Using a Rooftop Antenna for Digital Reception

Rooftop antennas are one alternative to cable/satellite television when the networks make the switch to digital. Sometime in 2009 the major channels will switch to broadcasting only digital signals, a rooftop antenna will still pick up these signals and send them to your television - you will need a converter box if you don't have a digital television. But, most new televisions are capable of receiving digital signals. HD Televisions especially will work fine, but any unit that was manufactured in this century should be capable of receiving digital signals.

You can still use a rooftop antenna. Currently, there are several varieties that will pick up digital signals, along with analog signals (there will still be some), AM/FM radio signals and HDTV. They are available at many electronics stores if you don't already have one.

If your house already has an antenna in the attic, or attached to the roof, you can use it for digital and HDTV. The older antennas have a 300 ohm, dual lead flat connector, and what looks like a mile of flat brown wire running through your walls, and all over your home. This will work with your digital TV but you need a special "matching converter" that has a 300 ohm flat connector on one end and a 75 ohm coaxial connector on the other. The coaxial connector will go right into your television at the "antenna in" port.

If you don't want to use the 300 ohm flat wire, or if it is damaged or missing, you will want to attach 75 ohm coaxial cable to your antenna. There will be a pair of bolts in the middle of the antenna, somewhere, that are longer than the rest. These are the attaching screws for the cable.

Make sure that you remove any of the dual lead flat wire pull it out of the walls. It should come right out. Then dispose of it where no one will get tangled in it.

You should have a 75 ohm matching transformer, with a rubber boot. Then, using lock washers and nuts of the appropriate size connect the matching transformer to the two bolts.

Attach the 75 ohm coaxial cable to the matching transformer. Cover the connection with the rubber boot, to prevent water from getting inside the connection. A wet connection will mess up your television signal.

Coaxial cable should be run under the eaves of your house and into the attic. Be sure to run it through the ceiling near the edge of the wall. This should miss any electrical wiring. If you have or have had cable or satellite television installed in your home you can use the same coaxial cable. Just pull up a piece of coaxial cable and connect it to your matching transformer. This will allow you to have antenna access anywhere you had cable.

When you turn on your televisions, be sure they are set up with Air as the input source.

This should make your television viewing as enjoyable as ever and you should not miss your favorite shows because you don't have cable.