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If your home is wired for cable TV and you want to drop cable in favor of a free alternative the same coax cable can be used for the TV antenna. If you will be adding antenna reception to your cable service it will be necessary to run separate coax cable lines to each TV location where both antenna and cable TV reception are desired.

To add TV antenna reception along with your current cable TV service follow the procedures on the TV antenna system installation page. An A/B switch may be required at each TV location where cable TV and antenna service is desired.

To eliminate cable TV and utilize your current coax cabling for TV antenna reception follow the procedures below.

First determine how your current cable wiring is configured. You will likely find a cable box connected to the outside of your home. Inside of this box should be either a ground block or a signal splitter. If you find a ground block you simply unscrew the cable TV feed and replace it with the antenna feed. Next determine if there is a signal splitter down line maybe in the basement etc. If so printed on the signal splitter will be the MHz capability of the splitter. For TV antenna reception the splitter must be rated for 5-900 MHz. The MHz can be higher then 900 but not lower. 

If there is a signal splitter in use within the system the antenna system the antenna will likely require a mast mounted preamplifier for best results. Depending on the system configuration voltage blocks may be required.

Preamplifier's are two part units. The mast mounted portion is the amplifier and the indoor portion is the power injector/supply. The power supply does requires an electrical outlet. If you can run the coax cable directly from the preamplifier at the antenna to the power injector without passing through a signal splitter voltage blocks will not be necessary. A ground block between the mast mounted unit and the power injector is okay.

However, if the signal splitter within the system must located between the mast mounted preamplifier and the indoor preamplifier power injector voltage blocks must be used. This is sometimes necessary do to the lack of an electrical outlet on the antenna side of signal splitter.

It's really not to difficult to connect the antenna to your current cable system. Just follow the proper procedures above and visit the links below and you should be set to go.

Preamplifier installation. This page will illustrate proper preamplifier installation.

Voltage blocks and preamplifier's. This page will illustrate proper voltage block use.

If you need assistance choosing the proper TV antenna and determining if signal amplification is needed I suggest a visit to the Digital TV Antenna Selector.

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