TV aerial

Rodders53

https://www.aerialsandtv.com/knowledge/how-to-attach-wire-up-plugs-aerials-and-wall-plates shows a reasonably OK way to fit a TV plug.

Ideally the centre pin of such plugs are soldered but that's a very skilled job. 
NOT one I'd ever suggest a novice attempts.  No need either most of the time.
Only really necessary when external remote-powered masthead amplifiers are used though to ensure DC continuity.  UHF RF happily jumps small gaps.

Wavy centre conductor works pretty well (and I've 30+ year old cables in use that are like that).

Proper way to fit and solder is shown here:  https://www.megalithia.com/elect/bellinglee/index.html

neilmcl

gboy25 said:

casper_gutman said:

If you can't find a cable to connect to the aerial, see if you can pick up a Freesat box cheaply from anywhere. It'll give you all the normal TV channels from the satellite dish. I think some TVs even have Freesat receivers built in, if you're lucky!

Thanks, if I was to get a freesat box - how do those 2 wires connect to it? Will I still need a repair kit and/or solder a connector on?

For a Freesat or any other satellite box you'd need to fit an F type connector to the cable - https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-f-plug-coaxial-connector-10-pack/17061

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L8aDDBOyLM

Mistral001

gboy25 said:

sevenhills said:

gboy25 said:

Yeah so it's two separate leads and I do think the old owner had sky so theres a sky dish on the side.
I dont have that though and just want normal free digital on my tv so I dont have a way of plugging it in

There are two cables, so there two Sky dishes?

Look on the roof, one aerial and one dish?

Yeah sorry I'm being thick here. Yeah there is one of each. Its just the attachment to the tv part I dont get. 
I tried attaching a connector to the copper wire bit, but it just falls out

Yes they do that sometimes when the metal grippers on the back of the plug get flattened so they do not grip any more.  You can still use the connector if you screw off the retainer at the back of the plug, take a pair of long-nosed pliers and bend the grippers so that they can bite into the cable.  Make sure the grippers grip the foil.  You may need to strip away some of the cable sleeve to get sufficient foil for the grippers to grip onto.  Then screw back the retainer.

twopenny

I think your problem may be finding the normal aerial cable. As said you need to start in the attic and look at where it goes.

I moved into a house built with 2 aerial sockets and an aerial but it had never been connected to the gizmo that carried it to the room sockets and the aerial itself become extinct.

it's possible you may need someone to check the aerial is compatible with digital (though I used one that wasn't for years) and that it's connected to whatever it should be connected to that connects the signal to the room.

I got a guy in to do it and took less than an hour to replace the aerial and make the right connections. Frankly for the stress free all done time it was worth it and not expensive.

I found that the aerial lead that connects from the wall to the telly was available at a diy store ready put together for under a fiver.

Used to make my own but it's not worth it now.

birdboy89

You can also get an old Sky box for cheap/free and plug it in to get Freeview channels (possibly the same set as Freesat?) and use that instead at least in the short term. The main inconvenience if you're not already used to Sky and depending on the age of the box is potentially needing to faff with more controls plus having to deal with how Sky numbers channels but we've lived in a couple of rentals lacking a standard aerial with this sort of arrangement and it's perfectly fine.

chrisw

It's a very simple job, far easier to do it than it is to describe it. 

Do you have any family, friends or neighbours who might be able to help?

J_B

casper_gutman said:

If you can't find a cable to connect to the aerial, see if you can pick up a Freesat box cheaply from anywhere. It'll give you all the normal TV channels from the satellite dish. I think some TVs even have Freesat receivers built in, if you're lucky!

I bought  Sky HD box off ebay for a fiver - gives me all the free channels without a sky sub