Extra TV Points

If you want to watch free to air television, your TV needs a connection to the antenna. This connection usually consists of a coaxial cable running from the antenna to a wall plate or skirting socket. Then a short coaxial cable called a fly-lead, plugs into the television. These components create what is commonly known as a TV point. If you have multiple televisions, each one will need a TV point to receive a signal from the antenna.

Connecting Multiple TV Points

When a TV antenna has more than one TV point, a splitter is necessary. The purpose of which is to join multiple TV points to a TV antenna. The size of the splitter matches the number of TV points. For example, a 3-way splitter would be used if there were three TV points. The signal from the antenna passes through the splitter and divides equally between the TV points. A 3-way splitter would pass along 33% of the overall signal strength to each point. The signal divides regardless of whether all TV points are in use or not.

There is a limit to the number of points that can be connected. Splitting the signal too many times will cause all televisions to have poor a picture. There is no set maximum number of TV points. It all comes down to the signal strength in your area which is variable. A typical TV antenna should be able to support enough TV points to satisfy your average family home. However, if signal strength is too low, a booster can be installed.

Pre-wiring TV Points – Houses Under Construction

If you are building or renovating a house, you should consider prewiring some TV points. The best time to do so is after the framework has been completed. At this stage, it should be possible to have a TV point anywhere inside the house. Once the plasterboard is on, installing cables becomes more difficult.

Only some walls will have an accessible cavity. These will typically be the external outer walls of the house. However internal walls which separate different rooms inside the house do not have accessible cavities.

If you don’t want to be limited when choosing where to position your television, prewiring your home for TV points is the way to go.