How to Set Up BT TV? – Complete Setup Guide

Asking how to set up BT TV without aerial? We have good news for you!

With the announcement of BT that most of their TV boxes no longer require an aerial, it all made the setup a lot easier.

Not having to mess with meters of cables is really a relief for most users and quite approachable for newcomers.

Here is how to set up BT TV without an aerial:

To set up a BT TV without an Aerial, connect the box to your TV and then hook it up to the Smart Hub via Ethernet Cable. Next, select the correct Input Source on your TV and press the TV/AV button on your remote. Follow the instructions to complete it!

Let’s learn more about the aerial in your BT TV setup and whether you need it or not!

Do I Need an Aerial For BT TV – The Answers You Need!

As of 2022, BT users no longer require an aerial to set up their BT TV Boxes!

This is one of the greatest additions the companies have added to their service since it saves so much time and headaches.

Having to set up an aerial along with your BT TV Box, just makes things more complicated and definitely not easier for the users.

However, there’s a slight catch to this!

• Connecting BT TV without an aerial will cause you to Lose Some Channels!

The broadcasts that your TV will lose are only free-to-air and are usually not added to your BT subscription.

In other words, most of the free channels you had by now will be lost if you install your cable box without an aerial.

After clarifying all of this, let’s get your BT TV set up without using an aerial!

How to Set Up BT TV – Simple Steps!

Keep in mind that if you wish to switch from an aerial to an aerial-free setup, you’ll have to remove it and carry out a Factory Reset on your TV Box.

It can be done through the settings of the device, at Reset > Factory Reset Software. Follow the on-screen prompts!

Here’s how to set up your BT TV box without using an aerial!

Step #1 Prepare your Devices & Cables

The first and most important step is to perform a check on all of the devices within your setup.

Since your BT TV box no longer requires an aerial, you must connect it to the smart hub now, rather than have a coaxial cable going through all parts of your house.

Let’s first review the functional devices you need:

• The BT TV Cable Box with the software that no longer requires aerial
• A TV with an available HDMI Input to connect to the box
• A BT Smart Hub connected with broadband supplied by the carrier

Here are the cables you’ll need for this whole thing:

• 3 Power Adapters for your TV, smart hub and cable box
• An HDMI Cable to connect your box to the TV
• An Ethernet Cable to hook up your BT TV Box and Smart Hub
• The Coax/Internet Cable going into your smart hub (should already be setup)

You shouldn’t worry about the internet cable going into your smart hub, since it has to be already provided by the technicians.

Note: Make sure that all of your devices are functional and that you’re using healthy cables.

Step #2 Connect BT Box to the TV

The next step in setting up your BT TV is Connecting it to the TV…

This is always done first, rather than hooking up the box to the Smart Hub directly, to check if you could view the device on the TV screen.

In this step, you’ll need the HDMI Cable we’ve talked about in the previous step, in order to set up your BT TV Box.

Here’s how to connect the BT TV Box to your TV in easy steps:

1. Grab the HDMI Cable and make sure it is functional.
2. Connect the HDMI’s first end to your Cable Box at the port on the back.
3. Plug the other end of the HDMI Into your TV.
4. Turn on both your TV and BT Box.
5. Grab the TV’s remote.
6. Press the Source Button.
7. Select the HDMI Source that answers to the port where the box is connected.
8. Check the output.

Immediately after selecting the BT TV Box in the TV’ source menu, the home screen or rather, setup instructions (based on the model) should appear.

Follow the designated on-screen instructions to set up your box’s basic details before adding any channels.

Note: Ensure that the HDMI cable is situated properly and doesn’t twist its hardware.

Step #3 Connect Broadband to Smart Hub

Before setting up the TV Box with your Smart Hub, the Broadband Cable must be connected.

If you want an aerial-free setup, you must have a Phone Jack inside of your home, that works as both broadband and an optional landline system.

• You’ll have to get a Coax cable and connect your Smart Hub with that very jack!

Follow these instructions to set up the broadband on your Hub:

1. Get a Coaxial Cable that is functional.
2. Place the Smart Hub near the phone jack on the wall.
3. Connect one of the coax’s ends to the phone jack
4. Plug the other end of the coax into your “Aerial In” Port on your Smart Hub.
5. Let the device set up the broadband.

Keep in mind that the phone jack on the wall is only going to be active if BT has led broadband to your house.

Make sure all of your fees towards BT are paid and that you have successfully subscribed for a Broadband Plan.

Note: The coax may require a little force to connect with the phone jack but don’t force it.

Step #4 Hook up the Box with the Smart Hub

Now that you have the BT TV Box connected to the TV, it’s time to get the Smart Hub into play.

Basically, your BT TV Box will be receiving all of its channels through the Broadband that goes into your smart hub and we’ve set that up in the last step.

However, care that the Smart Hub and the BT TV Box must be close to each other and the hub must also be close to the wall phone jack.

Make your setup so all of the devices in it are close to each other and Smart Hub’s Coax can reach the phone jack and connect.

How to Connect BT TV Box to Smart Hub:

1. Get the Ethernet Cable supplied with the delivery package.
2. Connect the first end of the cable to one of the Yellow Ports on your smart hub.
3. Plug the other end of the Ethernet into the “Ethernet IN” port on your box.
4. Wait…

Once you have connected the box to the hub, the display of your TV should flicker, identifying that the BT TV Box has now access to the internet.

Note: Make sure that the Ethernet Cable is situated naturally and is securely plugged in!

Step #5 Setup the Box’s Software

All of your cabling management should be done now!

Your BT TV Box has successfully hooked up with the hub’s broadband and now has internet connections and the ability to install channels.

However, before we conclude this, there’s one quick step and that is to set up the box’ software.

Once the box is connected to the hub, an On-Screen Setup will appear!

Here’s what to do:

1. Grab your BT TV Box Remote.
2. Point it at the box.
3. Press the TV/AV Button to begin the setup.
4. Wait for the instructions to appear on the TV screen.
5. Configure the box as you like.
6. Finish the setup.

The Software Setup will include all different types of options, including time zone, date, language and so on. Make sure you’re setting those up to you accordingly.

Note: Settings you’ve established during the first setup could be later changed in “Options”.

Quick Recap:

Hence, to set up a BT TV without an aerial, install the Hub and connect your box to the TV. Next, connect the box and the smart hub using an Ethernet cable and turn on all of your devices at once. Press the TV/AV button and follow the on-screen instructions.

Wrapping Up:

In this guide, we’ve answered how to set up BT TV and the easiest steps to do so.

We hope you’ve managed to install the box in your setup and get it up and running without the assistance of an aerial.

If you have any further questions, get in touch with BT!

Read Next: How Does BT TV Work?