How to Use an Antenna for Local Channels | Over-the-Air Setup

For the full breakdown, see our best Antenna For Local Channels guide.

Cutting cable starts with a simple question: how do you actually get local channels once the coax is in your hand? The process takes about ten minutes and breaks down into three tasks: physically connecting the antenna, telling the TV to look at the antenna input, and scanning for channels.

Connecting the Antenna to Your TV

Look for the round, threaded coax port on the back of your television, labeled ANT IN, Antenna, or RF IN. Connect the antenna’s coax cable by hand-tightening the connector clockwise until snug — no tools needed.

Some newer TVs route the tuner through an external box. If your set uses one, the FCC guidance says to connect the antenna to the ANT IN port on the One Connect Box or similar external tuner hub rather than the TV itself.

If you own a tool-ready antenna for local channels, the connection point is identical regardless of whether it’s an attic model or a flat indoor panel.

Setting the TV to Antenna or Air Mode

Press the Input, Source, or Home button on your remote and select TV rather than HDMI or AV. This tells the television to listen to the tuner instead of a streaming stick or game console.

Next, the TV needs to know what kind of signal is coming through that port. Antenna users must select Air or Antenna in the setup options — choosing Cable instead prevents the TV from finding broadcast channels, because it will look for a subscription box signal that isn’t there.

On many sets, the path runs through Settings → Broadcasting → Auto Program, then selecting Air and confirming. Other manufacturers call the option Channel Scan, Auto-Tune, or Search for Channels inside a Set-Up or Menu screen. The FCC’s own guidance simply directs you to find the remote’s set-up or menu button and choose the option for searching digital broadcast channels.

Running the Channel Scan

Start the scan and wait. The process typically takes a few minutes while the tuner sweeps the broadcast spectrum and locks onto every signal strong enough to decode. The FCC’s rescan page notes this usually takes just a short time, and you’ll know it worked when the TV reports a list of discovered channels at the end.

After the scan finishes, flip through the channels using the CH up/down buttons. Missing channels usually trace back to one of three issues:

• Wrong input mode: The TV is set to Cable instead of Air, so it ignores broadcast signals.
• Incomplete antenna coverage: An antenna that only handles UHF will miss VHF stations in your market. A dual-band antenna covers both.
• A skipped rescan: Channel lineups shift when stations change frequencies, so the FCC advises rescanning whenever channels disappear or change.

Before moving the antenna, check the FCC’s antennas and digital television guide, which links to the DTV Reception Maps tool that shows which signals are actually available at your address — some channels simply aren’t broadcast everywhere, and no antenna can fix a signal that isn’t transmitted to your area.

Rescanning When Channels Change

Channel availability isn’t permanent. Broadcasters occasionally change frequencies, which is why the FCC maintains a dedicated rescan page that explains the process — the fix is always the same: reconnect the antenna, confirm Air mode, and run a fresh scan.

Rescanning takes only a few minutes and costs nothing. It’s worth doing every few months even without problems, since stations periodically reconfigure their signals to squeeze in new subchannels.

What Channels Can I Expect After the Scan?

Available stations depend entirely on your distance from broadcast towers, terrain, and your antenna’s range. Most urban and suburban viewers pick up the major networks — ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS — plus several subchannels carrying classic TV reruns, weather, and local news. The FCC’s DTV Reception Maps tool shows exactly what your address should receive before you invest time in repositioning.

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