How to Hook Up a TV to a Local Channel

By Lynn Burbeck

Accessing local stations on an analog TV requires a special converter box.
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For many years, antennas, or "bunny ears," were a common sight on television sets, as they allowed individuals without cable or satellite services to access local stations in their broadcast area. With the nationwide switch from analog to digital television in 2009, however, those individuals who were still using antennas to access local stations on their analog TVs were no longer able to access local channels. Today, if you want to hook up your TV to local channels without purchasing a cable or satellite service package, you'll need a digital-to-analog converter box.

Step 1

Unplug your television.

Step 2

Remove the coaxial antenna wire from the back of your TV that is currently plugged into the "Antenna In" port. Move the cable to the "Antenna In" port on the back of your converter box.

Step 3

Plug one end of a coaxial cable into the "Out to TV" port on the back of the converter box. Plug the other end into the Antenna In port on the back of the TV.

Step 4

Plug the TV and the converter box into the nearest wall socket and turn them both on.

Step 5

Change the channel on your TV to Channel 3 or Channel 4, depending on the instructions that came with your converter box. Your TV must remain on this station when using the converter box to access local stations.

Step 6

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your converter box setup. You will now to be able to access local stations on your TV.

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