Building or Renovating in Adelaide? How to Plan Your TV Antenna and TV Points Early

When you’re building or renovating, TV points are easy to forget until the plasterboard is up, and by then adding them costs more and makes more mess. A little planning now means TV and internet exactly where you want them, with no cables across the floor.

Why plan before the walls are closed

Running cable through an open wall frame is quick and simple. Once the walls are lined and painted, the same job means working through the roof space or under the floor, and some spots become very hard to reach. Planning early gives you:

• More choice: points exactly where furniture and TVs will go.
• Cleaner results: no surface-mounted cable or ducting.
• Lower cost: less labour than retrofitting later.

Where to put TV points

Think about how you’ll use each room, not just where the TV goes today:

• Living and family rooms: at the height a wall-mounted TV will sit, not just at skirting level.
• Main bedroom and kids’ rooms: even if you don’t have TVs there yet.
• Rumpus, theatre or games rooms: often the room people most regret not wiring.
• Alfresco and outdoor areas: popular for summer sport and entertaining.

Add data points while you’re at it

Running data cable at the same time costs far less than adding it later. A wired data point gives the home office, TV and gaming console a reliable connection. Our explainer on what a data point is covers the basics.

Getting the antenna right

• Test the signal at the site: different Adelaide suburbs are served by different transmitters.
• Plan the antenna position: safe access, a clear line to the transmitter and away from solar panels.
• Plan the distribution: with several TV points, the signal needs to be split properly, with an amplifier if needed. See how to run multiple TVs from one antenna.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Putting TV points at skirting height when the TV will be wall-mounted.
• Forgetting a power point next to every TV point.
• Too few points, then adding cheap splitters later.
• Leaving antenna installation until after handover, when roof access may be harder.

When to call us in

The best time is at frame stage, before insulation and plasterboard. Share your plans and we’ll help you decide where points should go, then come back to install the antenna and test every outlet once the build is finished.

Frequently asked questions

Does my builder include TV points?

Many builds include a small number. Check your inclusions and ask what can be added before the walls close.

Can I add TV points after I move in?

Yes, but it usually costs more and some locations are harder to reach.

Should I get data points as well as TV points?

If you work from home, stream a lot or game, data points are worth adding while the walls are open.

Building or renovating? Talk to Mr Antenna Adelaide about TV and data points before the walls go up.