How to Install a TV Point: Extra TV Aerial Points Explained

Adding a TV to the bedroom, the rumpus room or the outdoor entertaining area? If there’s no antenna outlet on that wall, you’ll need to install a TV point. It’s one of the most common jobs we’re asked about in Melbourne, and it’s more straightforward than many people think.

Here’s what an extra TV point is, how it works, what affects the cost and what to expect on the day.

What is a TV point?

A TV point, also called an antenna point or TV aerial point, is the wall plate your TV cable plugs into. Behind it, a coaxial cable runs through the wall and roof space back to your antenna. Every TV that watches free-to-air needs a connection to the antenna, and a TV point is the neat, permanent way to provide it.

Extra TV points (sometimes called additional TV aerial points) are simply new outlets added in other rooms, so you can watch TV wherever you want without long cables running across the floor.

How extra TV aerial points work

When you add TV points, the signal from your antenna has to be shared between them. This is done with a device called a splitter. The catch is that every split reduces the signal reaching each TV.

In a strong-signal area, a home might run two or three points without any issues. Add more, or live in an area with a weaker signal, and each TV may end up with too little signal, causing pixelation or missing channels. That’s where a distribution amplifier comes in. It boosts the signal so it can be shared evenly across all your TV points.

Cable quality matters too. Modern, well-shielded coaxial cable helps protect the signal from interference, especially on longer runs.

Popular places to add a TV point

• Main and kids’ bedrooms.
• Rumpus rooms, home theatres and studies.
• Outdoor entertaining areas and alfresco spaces.
• Home gyms and granny flats.
• A new wall position after moving or wall mounting the TV.

What affects the cost of installing extra TV points?

The cost of installing extra TV points depends on a few key factors:

• Number of points: adding several points in one visit is usually more cost-effective per point.
• Access: single-storey homes with good roof space access are simpler. Double-storey homes, raked ceilings and tight roof cavities take more time.
• Wall construction: running cable through plasterboard is easier than through brick or concrete.
• Signal strength: if your signal needs boosting to cover the extra points, an amplifier adds to the cost.
• Condition of your existing system: an old or damaged antenna or cabling may need attention before new points will work properly.

What to expect when you install a TV point

• The technician tests the signal from your antenna to make sure it can support the new point.
• They plan the cable route, usually through the roof space and down inside the wall cavity.
• The cable is run, a wall plate is fitted, and any splitter or amplifier is installed.
• Each TV point is tested with a signal meter, and your TVs are tuned in.

Most standard jobs are completed in a single visit, and the technician will show you that each new point is working before they leave.

Planning your TV points

A little planning before the technician arrives helps you get the most out of the job:

• Think ahead: if you might want a TV in another room later, it’s often cheaper to add that point now while the technician is already in the roof.
• Choose the position carefully: consider where furniture, beds and power points will be, so the TV point ends up where the TV will actually sit.
• Wall mounting? If the TV is going on the wall, place the TV point behind the screen so the cables can be hidden.
• Outdoor areas: alfresco TVs need a weatherproof setup, so mention it when you book.

Can I install a TV point myself?

Some handy homeowners do, but it involves working in the roof space, which can be hot, cramped and hazardous, especially around electrical wiring and insulation. Getting the splitting and signal levels right is also where DIY jobs often fall short, leading to poor reception on some or all TVs. A professional install means every point is tested before the technician leaves.

TV points across Melbourne

Mr Antenna adds extra TV points in homes right across Melbourne, from newer estates in Point Cook, Doreen and Berwick to established homes in Balwyn and Reservoir. If your reception is already patchy, our guide to fixing TV reception problems in Melbourne is worth reading first.