Need Help Connecting TV Antenna in New Build

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enodeb

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#305954 16-Jun-2023 11:48

Hi everyone,

I recently moved into a new home built in 2019 and I'm facing some issues with connecting my TV antenna. The previous owner removed everything except for the cables, so I'm left with a bunch of coaxial cables hanging around in the store room that aren't connected to anything.

I've managed to connect all the network cables in the rooms, but the TV antenna seems to be missing. There are 7 coaxial cables in total, with connectors in all the rooms. It doesn't make sense to me that there would be no TV aerial at all. (see the image below) Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas on how to connect a TV antenna in a new build?

I'm considering getting a signal amplifier to connect the cables together and see what happens. Currently, I'm not receiving any TV signal at all.

Thank you in advance for your help!

P.S. I've also found 3 cat 5e cables hanging around. I believe they might be for the 3 POE security cameras. I've already ordered a POE switch to test them out.

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7381 posts

Uber Geek

#3090699 16-Jun-2023 12:16

"The previous owner removed everything except for the cables,"

Those cables aren't even terminated into plugs. so Either the Previous owner was being a real SOB, or more likely they have never been connected,

You will need a Crimp connector tool, + fittings,

https://www.jaycar.co.nz/ratchet-crimping-tool-for-f-type-connectors/p/TH1831

Also check that there actually is an antenna on the roof, the wiring may have been run, but if there was never an intention to use it, the actual antenna may have never ben installed,

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trig42

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#3090704 16-Jun-2023 12:28

I'm with wellygary on this one.

It looks like cabling was run for antenna, but no antenna was ever installed.

I'd say one of those 7 white RG6 cables goes to somewhere in your roof cavity, near where an antenna or satellite dish would likely be mounted. The others will go to individual rooms.

Does the house have wall sockets for the antenna cables (probably terminated with F-Sockets)? You will be able to determine which one goes where if you have any toning equipment.

richms

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#3090713 16-Jun-2023 13:00

Quite possibly the cable is just loose behind a wall plate with a RJ45 on it. Friends house was all cabled up but nothing terminated since FTA TV worked fine with anything plugged into the TV and they seemed to rely on making the sat installer to do all the work if getting sky.

Richard rich.ms

enodeb

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3090719 16-Jun-2023 13:12

I appreciate the responses so far. After checking Google Maps satellite view, I couldn't spot any antenna on the roof. However, I did notice 7 wall TV sockets throughout the house, and I assume they are all connected to the coaxial cables I found in the store room.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation before? If installing an antenna on the roof is the best solution, are there any considerations or challenges I should be aware of when running the cable down multiple floors?

Thank you for your assistance!

Jase2985

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#3090728 16-Jun-2023 13:31

IMO you need to think if you NEED a antenna connection or could you use streaming/on demand?

wellygary

7381 posts

Uber Geek

#3090730 16-Jun-2023 13:33

enodeb:

I appreciate the responses so far. After checking Google Maps satellite view, I couldn't spot any antenna on the roof. However, I did notice 7 wall TV sockets throughout the house, and I assume they are all connected to the coaxial cables I found in the store room.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation before? If installing an antenna on the roof is the best solution, are there any considerations or challenges I should be aware of when running the cable down multiple floors?

Thank you for your assistance!

Pull off the cover on those sockets and have a look inside (there is no mains voltage so its totally safe to unscrew them, even if you are not electrically minded)- IF you are lucky they are connected, if you are not you will need to terminate the cables onto the back of the sockets,

Although IMHO if you want to do a proper job you might want to change the connections to F-type screw connectors, rather than the "plug in" type that are there now ..
.
Its likely the cable to the roof are there already, its just that they are not connected to anything..

Bung

5437 posts

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#3090732 16-Jun-2023 13:35

enodeb:
I appreciate the responses so far. After checking Google Maps satellite view, I couldn't spot any antenna on the roof. However, I did notice 7 wall TV sockets throughout the house, and I assume they are all connected to the coaxial cables I found in the store room.

That's a shame. If you have 7 sockets that means that there may not be any cable pre run to an aerial location.

I wouldn't just rely on Google satellite view. It might be too old or taken after the aerial came down. There could have been a Sky dish run directly to the main TV location bypassing the distribution cabinet.

Are the real estate photos still around, they may have been taken before they cleared the decks.

tweake

1043 posts

Uber Geek

#3090735 16-Jun-2023 13:40

i would just get a aerial guy in to sort it.

i did 10 years doing this and i can tell you from experience new houses are very rarely ever done properly. i used to fix about 95% of new homes. it was not uncommon to have to recable a new home.

low voltage/data/tv systems are an easy place to cut corners to make profit. especially as those who do the wiring do not have to get it working for the customer and often will not warranty their own workmanship anyway. so they just throw it in as quickly as possible with zero care.

allio

864 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3090769 16-Jun-2023 15:50

In my new build the aerial is in the roof space. I was told that external aerials are a thing of the past. I was skeptical but the signal is indeed perfectly strong.

In my equivalent of your cabinet in the first post, the RG6 cables are all connected together to some kind of multiplexer. Agree that the previous owner has either taken that with them and just sliced off the cables, or it was never connected up in the first place. That's probably most likely because it would be an absolutely bizarre thing to take, but I also think it's very weird to wire 7 (7!) coax outlets without terminating them or installing an aerial. What a lot of effort and expense for no reason. Maybe the previous owner removed it from the build to save costs but was talked into running the cable in case a future owner wanted to connect it up.

Lastly - I made a bit of a fuss about getting the aerial installed (and fixed when there was a problem with it on moving in), but I have to sheepishly confirm that I virtually never use it.

cshwone

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#3090771 16-Jun-2023 15:57

So should network cabinets and the content therein be designated as chattels in a property contract?

enodeb

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3090773 16-Jun-2023 16:04

allio:
In my new build the aerial is in the roof space. I was told that external aerials are a thing of the past. I was skeptical but the signal is indeed perfectly strong.

In my equivalent of your cabinet in the first post, the RG6 cables are all connected together to some kind of multiplexer. Agree that the previous owner has either taken that with them and just sliced off the cables, or it was never connected up in the first place. That's probably most likely because it would be an absolutely bizarre thing to take, but I also think it's very weird to wire 7 (7!) coax outlets without terminating them or installing an aerial. What a lot of effort and expense for no reason. Maybe the previous owner removed it from the build to save costs but was talked into running the cable in case a future owner wanted to connect it up.

Lastly - I made a bit of a fuss about getting the aerial installed (and fixed when there was a problem with it on moving in), but I have to sheepishly confirm that I virtually never use it.

Thanks for the reply.
Do you mind sharing what kind of multiplexer you are using?
Brand and model or a picture will greatly help!

tweake

1043 posts

Uber Geek

#3090775 16-Jun-2023 16:07

cshwone: So should network cabinets and the content therein be designated as chattels in a property contract?

often its not the home owner taking the gear, but the moving company. tho usually they didn't cut anything, but anything that could be unplugged was removed.

wellygary

7381 posts

Uber Geek

#3090776 16-Jun-2023 16:11

Unless you need a TV at the end of Every connection, you don't have to wire all of them through

if your signal is fine, you can probably get away with one of these as a starter...

https://www.jaycar.co.nz/kingray-4-way-foxtel-approved-splitter/p/LT3071

enodeb

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3090790 16-Jun-2023 16:23

cshwone: So should network cabinets and the content therein be designated as chattels in a property contract?

I'm uncertain if it's part of the house infrastructure, but I believe it should be.

I recently discovered that the previous owner removed the water pump outside the house.

Considering this, I wouldn't be surprised if they also removed the coaxial hub and connectors.

CYaBro

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#3090825 16-Jun-2023 17:49

Surprised the previous owner left the ONT there!

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