Hi new to audiokarma but glad to be here. I have a rca 7030pt, not the one in my picture but just like except I dont have the stand or antenna. My question, I finally got it opened and I haven't a clue where you would attach the antenna leads to. Has anyone else one of these. I bought it without the antenna on ebay and didn't even realize it was supposed to have one. I have a repair friend who may be able to help and a boss at the radio station where I work who also may know he does a lot of our engineering. I am a 30 year radio announcer and collect mainly radios but also getting into tvs. I have a couple emerson sets a model 1231 and a 1291 which also need work. I bought it with a partial screen raster showing, when I opened it up one of the tubes was missing, I borrowed one from one of my emersons for now. The right one I should say. I haven't tried a power up since I added the tube. I live rural and get all my tv via rabbit ears for now.. scott

This article has restoration notes for that TV.

http://www.antiqueradio.org/rca16.htm

There should be a pair of screw terminals in the back where you can attach a rabbit ear antenna.

Kind of a tricky project if you are a beginner. I would recommend getting help from one of your engineering friends. Don't power it back up in the meantime. Every tube device of that vintage needs more than a tube replacement to work safely and reliably.

Regards,

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

That the antenna uses pressure contacts at the bottom of the original antenna assembly. They are just a couple of stiff wires. They connect to a "V" slots at the rear of the TV chassis. When you remove the cabinet, you remove the antenna as well and need clip leads to connect to the "V" slots.

Look through the holes near the rear cabinet bottom to get an idea where the contacts are. The best solution would be to find an original antenna.

That TV was not intended to be connected to an outside antenna. It is not complicated, but alternative will be makeshift.

These did come with external antenna connectors, I always thought the rabbit ears were the optional equipment but maybe the connector plate was the option, or maybe it just depended on your situation at the time.

My error. On closer look, the antenna connection screws are on each side, at the bottom of the original antenna housing. Something must poke through the cabinet to contact the slots on the TV chassis.

The one pictured looks like an aftermarket antenna to me. Either way, it needs an antenna assembly. I don't remember any without one.

I appreciate the advice, the original antenna and housing was gone when I got it, my 8' screen emerson has a nice connector plate to run an optional antenna, there is nothing left here. I am wondering if whoever got the tube out of it also took this. The pressure connector sounds logical too, I was hoping there were some wire remnants inside. Its a bit beyond me, still a neat little albeit heavy tv.

If anyone would like a copy of the owners manual for these sets I have one here: http://www.vintagetvsets.com/schem/personalportable.pdf