How to Attach a TV Antenna

This wikiHow teaches you how to choose and set up an antenna for your TV.

Table of Contents

Prepare

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Determine the type of the TV’s antenna plug. Almost every TV has an antenna input on the back or side of the unit; this is where you will plug the antenna. There are two main types of inputs:

Coaxial RF Connector – Looks like a cylindrical screw with a hole in the middle. This is the standard connector on most newer TVs.
IEC – Smooth cylinder with smaller cylinder inside. You can find this connection on older CRT TVs.
Check your TV’s manual or look up the TV model number online to determine the antenna type again.

Find the nearest TV station. You can enter your location along with the keyword “radio station” into Google. This will help you know what type of antenna you need; for example, if the nearest station is quite far away, a traditional “rabbit ears” antenna is not a good idea.

If you are abroad, you can enter your address at http://antennaweb.org/Address to see a map of nearby TV stations.
The TV station location also helps you to know the direction to rotate the antenna when necessary.

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Buy an antenna for the TV. If you don’t have an antenna (or have one but want a stronger one), you can buy it online or at an electronics store. We have several options: ^{[1] X Research Sources}

Flat Antenna : This is the newest type of antenna and requires very little tweaking once installed next to the TV. Flat antennas also have superior range and transceiver capabilities compared to other traditional antennas.
“Rabbit-ear antenna” : a set of two “rabbit ears” telescopic antennas, which are among the most commonly used in households. The “rabbit ears” antenna is usually mounted behind the TV and is fine to use if you’re near a TV station.
Single antennae : including a telescopic antenna (also known as antenna antenna). This type is similar to the “rabbit ears” antenna in both function and mounting position.
Outdoor antenna (UHF – ultra-high frequency) : quite large, many branches like herringbone and often built on roofs or terraces. An outdoor antenna is great for establishing a long-range connection, especially if you live in the suburbs.

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Purchase additional extension cables if necessary. Especially when setting up an outdoor antenna, you will need a coaxial RF cable to connect it from the antenna down to the TV. This cable is available online or at computer centers.

If the TV doesn’t have a rear antenna, you’ll need to purchase a short extension cable to place the antenna indoors.

Antenna connection

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Turn off and unplug the TV. Press the “Power” button on the TV, then unplug the power cord from the TV or power outlet. This is to ensure your safety if the TV or antenna fails.

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Connect the antenna to the input. Find the port for the antenna on the back of the TV, then plug the antenna cord in and fix the connector tight (if necessary).

If you are using an extension cable, connect one end of the cable to the antenna, the other end to the input on the TV.

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Plug the TV back in and turn it on. Depending on the current channel, you may be able to watch TV programs from your local TV station.

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Find channels. This process is different with each TV, so you should check your TV’s manual or go online to find out how. However, in general, you just need to set the input to “TV” and scroll through the channels to find it.

If you know the exact numbers of the local channels, you can try turning on one of them with the input setting to “TV”.

Adjust the antenna as needed. If you are using a directional antenna such as a “rabbit ears” or a roof-mounted herringbone antenna, you need to point the device towards the TV station. You may also need to move objects around the house so they don’t block the antenna’s connection.

The antenna sometimes has to be rotated back and forth many times to get a good reception, so don’t worry if the first adjustment is not correct.
In general, you don’t need to adjust flat antennas because they are inherently more powerful than traditional and omnidirectional antennas.

Advice

If you have to rotate the antenna on the roof all the time, you should install an electric rotor so that you can adjust the antenna comfortably in the house.
The RF input on the TV is the same input used for cable TV.
If you’re pulling cables outside or throughout your home, make sure you shield them carefully. This will ensure a high-quality transmission for the TV, and at the same time limit the cable breaking or being affected by environmental factors.

Warning

Don’t buy a satellite dish antenna that claims to get hundreds of channels with “RF technology” without you having to pay for cable TV. This is a deliberately misleading description. You can only catch TV channels within range.

Steps

Prepare

Antenna connection

Advice

Warning

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