Skip to content

TV and Tech UK

Your glossary of TV and Tech terms

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Suggestions
  • Contact Us
  • Toggle search form

Can’t connect to a TV aerial!

Posted on 25 August 2011 By TV and Tech 4 Comments on Can’t connect to a TV aerial!

Question: Aerial Connection Problem

We’ve just gone with BT to use their BT Vision. The flat previously was with Virgin Media. We’ve got our BT Vision box now, but we are having trouble connecting to an external aerial. At the wall socket, where we would ordinarily just stick in the tv cable (as most normal flats have), we have a two prong device. We basically don’t know how to connect our bt vision box to the outside aerial.

Submitted online by Vanessa

Our Answer

TV AerialOK. To get TV channels, the BT Vision box needs to be connected to a TV aerial. Unless you’re in a very strong Freeview coverage area, that TV aerial should be outside, normally on the roof.

You mention that the property previously had the Virgin Media cable TV service… it’s important not to use this system to connect to the BT Vision box.

BT Vision uses a TV aerial to get live TV channels, and Virgin use underground fibre-optic cables for its TV service.

BT Vision’s TV channels are delivered using the Freeview service, and a TV aerial is required for Freeview.

Connecting to a TV Aerial

To connect your BT Vision box to the TV aerial, you need to plug a feed from the aerial into the back of the BT Vision socket.

Connect the feed from the TV aerial to the RF In socket, pictured here:

BT Vision RF In Aerial Socket Connector
The BT Vision Box RF In Aerial Socket Connector

Where is my TV aerial feed?

If you’re struggling to find the feed from your TV aerial, here’s what you should be looking for:

Wall-mounted TV aerial point:

TV Aerial Wall Socket
A TV Aerial Wall Socket

A loose TV aerial cable

TV Aerial Plug
A TV Aerial Plug connected to a TV aerial

Can I use my Virgin connector for BT Vision or Freeview?

No. Virgin use underground fibre-optic cables, and BT Vision / Freeview use a TV aerial. It’s different technology

Can I use a Sky / Satellite Dish connector for BT Vision or Freeview?

No. Satellite TV is delivered using a dish that points to an orbiting satellite. BT Vision / Freeview use a TV aerial pointing at a transmitter on land. It’s different technology

I don’t have a TV aerial!!

OK. If you don’t have a TV aerial, look in your phone book for a CAT-approved aerial installer, and get them to quote you for installing a TV aerial

 

Can I use an indoor TV aerial?

In some cases yes, but only in areas where there is a really strong Freeview signal.

To check, put your postcode into the Wolfbane Coverage Checker. Look under the “Antenna (suggestion) section. If it shows “set top aerial”, you could be OK to watch Freeview / BT Vision on an indoor aerial.

 

Related Questions

  • I get no signal from my indoor Freeview aerial
BT Vision, Digital TV, Freeview, TV Aerials Tags:bt vision, tv aerial, virgin media connector

Post navigation

Previous Post: Set-top box volume lower than normal TV
Next Post: How to create your own portable wireless hotspot

Comments (4) on “Can’t connect to a TV aerial!”

  1. Jenny Crossley says:
    9 February 2017 at 12:28 am

    We have exactly the same problem at the moment. Where there would be a normal TV aerial box on the wall, there is a virgin media aerial box with a metal splitter thing inside which appears to connect to the cable coming in from outside. My theory is to cut the cable just before the metal splitter, add the right connection to it (as would be on a normal aerial box) and we should then start to receive the freebies channels on our new BT YouView box – or am I in danger of blowing myself up?

    Reply
  2. smartbellfan says:
    3 September 2018 at 11:06 pm

    Is like you would try to use Vodafone number mobile phone “line”, still being at Vodafone as customer, but only by a clever forgery try use also Orange minutes from a different sim that is not even compatible with a just Vodafone device. The smartphone won’t explode.. no one gets bleeding.. It just won’t do, not enough credit… Perhaps is too dumb to get it right :)) Then you might say is rather a dumbphone…

    Reply
  3. Adam Young says:
    25 November 2020 at 7:07 am

    Hello Vanessa, Thanks for sharing this article, I also share TV Aerial-related article here
    Best Outdoor TV Aerial for Freeview UK
    https://www.interneteyes.co.uk/best-outdoor-tv-aerial-for-freeview-uk/

    Reply
  4. anirudh says:
    25 November 2020 at 9:33 am

    Hello Vanessa, Thanks for sharing this article, I also share TV Aerial-related article here
    Best Outdoor TV Aerial for Freeview UK
    https://www.interneteyes.co.uk/best-outdoor-tv-aerial-for-freeview-uk/

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Broadband
  • BT Vision
  • Computing
  • Digital TV
  • Digital TV
  • Freesat
  • Freeview
  • HD
  • HD TV
  • Internet Setup
  • Internet TV
  • Internet TV
  • PC Upgrade
  • Phones
  • Powerline Adapters
  • Recording TV
  • Satellite TV
  • Sky Satellite TV
  • Smartphone
  • Sound and Vision
  • TV Aerials
  • Uncategorized
  • Web Hosting
  • Windows Issues
  • YouView

Copyright © 2024 TV and Tech UK. Site Terms & Privacy

Powered by PressBook WordPress theme