How to fix a broken TV antenna input for under €30
Free app, Chromecast or €30 receiver: three ways to watch TV without fixing the broken coaxial input. The cheapest costs zero euros.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Broken TV antenna: solutions from €0 to €30
The TV's coaxial input is broken and the screen stays black. Before spending €300 on a new device, there are cheaper alternatives ranging from a free app to a €30 external receiver.
The cheapest: TDT-Channels on Smart TV
If the TV runs Android, the TDT-Channels app lets you watch more than 600 TV channels and 900 radio stations without any additional hardware. You only need an internet connection. The cost is zero. For TVs without Android, a Chromecast or a DTT receiver with HDMI output costs between €25 and €30. Any basic electronics store has them, although some sales assistants look at you as if they don't know what you're talking about.
More rudimentary alternatives
Some people opt for soldering: open the TV, locate the two pins on the board and solder an antenna cable with its corresponding mesh and core. It's a bodge that requires a decent soldering iron and a steady hand. If you're not handy, better to buy an external receiver.
The trap of buying a new TV
The temptation is to spend €300 on a new television, but the problem can be solved for less than €30. The decision isn't technical, it's about willpower. Or stinginess, as some say.
The surprising fact: the TDT-Channels app offers more channels than any satellite dish, and it doesn't cost a euro. Think about it before opening your wallet.
The TV's coaxial input is broken and the screen stays black. Before spending €300 on a new device, there are cheaper alternatives ranging from a free app to a €30 external receiver.
The cheapest: TDT-Channels on Smart TV
If the TV runs Android, the TDT-Channels app lets you watch more than 600 TV channels and 900 radio stations without any additional hardware. You only need an internet connection. The cost is zero. For TVs without Android, a Chromecast or a DTT receiver with HDMI output costs between €25 and €30. Any basic electronics store has them, although some sales assistants look at you as if they don't know what you're talking about.
More rudimentary alternatives
Some people opt for soldering: open the TV, locate the two pins on the board and solder an antenna cable with its corresponding mesh and core. It's a bodge that requires a decent soldering iron and a steady hand. If you're not handy, better to buy an external receiver.
The trap of buying a new TV
The temptation is to spend €300 on a new television, but the problem can be solved for less than €30. The decision isn't technical, it's about willpower. Or stinginess, as some say.
The surprising fact: the TDT-Channels app offers more channels than any satellite dish, and it doesn't cost a euro. Think about it before opening your wallet.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (11 replies).
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