http://codawebsolutions.com/img/outlet.gif

Is this some kind of twin-lead jack? I'm hoping so. I took a pic of the jack to radio shack and they tried to tell me it's a European power jack. To be sure I tried all of the attachments on our international travel power converter thing, none fit.

I live in a condo built in the 60s or 70s with about 14 units per building. There's a large outdoor antenna on the top of each building.

Anyone ever seen anything like this? I think there actually was a connector plugged into in when we first moved in a few years ago but I threw it away thinking we'd never use it. Now that I ditched the cable box for a HTPC I'm very much interested in tapping into that outdoor antenna. Any info is greatly appreciated.

That looks like an old twin lead wall plate, you can double check there is no voltage at it with a multitester if you want to make sure.

Yeah, I'd say it's some kind of antenna hookup. It doesn't look electrical, as it seems to have male pins inside... I'd take the plate off to get a better idea of what exactly it's connected to. If there is 300 ohm twin lead connected to it (which I'm sure there is, but you never know), you can convert it to a standard coax jack by connecting the twinlead to a balun and then connect the balun to a coax wall plate.

I'd take the plate off to get a better idea of what exactly it's connected to. If there is 300 ohm twin lead connected to it (which I'm sure there is, but you never know), you can convert it to a standard coax jack by connecting the twinlead to a balun and then connect the balun to a coax wall plate.Yup.

Yeah, I'd say it's some kind of antenna hookup. It doesn't look electrical, as it seems to have male pins inside... I'd take the plate off to get a better idea of what exactly it's connected to. If there is 300 ohm twin lead connected to it (which I'm sure there is, but you never know), you can convert it to a standard coax jack by connecting the twinlead to a balun and then connect the balun to a coax wall plate.

Awesome idea. I'll open it up check it out and convert it if possible. Thanks!

I took off the wall plate. It's not twin lead inside. Here are some pics:

http://codawebsolutions.com/img/outlet1.gifhttp://codawebsolutions.com/img/outlet2.gifhttp://codawebsolutions.com/img/outlet3.gif

Looks like a much thicker wire and there's some kind of circuitry on the connector. Nothing I've ever seen before.

Is this something that can be converted to a coax wall plate? Many thanks in advance. I'm definitely out of my element here :)

A part of me was expecting that. I saw a post on another forum from a guy who described the exact same "euro style" wall jack, and found it was connect to a 12 ga wire which ran to the roof, and a ground wire which ran to his basement. Everyone suggested it might be an old AM radio antenna.

I'm not sure if you can do anything with this or not.

Looks like a much thicker wire and there's some kind of circuitry on the connector. Nothing I've ever seen before.

Is this something that can be converted to a coax wall plate? Many thanks in advance. I'm definitely out of my element here :)

Very interesting. Is that a coax cable or some other type of cable. Maybe they ran coax cable, but assumed each room would be using twin-lead, but that's a guess.

Is it on the inspection for the condo? I'm assuming this building used to be an apartment building?

Did you test it for voltages? Always be very wary of wires, especially those which cannot be identified.

from the pictures it sure looks like coax with a built in 75 ohm to 300 ohm balum. Only way to be absolutely sure is sacrafice one outlet and unscrew the clamp bar (shown with two retaining screws) and see if it's clamping the braid (ground) on the cable/coax.

from the pictures it sure looks like coax with a built in 75 ohm to 300 ohm balum. Only way to be absolutely sure is sacrafice one outlet and unscrew the clamp bar (shown with two retaining screws) and see if it's clamping the braid (ground) on the cable/coax.

Yup. Terminate with an F-connector and off you go.

There's a large outdoor antenna on the top of each building.

Can you tell if the antenna is VHF only or VHF/UHF? If VHF only, it may not be up to par for DTV. Let us know how it goes.

I would recommend compression connectors. If you have a Lowe's around they should carry them. I found compressions to be much easier to deal with than crimps.

Can you tell if the antenna is VHF only or VHF/UHF? If VHF only, it may not be up to par for DTV. Let us know how it goes.

I would recommend compression connectors. If you have a Lowe's around they should carry them. I found compressions to be much easier to deal with than crimps.

I have no clue what type of antenna it is. I've read elsewhere that compression is the preferred method these days, especially compared to push on. I don't think the wire is hot. I threw my screwdriver at it and there weren't any sparks (highly scientific I know :)). I have a multimeter and I can try a few settings, not sure which ones. I'll look that up too. I'll post the results here regardless.

I have no clue what type of antenna it is. I've read elsewhere that compression is the preferred method these days, especially compared to push on.Compression is better, but for a one time use, I'd borrow something, or go cheap.

Look at the antennas on SolidSignal, or Stark Electronics, for ideas on what type of antenna you are dealing with. In all likelyhood, for multidwelling use, it's probably a VHF / UHF yagi, sorta like this:

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=HD8200U&xzoom=Large#xview