The basic connection: coaxial cable from wall to TV

To connect your TV to an aerial, you run a coaxial cable from the wall socket to the TV's aerial input port. The coaxial cable is the round connector with a metal pin in the center — it screws onto the port labeled "RF In", "Aerial In", or sometimes "ANT In" on the back or side of your TV. The other end screws into the wall socket where your aerial signal comes in.

Most TVs made in the last 20 years have this port. If your TV is older or very compact, it may use a different connector type, but coaxial is the standard. The cable itself is inexpensive and comes in different lengths — measure the distance from your wall socket to the TV before you buy, and add a foot or two for routing around furniture.

Once the cable is connected, turn on the TV and run a channel scan. The TV will search for available broadcast channels and store them in memory. This usually takes a few minutes and happens automatically when you first set up the TV or when you manually trigger it through the settings menu.

Key Takeaways

  • A coaxial cable connects the wall aerial socket to your TV's RF or Aerial input port by screwing onto both ends.
  • Channel scanning after connection tells your TV which broadcast channels are available in your area.
  • If your TV has no aerial port, you can use a digital TV tuner box that connects via HDMI and has its own aerial input.
  • Signal strength depends on aerial position, building materials, and distance from the broadcast tower — moving the aerial or TV slightly can improve reception.
  • Splitters let you run one aerial signal to multiple TVs, but they weaken the signal and may require an amplifier in weak reception areas.

Where the aerial socket is located on different TV types

On most modern flat-screen TVs, the aerial port is on the back panel, usually grouped with other input ports like HDMI and USB. Look for a round threaded socket about the size of a pencil eraser. Some TVs, especially smaller models or those designed for wall mounting, put the port on the side instead. Check your TV's manual if you cannot find it — the manual will show a diagram of the back panel with all ports labeled.

Older tube televisions and some portable TVs have two separate metal rods sticking up from the back or top — these are rabbit ear aerials, and they do not need a cable connection. If your TV has these, you can skip the cable step and just adjust the rod positions to improve signal. However, if you want to use a wall-mounted aerial instead, you can replace the rabbit ears with a coaxial cable connected to the same input port they were plugged into.

Using a digital TV tuner box if your TV has no aerial port

Newer smart TVs and some older models may not have an aerial input port. If this is your situation, you can buy a separate digital TV tuner box — also called a set-top box or digital converter box — that receives the aerial signal and sends the picture to your TV via HDMI cable. The tuner box has its own aerial input port on the back where you connect the coaxial cable.

The tuner box sits between your aerial and your TV. You connect the coaxial cable from the wall to the tuner box, then run an HDMI cable from the tuner box to any HDMI port on your TV. Power the tuner box with its included adapter, then run a channel scan on the box itself using its remote control. The TV straightforward displays what the tuner box sends it, so you control channels and settings through the tuner box remote, not the TV remote.

Digital TV tuner boxes cost between £20 and £60 depending on features. Some include recording capability or a built-in hard drive, which costs more but lets you pause and rewind live TV. Basic models straightforward tune and display channels.

Improving signal strength and fixing reception problems

If you get pixelated picture, sound dropouts, or missing channels after connecting, the issue is usually signal strength. The aerial position matters more than the cable quality. Try moving the aerial slightly — even a few inches can change reception. If the aerial is indoors, moving it to a window or higher up in the room often helps. If it is outdoors, check that it is not blocked by trees, buildings, or metal structures between it and the broadcast tower.

You can also try repositioning the TV itself if the aerial is built into it, or rotating an external aerial to face the tower. Many areas have a dominant broadcast direction — your local TV station or a website like Freeview's signal checker can tell you which direction to point the aerial. If multiple TVs share one aerial through a splitter, the splitter weakens the signal. In weak reception areas, add a signal amplifier between the aerial and the splitter, or run separate cables to each TV if possible.

Running one aerial to multiple TVs with a splitter

If you have more than one TV and only one aerial socket on the wall, you can use a coaxial splitter to divide the signal. A splitter is a small metal box with one input port and two or more output ports. You connect the cable from the wall to the input, then run separate cables from each output port to each TV.

Splitters reduce signal strength — a two-way splitter typically loses about 3 to 4 decibels of signal, which is noticeable in weak reception areas. If you see pixelation or missing channels on any TV after adding a splitter, you may need a signal amplifier. An amplifier sits between the wall socket and the splitter and boosts the signal before it splits. These cost £15 to £40 and require power from a wall outlet.

Alternatively, if your wall has multiple aerial sockets, you can run a separate cable to each TV without a splitter. This avoids signal loss entirely and is the better option if your building has the infrastructure for it.

Checking cable quality and connections

Coaxial cables degrade over time, especially if they are kinked, crushed, or exposed to weather. If you have reception problems and repositioning the aerial does not help, try a new cable. Unscrew both ends of the existing cable and screw on a new one — make sure both connections are hand-tight but not over-tightened, as this can damage the threads.

Check that the cable is not damaged along its length. If it is bent sharply, has visible cracks in the outer sheath, or has been pinched by a door or furniture, replace it. Damaged cables let in electrical noise that degrades the signal. Also check that the metal pin in the center of each connector is not bent or missing — if it is, the connection will not work at all.

Understanding what happens during channel scanning

When you run a channel scan, the TV or tuner box tunes through the entire broadcast frequency range and records which channels have a strong enough signal to watch. This process usually takes two to five minutes and happens automatically the first time you power on a new TV. You can also trigger a manual scan through the settings menu if you move the TV, change the aerial, or want to pick up new channels that have started broadcasting.

The scan stores channels in the TV's memory in the order they are found. Some TVs let you delete unwanted channels or reorder them after the scan is complete. If the scan finds no channels or very few, the problem is almost always signal strength — check the aerial connection, reposition the aerial, and try the scan again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any coaxial cable, or does it have to be a specific type?

Standard RG-6 coaxial cable works for TV aerials. Avoid very cheap cables or ones labeled for satellite use, as they may have different impedance. For runs longer than 30 meters, use cable labeled "low loss" to reduce signal degradation. For most home setups under 10 meters, any standard TV coaxial cable works fine.

What if the aerial port on my TV is loose or damaged?

If the port spins freely or the threads are stripped, the TV will not hold a find connection. You can try wrapping a thin layer of plumber's tape around the cable connector to tighten the fit, but this is temporary. A digital TV tuner box with its own aerial port is the permanent solution, or you can have a TV repair technician replace the port if the TV is valuable.

Do I need to turn off the TV before connecting the aerial cable?

No, it is safe to connect or disconnect the coaxial cable while the TV is on. The signal is low voltage and cannot damage the TV. However, turning the TV off first is good practice and lets you see the connection clearly without the screen being lit.

Why do I get different channels on different TVs connected to the same aerial?

This usually means one TV has a weaker signal than the other due to cable length, splitter loss, or the TV's internal tuner being less sensitive. Run a manual channel scan on the TV that is missing channels. If it still does not find them, try moving that TV closer to the aerial or using a shorter cable. If you are using a splitter, try removing it and connecting that TV directly to the wall socket to see if the missing channels appear.

Can I connect an outdoor aerial to a TV that is far away inside the house?

Yes, but signal loss increases with cable length. For runs longer than 20 meters, use low-loss coaxial cable and consider adding a signal amplifier near the aerial to compensate for the distance. Avoid running the cable through metal conduit or alongside power cables, as these interfere with the signal. If the cable must cross a power line, keep at least 30 centimeters of distance.