How to Hook an Antenna to a Coaxial Cable

a Coaxial cable
  • 2 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 45
What You'll Need
TV coaxial grounding block
Matching Balun transformer
RF coaxial cable
Power drill
Screwdriver
TV set
Digital converter
What You'll Need
TV coaxial grounding block
Matching Balun transformer
RF coaxial cable
Power drill
Screwdriver
TV set
Digital converter

A coaxial cable transmits the audio/video signal from your antenna to a TV or a connector box. Some antennas come with a coaxial cable, but if you have a large antenna mounted on your home’s roof, it might use ribbon cables instead of a coaxial cable. Follow the 11 steps below to attach your antenna to a coaxial cable. If your antenna supports the coaxial cable, jump to step 8 directly.

Step 1 – Buy the Grounding Block

In case your antenna uses ribbon cables, you will need to use a 300Ω to 75Ω Balun matching transformer, a device that links the ribbon cables with the RF coaxial cable.

Step 2 – Ground the Device

To protect your home, you should ground the device you bought in Step 1. Place a metal rod in the ground outside your home and screw the block into it. You will need to drill holes for this.

Step 3 – Connect the Ribbon Cables

Connect the ribbon cables coming from the antenna to the grounded block. Place the U-shaped tip of each cable under the base of the corresponding screw-down terminal. Screw down the terminal to secure the cables.

Step 4 – Connect the Coaxial Cable

Connect the RF coaxial cable to the block. Generally, there is more than one coaxial port. You can connect to any of the ports.

Step 5 – Connect the Cable to Your TV

Route the coaxial cable to your television. For this, you might need to drill a hole into a wall of your home to pass the cable through. At the back of your television set, you should find a coaxial port. Connect the coaxial cable to your TV through this port.

Step 6 – Connect the Converter

If you use an analog antenna, you will also need a digital converter. Connect the cable to the digital converter box’s coaxial input port. Then connect the box to your television with another coaxial cable.

Step 7 – Connect the Female End

If your antenna supports coaxial cable, take a male to female coaxial cable and attach its female end to the coaxial port on the antenna.

Step 8 – Untangle the Cable

Run the cable to the television or the converter box, as the case may be. Make sure that the cable is untangled; otherwise, you will lose picture quality.

Step 9 – Connect the Male End

You need to connect the male end of the coaxial cable. The cable goes into the “In” port of the television or the box.

Step 10 – Connect the Converter

If you are using the converter box, you will need to take a male-to-male cable and connect it to the “Out” port of the converter and the “In” port of your television.

Step 11 – Turn on the Television

Turn on the television as well as the antenna if you use a power antenna. If the signal quality is poor, check and tighten the cable connections.