Summary: Learn how to fit a TV aerial, install a surface-mounted aerial outlet, wire a coaxial plug and install a flush-mounted aerial outlet.
The traditional means of receiving a TV or FM radio signal is through a loft or external aerial. Many households receive a signal through a satellite dish or local cable network, but as analogue television is phased out over the next few years, increasing numbers of households will be able to receive a digital signal through a digital aerial. Although no official approval is necessary for erecting aerials, satellite dishes may require planning permission to install.
If you have an aerial for analogue television, FM radio and from a satellite dish, install a diplexer or triplexer, sometimes called a splitter. This acts as an adaptor to allow a television to receive a signal from separate aerials through a single cable. It can also split the signal from an aerial to supply both a television and hi-fi. The diplexer should be fixed to a joist where the cable enters the house.
Coaxial cable is used for connecting aerials to TV and radios. Most aerials come with coaxial cable pre-fitted to the aerial but to extend the cable run, fix connectors to each end of the coaxial cable, following the directions below.
To run a cable from an external aerial, run the cable down the outside of the house. Drill a hole in the wall or window frame to feed the cable to the required room.
To run cable from a loft aerial, feed the cable through a hole in the eaves soffit board, along the loft cavity, and through a hole in the ceiling of the required room to reach down the wall.
To run the cable internally, the cable can be run down from the aerial through service ducts, and under the floor voids or tacked along the top of skirting boards.
If you have a diplexer, run cables directly from the diplexer to the aerial outlet.
The section on preparing cable routes offers detailed instructions.
Push back the copper mesh around the base of the sheath to expose 20mm of inner insulation.
Clamp the copper mesh under the grip, squeezing the grip with pliers.
Author: C J Mills Google+
Join an existing conversation or create a new thread related to Electrical in our DIY forum.
The colour-coding system for electric cable changed in 2006, make sure you read Electric cable and flex to view the new information.