# What antenna switch do I need? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antenna-switch-do-i-need/387414 "2007-01-10T15:42:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AnnieChrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ec8ea/32.png) [@AnnieChrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnnieChrist)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antenna-switch-do-i-need/387414/1 "2007-01-10T15:42:23Z")
I’m adding a simple, cheap indoor antenna to a tv set that has a satellite feed coax cable attached to it. The idea is that I want to be able to switch to the antenna when I lose the satellite feed during stormy weather, so I can still see the local weather warnings about tornadoes. Getting the antenna and hooking it to the tv is no problem, but I’d rather not have to unscrew the coax satellite cable and screw in the antenna cable each time. So is there a switch I can use so that both cables are hooked up all the time and I can just move the switch from one to the other? I did a quick search of the Radio Shack site and didn’t see anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antenna-switch-do-i-need/387414/2 "2007-01-10T15:50:31Z")
Yep, they have them there. Ask for an “A/B antenna switch”. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antenna-switch-do-i-need/387414/3 "2007-01-10T15:50:52Z")
I believe you can connect the antenna to the satellite receiver. The TV sees the antenna when the receiver is turned off. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antenna-switch-do-i-need/387414/4 "2007-01-10T15:51:52Z")
Like [this one](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049619&cp=2032057.2032187.2032188.2032200&parentPage=family). ---
**Author:** ![AnnieChrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ec8ea/32.png) [@AnnieChrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnnieChrist)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antenna-switch-do-i-need/387414/5 "2007-01-10T15:54:16Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I believe you can connect the antenna to the satellite receiver. The TV sees the antenna when the receiver is turned off. [/QUOTE] By golly, you’re right. That’s even better than using the switch. But thanks for the switch referrals, too. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antenna-switch-do-i-need/387414/6 "2007-01-10T15:58:21Z")
Here’s one from radio shack that’s remote controlled: [http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049643&cp=&origkw=antenna+switch&kw=antenna+switch&parentPage=search](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049643&cp=&origkw=antenna+switch&kw=antenna+switch&parentPage=search) and would probably work OK. You wouldn’t need to leave your chair. If your TV has multiple inputs that might be a better way to go. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-antenna-switch-do-i-need/387414/7 "2007-01-10T15:59:39Z")
Dang! Too slow! :smack: