In connection with the transition of television broadcasting from analogue to digital, many people have a question: “How to do this?” How to prepare for the transition and what you need to purchase for this, how to connect an old TV to a digital set-top box. There are several options.
- Option 1. If you have a TV made in 2012 or younger, then you don’t need to do anything. New generation TVs already have built-in digital signal receiving devices. For example, Toshiba TV, Sharp TV.
- Option 2. If the TV is manufactured before 2012. In order for a TV older than this year to receive a digital signal, you will need to buy a digital set-top box or receiver. This device will receive the signal and transmit it to the TV.
- Option 3. If you have a TV with a picture tube or a tube TV, it is best to buy a new one. Because old TVs are not designed to receive digital numbers.
In this article we will look at the second option, how to connect an old TV to a digital set-top box. For this you need a good antenna and DVB-T2 set-top boxes. Digital set-top boxes come in different types and modifications. But there is only one task - to receive a digital signal and decrypt it. The cost of purchasing a set-top box will be small. Their price is from 700 rubles and above.
The antenna can be used indoors or outdoors. If the repeater is located near the house, then an indoor antenna will do. She will receive the signal well. If this is not the case, then an external antenna is needed to receive the signal.
Options for connecting an old TV to digital
Let's look at the example of connecting to an old Samsung TV. This method is suitable for Panasonic TV and others. To connect a digital TV to an old TV, use a SCART to RCA adapter. It consists of colored connectors called tulips. On the TV panel we find the following connectors and connect them according to color: yellow to yellow, red to red, white to white. The yellow cable is responsible for video, red and white for audio. We find the same connectors on the tuner and connect to them. We carry out all manipulations only with the device turned off.
After connecting the set-top box, turn on the device to the network.
After turning on the TV, it must be switched to AV mode. To do this, press the AV/TV button on the remote control. And select the mode we need. To automatically search for channels, click on “Auto search”. If you want to search for channels manually, then select manual search accordingly.
Differences in the purpose of TV boxes
The term “TV set-top boxes” generalizes devices with different purposes:
- digital IPTV set-top boxes (receivers);
- gaming consoles;
- smart boxes or flash consoles.
The functionality of these devices differs significantly. Receivers are needed to ensure high-quality viewing of digital television on old analog TV receivers. Game consoles, as a rule, provide a small selection of games flashed into the device's memory. A TV set-top box on Android or an alternative operating system allows you to expand the scope of your TV to the level of a computer screen.
Despite the target differences, the form factors of the devices listed above are similar, and the methods of physical connection to the TV receiver are common. Digital receivers are most often connected to TVs via scart connectors. This is a universal European standard for interconnecting consumer electronics devices. For example, a satellite digital receiver is connected to a Samsung TV using a two-way cable of this universal standard.
How to set up the Selenga set-top box. Real connection experience
How to set up the Selenga set-top box. Real connection experience
Step-by-step instructions for connecting an old TV to a set-top box
- We connect the set-top box to the antenna.
- When the device is turned off, we find red, yellow and white connectors on the TV panel.
- We insert the connectors in strict accordance with the color.
- We connect to the console.
- We plug it into the network.
- We connect the TV to AV mode through the menu or the remote control button.
- We enable automatic channel search. To do this, use the receiver's remote control to enter the menu. Select “channel search”, then “auto search”. We wait a few minutes. You can also do it manually.
What to do if the TV doesn't work
Sometimes it happens that the TV does not work despite the fact that a tuner is connected to it. The causes of problems vary; the most common ones are described below.
Antenna
One of the most common problems is an incorrectly installed antenna. Make sure the antenna receives the signal well. Ideally, it should be installed outdoors, but sometimes it works indoors. Try twisting it in different directions and see if the signal level changes depending on this.
Sometimes the TV does not work because the cable is damaged. Make sure it is not torn anywhere. See if it is screwed into the connector on the console well.
TV settings
Even old TVs had several operating modes - for receiving an analog signal, connecting to DVD, etc. It is possible that the set-top box is not working due to incorrect TV settings. Try switching different modes, your task is to find and select AV mode. It is designed to work with external devices, for example, tuners.
What to do if the TV shows a black and white image
It happens that when you connect a DVB-T2 digital set-top box, the picture becomes black and white and not color. The problem lies in SCART or “tulips”. Most likely, there was a partial wire break. Because of this, the TV shows the picture incorrectly.
How to connect two or more TVs to a set-top box
You can also connect several TVs to a digital set-top box. But in this case they will show synchronously. A splitter is used to split a digital signal into several.
If you would like to watch different channels on different TVs, then you need to purchase separate receivers for them.
But there is one way to connect several TVs to one set-top box. This is to use a high frequency modulator. But its price is several times higher than the cost of the set-top box.
Solving the main difficulties
When connecting a set-top box to a TV, there are several main difficulties.
- The TV does not see the receiver
- Can't set up channels
- Bad image
A number of actions are possible to address these issues. Check the serviceability of the receiver. To do this, check again that the plugs are connected correctly. See if the wires are broken. And also try connecting it to another TV. If other TVs do not recognize it, then take it back to the store and exchange it using the warranty card.
To set up channels, it is best to use automatic search.
A poor digital TV picture may indicate that the antenna is not positioned correctly. Try turning the outdoor antenna towards the repeater. Often this is the reason that affects image quality.
Conclusion. In the article we have given several ways to connect an old TV to a digital set-top box. Using our recommendations and following the instructions, you can switch to digital television without any problems.
Internet access using a smart set-top box
In order to be able to watch Internet television channels on your TV, you need to organize Internet access on the set-top box. There may be several options.
- If an Internet cable from a provider is supplied to the apartment specifically for a TV with a connected smart set-top box, then the connection is made through the LAN network port on the media device.
LAN network port
- A local network connection option is possible. In this case, the set-top box and the Internet source should be connected with a network cable, and the provider’s cable should be connected to the router via the LAN port.
- If the smart set-top box is equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter, then a wireless connection is possible through an organized point (router).
You will need to configure the Internet access mode appropriate for your connection method. In the case of a wired connection via a LAN port, you need to select the Ethernet network type (cable) in the setup menu of the set-top box and activate it.
As a rule, all network parameters are set automatically, otherwise you can use manual settings (the order depends on the device model and is specified in the operating instructions).
When connecting via Wi-Fi, you must activate the wireless type of Internet access. The device operating system will search for available points. In the list provided, you need to select the name of your network to connect and enter the security code (password).
If the console does not have a suitable output
It is possible that there are connectors on the digital tuner and the TV for AV reception and transmission, but they are not connected to each other in any way. What to do in this case?
- change the TV receiver or set-top box;
- use adapters.
Here are just some scenarios for using such adapters:
- If your new set-top box only supports HDMI output, use a converter to RCA. Some loss of quality is inevitable (for example, high-definition channels will not be shown), but the signal will be correctly decomposed into three old directions into video and audio for the right and left speakers. The asking price is about 500 rubles.
- If you are using a plasma or LCD TV (Sony, Onida and others, released in the late 90s - early 2000s), an old VGA video connector may be installed there. For such cases, HDMI-VGA adapters exist and are actively sold. However, when using them, you need to remember: to transmit sound to the TV, you additionally need a separate wire (usually a 3.5 mm Jack).
- There may also be problems with SCART and S-Video compatibility. In this case, an adapter is also used. Most models also support triple RCA output.
Setting up channels
Immediately after connecting the set-top box for digital television, you need to start setting up the equipment. The number of channels directly depends on the type of television broadcasting: terrestrial, cable, satellite. Today, 2 multiplexes are successfully operating. This means that each subscriber will be able to tune in about 20 channels, including regional programs.
There are a huge number of different digital TV providers operating in Russia, which provide the opportunity to configure viewing of additional channels. The size of the monthly subscription fee largely depends on which tariff plan the user chooses.
The process for setting up digital channels on an older TV also varies depending on the type of connection. For example, the Rostelecom company issues a special card to its clients, which is then inserted into the module. This device provides decoding of encoded signals.
To go to setting up channels, take the remote control and press the signal source selection button, mostly it is labeled as “Input”, “AV/TV”, “Source”. A list of sources will appear on the screen, select the one you need.
To start searching for digital channels on old TVs, click on the “Auto Search” button. Wait a couple of minutes until the process of searching for available TV channels is completed. Save the channels. If necessary, you can sort them by changing the location of TV channels.
Required Equipment
To view DV you definitely need a receiver. First, it is recommended to study the instructions for the TV, since many TVs, for example, from and Philips, are already equipped with the necessary equipment.
This is indicated in the user manual and in this case there will be no need to incur additional financial expenses for the purchase of the set-top box.
If the TV is not equipped with such a unit, then based on the user’s personal needs, you need to buy a receiver with a suitable set of functions.
For example, if a TV owner prefers to use flash drives to watch movies recorded on them, then it is better to ensure that the set-top box has a USB connector.
The components included with the device include everything necessary to quickly put it into operation.
Typically this list includes the following:
- Instructions;
- “RCA” wire or as people used to call it: “Tulip” or “HDMI” cable;
- The tuner itself, that is, the set-top box;
- Cardboard box with a picture of the device and its brief characteristics;
- DU;
- Batteries for remote control;
- Power unit;
- Warranty documents.
Sometimes the list of components of individual budget models may lack a cable or other important element, without which it becomes impossible to connect the equipment.
In this case, you need to separately purchase the missing components and only then proceed to connect the device to the TV.
If the console does not have a suitable output
It is possible that there are connectors on the digital tuner and the TV for AV reception and transmission, but they are not connected to each other in any way. What to do in this case?
- change the TV receiver or set-top box;
- use adapters.
Here are just some scenarios for using such adapters:
- If your new set-top box only supports HDMI output, use a converter to RCA. Some loss of quality is inevitable (for example, high-definition channels will not be shown), but the signal will be correctly decomposed into three old directions into video and audio for the right and left speakers. The asking price is about 500 rubles.
- If you are using a plasma or LCD TV (Sony, Onida and others, released in the late 90s - early 2000s), an old VGA video connector may be installed there. For such cases, HDMI-VGA adapters exist and are actively sold. However, when using them, you need to remember: to transmit sound to the TV, you additionally need a separate wire (usually a 3.5 mm Jack).
- There may also be problems with SCART and S-Video compatibility. In this case, an adapter is also used. Most models also support triple RCA output.
