Can You Use Both an Antenna and Cable Simultaneously on One TV?

Do you have cable anymore? In the past, cable boxes had outputs on channels 3 or 4. However, modern cable providers such as Rogers now output via HDMI to your TV. This has made many older cable boxes using coaxial cable for inputs obsolete. Now, TV signals are received via wired or wireless LAN.

Is it possible to mix both coaxial and HDMI inputs on the same TV? In many modern TVs, you can connect both simultaneously. Try it out for yourself, and you might be pleasantly surprised by the flexibility of today's TV technology.

Setting Up Your TV Inputs

Assuming you have a fairly modern TV, the feed from your cable box will likely use an HDMI port. An antenna will commonly use a coaxial cable. There's no problem with connecting both at the same time.

Your remote control should have a button labeled “Source.” Pressing this button allows you to select the input you want. Typically, you'll have a couple of HDMI ports, perhaps an RGB input, and one that says “Antenna.” This last one is your coaxial cable input from the antenna.

Flexibility of Modern TVs

Yes, you can do an antenna and cable at the same time. You can even add a VCR recorder or disc player along with those options. Today's TVs are quite flexible, accommodating various input sources.

The “But” in Your Setup

Let's throw in an important caveat. Most cable boxes come with a semi-universal remote, which is set for the cable company's box and a TV of most current brands. This remote is configured for your TV, and you or the cable installer set it for your current TV. Your cable box is plugged into a particular slot, such as HDMI-1 on your TV. Your installer used your TV's own remote to select HDMI-1 as the current input. Since then, you likely haven't used your TV's own remote.

This can cause issues when adding an antenna. You will need your TV's remote to switch from HDMI-1 to the antenna as the input to your TV. Your cable remote controls most TV functions but not this specific one. You also need that remote to switch among available antenna channels. Your cable remote only controls cable box channels.

Navigating Remote Controls

You will have to learn which remote to use when. Some things, such as turning your TV on/off, can be done using either remote. However, others, like turning the cable box on/off, can only be done using the cable remote. Switching among input sources requires your TV's remote.

Depending on your needs, you may decide to replace both remotes with a universal remote that can fully control both the TV and the cable box.

Conclusion

Modern TVs offer a seamless way to integrate both cable and antenna inputs. While there are some initial setup considerations, the flexibility and convenience make it a worthwhile setup. Experiment with both inputs and find the best configuration for your viewing experience.

Remember, the key to a successful setup lies in proper configuration and knowing which remote to use for each task. A universal remote can simplify this process, but the ability to switch between inputs is crucial for a versatile home entertainment system.