be the edges of my spread, so loosing 3db at my edges and the specs above why the antenna works for me.

Similar style UHF antennas with slightly longer booms drop to a 30 degree spread, which is why this antenna is unique, with everyone else dropping their short boom UHF from the market.

-------
I am in discussion right now with Winegard to bring back the

PROSTAR® 1000 UHF ANTENNA Model PR-9018

-------

Piggie · 06-24-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HTNut

Approx. 45 miles LOS for $35? Not bad. Most of those mileage ratings on antennas should have a little extra information like the type of conditions that the antenna was tested in.

I have one 37 miles from a tower putting out only 163KW on RF28 toward me and it works 90% full scale and no wind fade.

Mine is over 15 years old and the inboard lower reflector element is gone. I remember back in 1991 helping Tim at the local Radio Shack install these things for his DirecTV customers. The only local station with news was TV20 WCJB and it was strong enough all one needed were these even 40 some miles out up 12 ft or so to pick up TV20's 5KW analog blow torch.

HTNut · 06-25-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don_M

Here ya go, Boss. From attached spec sheet:

Average gain: 9.5 dB
Front-to-back: 14 dB
Beamwidth at half-power points: 47 degrees

You are the man Don!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piggie

I am in discussion right now with Winegard to bring back the

PROSTAR® 1000 UHF ANTENNA Model PR-9018

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Really? You're like our connection to the antenna industry.

Why did they discontinue it in the first place?

Piggie · 06-25-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HTNut

You are the man Don!

Really? You're like our connection to the antenna industry.

Why did they discontinue it in the first place?

Don is the man! more kudos!

I get on the phone and yak, meet people. I got a good contact at SolidSignal today. Pure chance. They were so swamped I lucked into a girl that isn't a CSR but on the phones. She is a floater around answering emails, purchasing and obviously today filling in as a CSR. She insisted I take her email and stay in contact. Just like when I made contacts at Winegard, they approached me on AVS and told me to call. Just get out and build contacts.

Too bad all the places to work for antenna companies are in the Midwest where pigs freeze quickly in exposed air.

=====

Don't hold your breath over the PR-9018 as I am not sure they see the demand. But then again, when I first brought up the YA-6713 6 months ago, they were not excited about it.

I know if there are other markets like Gainesville FL, where you need an outside antenna, but not a big one. The way the transmitters circle the west side of town but yet all but one out of town by 10 miles indoors are margin in the urban parts of town. VHF is impossible here without outside help.

I have never studied all 200 some markets not even close. But there are more towns like Gainesville where you don't need a 100 inch boom on VHF and don't need 60 inches on UHF.

So maybe just maybe, they will look into bringing back a short UHF. They have one that is somewhat short now but meant for high up a tower in big winds and ice, and about $60. They need a little brother again in the short boom UHF line up.

Antenna contact? well probably more since I am a pig and used to rooting, I stick my snout a lot of places and see who I can meet.

Don_M · 06-25-2009, 01:28 PM

If the YA-6713 and the PR-9018 hadn't been discontinued, I'd have bought both instead of getting a Y5-7-13 and building a Gray-Hoverman last year when we went over to OTA DTV.

EscapeVelocity · 07-12-2009, 09:05 AM

There is also the Digitenna Fringe @54 inches.....or the Channel Master 2016 @36 inches.

But they both have VHF add ons.

But the U-75R from Radio Shack is a niche winner, no doubt.

HTNut · 07-12-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EscapeVelocity

There is also the Digitenna Fringe @54 inches.....or the Channel Master 2016 @36 inches.

But they both have VHF add ons.

But the U-75R from Radio Shack is a niche winner, no doubt.

Hello and welcome to the forum EscapeVelocity! My appologies for a dumb question, but what exactly are VHF add ons?