Winegard FV-HDC3, FV-HDCO User Manual

BY

Model FV-HDC3/FV-HDCO Antenna

(Designed for use with U.S. DTV frequencies.)

For help, call 1-800-788-4417 or email [e-mail]

DO NOT RETURN ANTENNA TO PLACE OF PURCHASE.

U.S. Patent D612,370

and Patent Pending

2452239

Digital Television Facts

Parts

Your Winegard antenna is digital and HD ready. This means that the antenna
receives all available digital and HD local programming in your area.*

A commonly unknown but key feature with over-the-air (OTA) antennas is
they deliver the highest quality digital and HD signals to your television—even
better than satellite and cable! With the signal being received directly from the
broadcast tower and transmitted to your television, it is in its uncompressed and
purest form.

As more and more local networks are broadcasting their programs in HD, you
can experience reception of your favorite shows in crisp, clear FREE HD! You also
have the ability to receive programming that cable and satellite companies may
not provide. It doesn’t get any better than that!

*Antenna reception may vary based on transmitting antenna tower height, lobe pattern of the
transmitter, height of the receiving antenna, weather conditions and terrain on receiving path
including trees, buildings, hills, mountains, etc.

Receiving HD

Your antenna is HD ready. However, in order to receive HD programming, you
also need a quality coaxial cable and a digital TV with an ATSC HDTV tuner. If the
TV was sold as an “HDTV” or “DTV”, the TV is supposed to have a built-in ATSC
tuner. “HD ready” TVs do not have a digital tuner.

FREEVISION Antenna

Matching Transformer

5/8” Bolts (2)

Pipe

1-3/4” Screw

HD Label

UHF Element

10-32 Hex

Flange Nuts (3)

1/4-20 Hex

Flange Nuts (5)

Foot

50’ RG-6

Coax Cable

2-1/2” Screw

U-Bolt

Mounting Bracket

How do you know if your TV has a built-in tuner? Most televisions sold as an
“HDTV” or “DTV” that were manufactured after 2007 will have a built-in tuner. You
can also check the specs in the TV owner’s manual, or search online for the make
and model of the TV to see if it has an ATSC tuner. If your TV menu has an option
for scanning for digital channels, then it has an ATSC tuner.

If your television is not digital ready, you will need a digital tuner or set top box.
This will ‘decode’ the signal for your television.

Start by placing the FREEVISION antenna on a flat surface so that the Winegard
FREEVISION logo on the front of the unit is facing up (Figure 1).

Antenna Assembly

Figure 1

Before Assembling the Antenna

Check that you are within a 30 mile range of the stations that you want to
receive. The FREEVISION antenna has an approximate range of 30 miles when
installed outside. For a listing of likely channels available in your area, go online
to www.antennaweb.org or www.tvfool.com.

1 2

Front Side

of Antenna

Logo

Forward
Elements

Antenna Assembly, Cont’d Antenna Assembly, Cont’d

Lift the forward elements until the holes in the elements line up (Figure 2).

Figure 2

With the holes lined up, install the UHF element by inserting the threaded posts
into the holes in the forward elements. The threaded posts should extend down
towards the body of the FREEVISION antenna as in Figure 3.

Figure 3

With the logo facing up, thread the coax cable through the bottom of the
FreeVision antenna. Connect the coax cable to the matching transformer. See
Figure 5. (For an installation that does not require full 50’ coax cable, coil the
excess cable up and store it behind the television.)

Figure 5

Insert the coax and matching transformer into the installation place. Then, slide
one of the forks of the matching transformer between the two forward elements
on the threaded post. Repeat this process for the other post. See Figure 6.

Matching Transformer

Installation Place for
Matching Transformer

Coax Cable

Figure 6

Thread the supplied 10-32 hex flange nuts on the back of the threaded posts. DO
NOT tighten at this time.

Remove and dispose of the rubber boot on the matching transformer as shown in
Figure 4.

Figure 4

Rubber boot

Continue to page 4 to complete antenna assembly.

3 4

Forks

Tighten the nuts, making sure the matching transformer is still connected.

Mounting the Antenna: Location Selection

Check that you are within a 30 mile range of the stations that you want to
receive. The antenna has an approximate range of 30 miles when installed outside.

For a listing of likely channels available in your area, go online to www.tvfool.com
or antennaweb.org. On each of these sites, you can enter your address and get a

listing of likely channels available in your area along with the compass heading for
each station’s tower. For most locations, stations will only come from one or two
directions. If the compass headings are similar (<30° apart), the FREEVISION can be
aimed between the two areas and receive signals from each location.

Forward Elements

Mounting the Antenna: Location Selection, Cont’d

Mounting the Antenna: Mounting Options

Consider using an existing satellite or cable coax connection. At the point where
cables enter your home (the grounding box), the antenna can be hooked up to an
existing coax connection. From the grounding box, a coax cable should run to the
tv or power supply (if using an amplifier).

If replacing an existing antenna with the FREEVISION antenna, simply disconnect
the coax cable from the existing antenna, and connect the coax cable to the
FREEVISION antenna.

If there is a weak or intermittent signal when using an existing coax cable, there
may be a problem with the existing coax cable. Connect one end of the provided
coax cable to the antenna and the other end directly to the tv (if not using an
amplifier). If the signal improves, there may be a problem with the existing coax
cable. If you have any questions, please contact Winegard Technical Services at
1-800-788-4417 or [e-mail].

Determine the best mounting location for the antenna—keep in mind that
the higher the antenna is mounted, the better signal you will receive. The

FREEVISION antenna is intended as either an indoor or an outdoor antenna.

GOOD BEST

INDOOR

Barriers (like walls) will

minimize reception. Test

different locations in your home

for optimal reception. Keep

azimuth (direction) in mind,

and try to mount the antenna

so that it can look out a

window on the wall facing the

broadcast tower.

Avoid obstructions (such as buildings, trees or hills) between the antenna and the
broadcast tower—these can block signal. Electronics, including the television itself,
can interfere with the reception of the antenna, so select a location at least three
feet away from other electronic devices.

BETTER

ATTIC

This is the next best mounting

option when you want

the antenna to be out of

sight. Signal loss may be

experienced.

OUTDOOR

(roof, side of house, deck)

Direct line of sight from the

antenna to the broadcast tower

provides the strongest signal

strength and maximum channel

reception.

The FREEVISION antenna is designed to be mounted either of two ways:

Wall Mounting - The FREEVISION has been designed with holes to allow it to

hang on a wall from a nail. See Figure 7.

Figure 7

Hole for Nail

Hole for Nail

Mast Mounting - For mounting to a pipe or mast, first insert the (yellow) 1-3/4”

screw into the bracket and through a mounting hole (Figure 8). Attach the bracket
to the back of the FREEVISION antenna. Thread a 10-32 hex flange nut onto the
screw, and tighten it.

Figure 8

Back Side

of Antenna

Next, insert the (blue) 2-1/2” screw through the pipe and foot. Install a 1/4-20 hex
flange nut to hold the screw. Before tightening the hex nut, install the two 5/8”
bolts into the holes on either side of the foot so that the heads of the bolts are on
the inside of the pipe. Install a 1/4-20 hex flange nut onto each bolt. See Figure 9.

Figure 9

Distance, obstructions and compass heading all play a role in deciding on a location
to permanently mount the antenna. For this reason, try the antenna in several

locations, checking signal on multiple channels to determine the location that
will provide the best signal. If having trouble locating a signal, try mounting the

antenna on a window so that it faces the broadcast tower. Moving the antenna
three feet in one direction is often enough to change the reception.

5 6

2-1/2” Screw

5/8” Bolts