How to Use Your Home Wiring as a TV or Radio Antenna
Choose a location for your rabbit ears antenna that is directly above an electrical outlet in your home., Mount the rabbit ears antenna on the wall above the electrical outlet., Extend the rabbit ears into the two holes in the ceiling., Turn on your...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose a location for your rabbit ears antenna that is directly above an electrical outlet in your home.
Going in a straight line above the electrical outlet, drill two small holes in the ceiling directly above the outlet.
The holes should be drilled approximately 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to
15.2 cm) from the wall on which the outlet is located, and should be approximately 8 inches (20.3 cm) apart.
Use a stud finder to locate the stud nearest to the electrical outlet.
If possible, drill the ceiling holes at equal distances from the stud. -
Step 2: Mount the rabbit ears antenna on the wall above the electrical outlet.
The rabbit ears antenna should be mounted at a height that will allow the fully extended rabbit ears to protrude several inches into the two holes which were drilled into the ceiling.
Mount the antenna into the wall using a large screw, drilling directly into the stud above the electrical outlet. , Make sure that the extended rabbit ears are sticking through the holes at least 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to
7.6 cm), preferably even further.
This will allow the rabbit ear antennas to receive the bounced signals from your home's electrical wiring. , Try various positions of the rabbit ears to find a position which provides clear broadcasting.
You may want to try protruding only one rabbit ear through the ceiling holes.
You may also try retracting one or both of the rabbit ears back towards the antenna.
The goal of trying various positions is to determine the location of the rabbit ears which will best connect to the bounced signals from your home's wiring.
This may require a substantial amount of experimentation, depending on the electrical strength of the outlet you are utilizing. -
Step 3: Extend the rabbit ears into the two holes in the ceiling.
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Step 4: Turn on your antennae and TV or radio and experiment with different rabbit ear positions to optimize the signal performance.
Detailed Guide
Going in a straight line above the electrical outlet, drill two small holes in the ceiling directly above the outlet.
The holes should be drilled approximately 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to
15.2 cm) from the wall on which the outlet is located, and should be approximately 8 inches (20.3 cm) apart.
Use a stud finder to locate the stud nearest to the electrical outlet.
If possible, drill the ceiling holes at equal distances from the stud.
The rabbit ears antenna should be mounted at a height that will allow the fully extended rabbit ears to protrude several inches into the two holes which were drilled into the ceiling.
Mount the antenna into the wall using a large screw, drilling directly into the stud above the electrical outlet. , Make sure that the extended rabbit ears are sticking through the holes at least 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to
7.6 cm), preferably even further.
This will allow the rabbit ear antennas to receive the bounced signals from your home's electrical wiring. , Try various positions of the rabbit ears to find a position which provides clear broadcasting.
You may want to try protruding only one rabbit ear through the ceiling holes.
You may also try retracting one or both of the rabbit ears back towards the antenna.
The goal of trying various positions is to determine the location of the rabbit ears which will best connect to the bounced signals from your home's wiring.
This may require a substantial amount of experimentation, depending on the electrical strength of the outlet you are utilizing.
About the Author
Kathryn Peterson
A passionate writer with expertise in home improvement topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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