How To Hook Up Basic Cable For Free

How To Hook Up Basic Cable For Free Internet

Part 2 of 2:

Connecting the Antenna

1. 1
   Turn off and unplug your TV. Press your TV's 'Power' button, then remove the plug from the back of the TV or from its electrical outlet. This will prevent you from accidentally harming your TV or antenna.
2. 2
   Connect the antenna to the input port. Find the antenna port on the back of your TV, then plug in the antenna and tighten the connector (if possible).

   • If you're using an extension cable, connect the cable to the antenna as well as the TV's input port.
3. 3
   Plug back in your TV and turn it on. Depending on your current channel, you may already be receiving broadcasts from local stations.
4. 4
   Scan for channels. This step will vary from TV to TV, so consult your TV's manual or online instructions for how to do this. In general, though, setting your TV's input to 'TV' and flipping through channels should do the trick.

   • If you know your local channels' exact numbers, try navigating to one of them with your TV's input set to 'TV'.
5. 5
   Adjust your antenna as needed. If you have a directional antenna, such as a 'rabbit ears' set or a roof-mounted antenna, you'll want to point it toward the nearest broadcast station. You may also need to move items in your home out of the way of the antenna's connection path.

   • Adjusting your antenna is a trial-and-error experience, so don't worry about getting it right on the first try.
   • Generally speaking, you shouldn't have to adjust a flat antenna very much, since they're both more powerful than traditional antennae and multi-directional.
6. 6
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Community Q&A

• What determines if I need a digital converter box or not?

  Community Answer

  If your TV hasn't got a digital tuner built in (check your model's specifications in the manual or online), you need a converter box. However, if your TV is digital-ready, you can just hook up the aerial straight to the TV.
• How do I hook up an antenna to a flat screen TV with a VHF connector?

  Community Answer

  First, check to make sure your TV can support VHF. If it can, buy a VHF to HDMI/VGA/DVI adapter and connect cables correspondingly.
• Can I connect a Terk Outdoor antenna to the outside of my house by disconnecting the existing Time Warner connection and hooking my antenna to their connection and support two televisions?

  Community Answer

  Yes you can! As long as you program each TV. The signal may not be as strong, though.
• How do I connect an outdoor antenna to three TV sets in my house?

  Community Answer

  A three-to-one passive splitter is on the market, with the proper F connectors. However, the signal to each set is not as strong than if you are using one cable and set. An amplified splitter is a better setup. It splits and gives you some signal boost at the same time.
• How can I determine if I can hook up a TV without a converter box?

  Community Answer

  Nearly all modern aerials will work. Try pointing it in the same direction as that of any others on your street. All modern digital TVs don't need a converter to receive freetelevision and radio stations. If you are in a weak signal area you may need a signal booster, but try first without one and see what results you get.
• Can I connect a cable to my aerial socket, extend it to another room and watch TV in two rooms?

  Community Answer

  Connect the aerial to the main cable coming into the house, and it can be watched on any TV hooked to that cable line in the house. It works very well with digital converter box too.
• How do I build my own antenna if I have no money?

  Community Answer

  I don't think you can out of just things from around your house. You would either buy one or gather materials to do it.
• How can I connect to digital channels if the analog channels are no longer operating?

  Community Answer

  You can use a digital antenna if your TV supports it, or get a converter box.
• Sometimes my TV goes off a station then comes back on. What should I do?

  Community Answer

  Try smoldering the wires that connect from the antenna to the TV together, or use liquid electrical tape to secure them together.
• Why are all my channels analog, not digital?

  Community Answer

  As of 2009 in the United States, all TV stations are required to broadcast their channels as digital. All the cable TV and satellite TV stations are broadcast as digital. TVs older than 2009 were designed for analog, converters from digital to analog are available; newer TVs are digital. If you are in a different country, check online to see if your country is digital or not. Analog and digital are not compatible, it's like trying to speak two different languages.

Tips

• If you constantly have to readjust your roof-mounted antenna, you can buy an electric rotor that allows you to adjust the antenna from the comfort of your home.
  Thanks!
• The RF input on your TV is the same input that you use for cable TV.
  Thanks!
• If you're running a cable outside or through your house, make sure that the cable is shielded. This will ensure a higher level of quality on your TV, and the cable will be less prone to breaking or succumbing to the elements.
  Thanks!

Illegal Cable

Warnings

• Avoid any set-top antenna that is shaped like a satellite dish and claims to pull in hundreds of channels with no cable fees using 'RF technology'—that is just a deceptive way of describing any antenna. You can only receive the broadcast channels within range.
  Thanks!

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References

1. ↑https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/how-to-buy-and-install-an-hd-antenna/

About This Article

Free Cable Receiver

To hook up an indoor TV antenna, start by visiting a site like antennaweb.org to determine which direction you should face the antenna, if necessary. Next, turn off and unplug your TV before connecting the antenna cable to the back of the TV. Then, plug your TV back in, turn it on, and scan for channels according to the instructions in your TV's manual. If you have trouble picking up any channels, try moving items out of the way that may be in the antenna's connection path. For tips on how to pick the right type of antenna for your needs, read on!

Reader Success Stories

• 'What helped me most was the hands-on videos. It really helped me a lot with hooking up my antenna to my TV. Thanks

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