Coaxial cables have been in the TV and internet industries for long. They are mainly used to transmit internet and TV signals to our homes. For cable or satellite TV lovers, the coaxial cable is a critical aspect of your TV connection that helps bring the audio and videos you see to your screen. However, if you just got into your new apartment or house, chances are that there may be no coaxial outlet in your apartment.
So, what do you do in such a situation? Fortunately, I have some solutions for you.
If your apartment or home does not have a coaxial outlet, you can use a fiber optic outlet or DSL ports as alternatives. If your apartment has an ethernet port, you can install a satellite dish for your internet and TV. Using an HD antenna for your smart TV will also help you watch the local channels over the internet without needing a coaxial cable.
A lot of times, your apartment or house will have outlets for internet and TV even if there is none for a coaxial cable. You can explore the options available in your apartment and then use the cable that best works with what is available. In this article, I’m going to be discussing some of these other cables that you can use in place of the coaxial cables and how to even ditch the coaxial cable if you have a smart TV. So, read on for more information.
What is Coaxial Cable Used For?
A coaxial cable is a copper-made cable that transmits data or analog signals with very little signal interference.
Because of its capabilities, cable TV providers prefer to use it to transmit their signals from their satellites to customers’ TVs.
Internet service providers also used coaxial cables to provide their internet services by connecting the cable to customers’ routers.
Although cable TV and internet services are the two major uses of coaxial cables, their uses are however not limited to the two since other data transmission services also make use of these cables.
Do Smart TVs Have Coaxial Inputs
Smart TVs, just like traditional TVs, have coaxial inputs. In most smart TVs, you can find the inputs for the coaxial cable as the RF antenna input.
Although coaxial cables are useful in the TV and internet industries, the introduction of smart TVs and streaming services like Netflix and the like in recent times have significantly reduced the use of coaxial cables.
With coaxial cables, you can access only a handful of free-to-air cable channels in your area. However, with smart TVs, you can access tons of content via apps from the numerous streaming services from Netflix to Hulu and so on.
The widespread popularity of internet streaming services has caused some cable TV providers to migrate to internet streaming, which in turn has affected the priorities of TV manufacturers.
So, new smart TVs with coaxial inputs do exist in recent times but there are a few out there.
How Do I Hookup My TV Without Coaxial Outlet?
If you just got into your new apartment or house and you are not finding a coaxial cable for your TV, don’t worry.
You can still get your TV to show local channels over the internet even without the coaxial outlet.
If your TV is a smart TV with WiFi connection capabilities, this should be very simple.
With an HD antenna, you can watch the local channels on smart TV.
- Get yourself an HD antenna that you’ll hook up to your TV.
- Subscribe to the local channel’s app live TV, for example, NBS, CBS, or ABC.
- Stream the live TV content after your subscription and that’s it.
You’ll be able to watch your local channels on your smart TV without the coaxial outlet in your house.
If your TV is a traditional TV and not a smart TV, you may have to contact the cable company or a professional technician for installation.
How Can I Watch Regular TV On My Smart TV Without An Antenna?
If you do not have an HD antenna, don’t fret.
Newer smart TVs already have the TV channels’ apps in them and they can connect wirelessly to a WiFi, so simply connect your smart TV to the WiFi and you’ll be good to stream the local channels on your smart TV.
You can stream the CBS, NBC, and ABC channels on YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream or Hulu + Live.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Coaxial Cable For the Internet?
As I said earlier, the coaxial cable is also used for an internet connection. So, what do you do if your apartment does not have a coaxial outlet?
Simple. You can use other alternatives.
All modern-day buildings have some sort of cable outlet one way or the other.
If your apartment does not have a coaxial, it probably should have a fiber optic outlet or DSL or ethernet ports.
So, you need to find out which outlet your apartment has and then use the right cable – whether fiber optic, DSL, etc.
Fibre Optic Outlet
Fiber optic technology is a way of transmitting data from one place to another in the form of light.
Most internet service providers have jumped on the bandwagon to embrace this technology because of its spread and reliability.
Typically, installing fiber optic cable in your apartment is a bit expensive so if your new apartment has some of the cables, that is a plus for you.
Although internet data transmission with fiber optics is very fast, the cables are usually fragile and so you should be careful when using them.
Once you identify an optical fiber outlet box in your apartment, that will be a good time to consider fiber optic internet services. You can get in touch with an internet service provider to hook up with a fiber optic internet service and you’ll be fine.
Technicians from internet providers will visit your home and conduct some checks before connecting you to their optical fiber network.
DSL Ports
The DSL ports connect telephone lines to WiFi routers so that internet data can be sent through the WiFi and telephone.
DSL is less expensive and easier to install so it is very likely that your apartment has one instead of a fiber optic.
If you do not find any coaxial cable in your new rented apartment, try to check around for the DSL port and it’s very likely that you’ll find one.
Although the DSL internet speed is slower, it is cheaper and stable as well so intermittent cut-offs are unlikely to occur.
In some instances, you can even connect it directly to your device via the ethernet cable.
If you want to search for the DSL line, search around the area where the telephone line is and you’ll find them there.
You can request for DSL internet installation from your internet service provider if you want to hook up your router.
Satellite Dish
With a satellite dish in your house or apartment, you do not need to worry about coaxial cables because you won’t use them.
However, you’ll need to make sure that you have an ethernet port in your house since it will come in handy at some point during the installation.
With satellite internet, you will have to install a satellite on your roof, which will transmit data from a space satellite and network provider to your home router.
The internet speed of satellite internet is not as fast as the fiber optic but it is also cheaper and very easy to install.
In fact, you can easily install one all by yourself without extra assistance.
So, if you realize that your apartment has an ethernet port rather than a coaxial outlet, you can consider setting up satellite internet.
Final Thoughts
Coaxial cables have been the main data transmission channel for cable TV and internet service providers for sometime now.
However, with the introduction of smart TVs and streaming services online, the TV community is gradually transitioning out of it.
You should therefore not be surprised if your new apartment or house does not have a coaxial outlet. If you are a fan of cable TV channels, there are other means to get cable channels on TV if you use some of the tips above.
When it comes to an internet connection, DSL internet may be the best alternative. However, if your room has fiber optic cables and you are prepared to go that way, nothing really stands in your way of getting an optic fiber internet connection.
- Optoma UHD50X vs UHD60 4K UHD Projectors Detailed Comparison - June 27, 2023
- Optoma CinemaX Pro vs P2 Projectors: What is the Difference? - June 27, 2023
- DLP vs Laser Projectors: What is the Difference? - June 27, 2023
