How to Fix Rabbit Ears on a TV

You were adjusting the reception when, oh no! One of the rabbit ears got bent! What to do?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rabbit Ears
• Screwdriver Sets

1. Turn off and unplug the television.

2. Retract the rabbit ears if possible.

3. Unscrew the antenna unit - the unit holding the rabbit ears - from the TV.

4. Unscrew the broken rabbit ear from the base of the antenna unit. Set the screw and any washers aside.

5. Take the broken rabbit ear to an electronics store and find a replacement that's the same width and length. If the rabbit ear is broken and you are not sure of the overall length, bring both parts of the broken rabbit ear with you to the store.

6. Look at the base of the replacement rabbit ear. Compare the width of the small tab where the rabbit ear will screw into the base. The replacement should have the same width tab as the broken one, or it will not fit into the base.

7. Take the replacement home, and screw the replacement rabbit ear into the base of the antenna unit.

8. Screw the antenna unit into the television, extend the rabbit ears and plug in the TV again.

Tips & Warnings

• Bent rabbit ears work fine. Only broken ones - creased and/or snapped - should be replaced.
• A completely new set of rabbit ears, already screwed into the base, may cost only a few dollars more than a replacement part.

[jrnation88]

on 7/30/2009 I Worked for the Digital TV call center to answer questions about converter boxes and antennas. What I would recommend would be to get new antennas. You will not get the maximum reception from that one if it is broken. They have antennas cheap at Family Dollar, Big Lots, Rite Aid, Wal Mart!

[annvans]

on 4/18/2009 Thanks for the info, wish I would have known this about a year ago when I needed to fix my rabbit ears.