How to Connect Antenna to TV? | Over-the-Air Setup

For the full breakdown, see our best Antenna For Broadcast TV guide.

Setting up an over-the-air antenna is one of the few TV tasks that still takes less time than finding the remote. The whole process comes down to two steps: get the coax cable into the right port, then tell the TV to find the channels. Most people skip the second part and then wonder why they get nothing but snow. Whether you’re cutting cable or adding a backup for streaming outages, the hookup works the same on nearly every set made in the last decade.

Where Does the Antenna Cable Plug Into the TV?

Antennas use a round, threaded connector called an F-type or coaxial connector. It fits a port usually labeled ANT IN, Antenna In, CABLE/ANT, or RF. Sony’s official guidance specifies an IEC Coax 75 Ohm RF antenna connector as the input on its televisions.

This port looks like a small brass or silver cylinder with threads. It’s often set apart from the HDMI and USB jacks, sometimes with a gap around it. TCL-branded Roku TVs label the same input ANT/CABLE. If the label is missing, look for the one port that nothing else in your cabinet will fit—that’s the one.

If your antenna uses flat two-prong twin-lead wire instead of coax, you’ll need a 300-ohm to 75-ohm adapter before it can connect to the TV. A short run of common mistakes includes:

• Plugging into an HDMI or USB port—these carry different signals entirely.
• Leaving the source set to Cable instead of Antenna/Air.
• Skipping the channel scan after connecting, then declaring the antenna broken.

What If the TV Has No Antenna Input or No Digital Tuner?

Not every TV sold in the last fifteen years can receive broadcast channels directly. If there is no coax port at all, or the TV predates the 2009 digital transition and lacks a built-in digital tuner, you need a digital converter box between the antenna and the TV. Connect the antenna’s coax cable into the converter box’s input, then connect the converter box to the TV—typically with a second coax cable or an HDMI cord. Sony’s support documentation for its tuner devices notes that some older setups require setting the TV to Channel 3 or 4 to receive the signal from an external tuner.

On modern TVs, some brands ask during setup whether you want to include analog channels 3 and 4. On most current antenna scans, you can safely leave analog out—digital broadcasts are what carry today’s over-the-air networks.

Running the Channel Scan Correctly

A connection does nothing until the TV scans for what’s available. Open the TV menu and find Auto Scan, Auto Program, Channel Search, or Scan Channels. Sony and TCL both place this inside the Channel or Broadcast settings group, not the general system settings. When the TV asks what type of connection you’re using, choose Antenna, Air, or Over-the-Air—not Cable. Selecting Cable when you have an antenna produces no channels at all.

Run the scan and let the TV work. It will list every channel it finds, which usually takes two to five minutes. If some channels are missing or pixelated, move the antenna to a higher spot near a window and rescan. Reception depends on placement and local broadcast conditions; near power lines or large metal objects, the picture can degrade.

Safety and Power Basics

Sony’s advice is to connect the antenna cable while the TV’s power cable is unplugged. It’s a small step that prevents any stray voltage from damaging the tuner. Keep antenna wiring away from power lines and large metal surfaces when routing the cable inside a home. If your antenna is amplified, the amplifier needs power from its own adapter—many outdoor units have a separate power inserter that must be connected inline. An unpowered amplifier is just a dead spot in the cable, so confirm the little LED on the inserter is lit.