Connecting A Converter Box to TV or VCR

Snapshot:

• A DIGITAL TV CONVERTER BOX lets you watch new DIGITAL TV channels on older, ANALOG TV sets or VCRs (videocassette recorders).

• A converter box is basically a DIGITAL TV, but with no viewing screen or sound system.  It uses your older TV to show the picture and play the sound.

• A converter box needs an ANTENNA connected to it to receive the TV signal.

• After you connect a converter box to your TV or VCR, the converter box is the channel changer.

HOW TO CONNECT A DIGITAL TV CONVERTER BOX TO YOUR TV (If you're connecting to a VCR, see the section at the bottom.) 

Following are basic connection instructions.  You should also use the instructions that came with the converter box.  Other helpful links are provided at the end of this page.  For a detailed discussion of converter boxes, click here. 

1.    Unpack the converter box from its packaging.  You should have these items:

• converter box (it will have an attached power cord or a separate power adapter)
• remote control with batteries
• connector cable (to connect the converter box to a TV or VCR) (has connectors on each end that screw on or push on)
• OPTIONAL: audio-video connector cable (with yellow-white-red plugs on both ends)
• Converter instruction book or user manual. 
  

2.    Install the batteries in the remote control.

The user manual has instructions for installing the batteries.


3.  Move the TV so that you can reach the TV antenna and input connections, usually on the back of the TV. 
 
BE CAREFUL especially if the TV is heavy, or on a table or in a high location.  Get help moving the TV if necessary.
Unplug the TV before moving it, or as soon as you can after moving it.


4.  Put the converter box in the location where it will stay.

Put the converter box in its permanent location, or close to it.  This can be on top of the TV or beside it.  Some converter models can be placed on their side, standing up, next to the TV.  But the front of the converter box needs to be near the front of the TV so that the converter remote control can shine on the converter box. 

Then plug the converter box into a power source, or plug in the separate power adapter and connect it to the converter box.


5.  Connect the TV antenna to the converter box.

Disconnect the TV antenna from the TV and connect it to the jack on the converter box that is labeled "antenna in" or "from antenna" or "RF in" (this will be a "screw on" jack with a hole in the middle.)  The antenna connection should screw onto the converter jack.  Most modern antenna wires have a screw-on plug that will fit the antenna jack.

Some TVs have their antenna built in to the top of the TV.  You can try to use that antenna as long as the antenna wire connecting to the TV can be disconnected from the TV and connected to the converter instead.

If you don't have an antenna connected to the TV you are using, you will need to get one and connect it before the converter will work.  For information on antennas, click here.

OOPS: what if the antenna has two wires instead of a round plug?  Older antennas may have a flat antenna wire with two wire tips or spades that connect to the TV antenna jack with screws.  If your antenna has these two wires, you need to get an inexpensive "twin lead matching transformer" (such as Radio Shack model 15-1253).  Connect the two antenna wires to the two screw terminals on the transformer, then attach the transformer to the converter antenna  jack.

6.  Choose the type of connection you will use to connect the converter box to the TV.  There are two ways to connect the converter box to the TV:

CONNECTION A: Use a LINE INPUT connection to the TV. 

See if your TV has a "LINE INPUT" connection on the back (sometimes also on the front).  This will be two or three round jacks, close together. One jack is colored yellow, for video; the others are colored white (mono sound) or white and red (stereo sound).  This kind of connection provides the highest quality picture and sound connection.  It is also used to connect a video game, VCR, or DVD player to a TV.  If your TV has this type of connection, try using it, as follows:

• You need a three-wire AUDIO-VIDEO cable.  The plugs on both ends will be colored yellow, white, and red.  This cable may be included with the converter box package, or your will need to provide one.
  

• Connect the yellow, white, and red plugs of the cable to the same colored jacks on the back of the converter box.  Connect the plugs on the other end of the cable to the line input jacks on the TV.  If there is more than one line input on the TV, remember the number of the line input you are using so you can choose the correct one on the TV.

• Turn on the converter box with the converter remote control.  Plug the TV back in and turn it on, and use the required TV command or menu to switch to the line input (or "video input" or "source") that the converter box is connected to.  You should see a picture of a welcome picture or a setup menu from the converter box.

• If you do get a picture from the converter box on the TV, move the TV back to its permanent position.
  

• If you don't get a picture from the converter box, check to be sure the converter is on (it has an "on" light), and that the converter remote is working properly (it should be able to turn the converter on and off), and that you have chosen the correct line input on the TV.  Make sure the converter signal shows up on the TV before you move the TV back in place. 

CONNECTION B: Use the ANTENNA connection to the TV.

If your TV does not have an available LINE INPUT you can use, you can use the TV antenna connection.

• Get the antenna connector cable that came with the converter box.

• Connect one end of the cable to the converter box jack marked "to TV," "TV set out," "RF out," or similar.  Some cables have a "screw on" connector, and others have a "push on" connector.

• Connect the other end of the cable to the TV antenna input jack.  On most TVs, the antenna has the same screw-on jack as the  converter box. 

OOPS: what if the TV's antenna connection is just two screws?  TVs more than 20 years old might have just a screw antenna connection. If so, you need to get an inexpensive "matching transformer" (available at consumer electronics stores; one example is Radio Shack model 15-1140).  Connect the cable from the converter to the transformer, then attach the two transformer screw spades to the TV's antenna connection screws.


 

•  Some converter boxes have a small switch on the back to choose an output on channel 3 or channel 4.  You should set the switch to the output channel that is NOT the same as a local TV station channel.  For example, if you have a channel 4 TV station in your area, set the converter channel switch to channel 3.

• Turn on the converter with the converter remote control.  Plug the TV back in and turn it on, and use TV channel selector to tune the TV set to channel 3 or 4.  You should see a welcome picture or setup menu from the converter box.

• If you do get a picture from the converter box on the TV, move the TV back to its permanent position.
  

• If you do not get a picture from the converter box, check to be sure the converter is on (it has on "on" light), and that the converter remote is working properly (it should be able to turn the converter on and off), and that you have chosen channel 3 or 4 on the TV.  Make sure the converter signal gets to the TV before you move the TV back in place.
  

(Note: if the converter box is connected to the TV using the antenna input, the sound of the digital TV channels will not be heard in stereo.)


7.  Set up the digital TV channels for viewing.

When they are first turned on, many converter boxes will show a setup menu or wizard, or you can choose the setup menu.  This will let you set up basic functions, and the main one is for the converter box to find and memorize the digital channels.  This is also called a channel "scan." Find out what digital channels you should be able to tune in your area by clicking here.  Then refer to the user manual to scan for or enter the local digital TV channels. 

Watching TV with a converter box. Remember:

• You must turn on both the TV set and the converter box to watch TV

• The converter box input must be selected on the TV (either the "line in" source, or the TV tuner on channel 3 or 4)

• You use the converter remote control to change digital TV channels

• Digital channels are numbered with a dot or dash, like this: channel 6.1 or 6-1. 

8.  Learn the remote control and converter box functions. 

Converter box remote controls have many useful functions. The TV viewers should read their user manual to learn what they can control.

Converter boxes themselves let viewers make many adjustments, which the TV viewers should review.  The viewing adjustments may include:

• setting the menu language
• setting the clock time and local time zone (for the TV guide)
• editing the list of channels that are tuned in
• setting the ASPECT RATIO (the shape of the TV picture)
• choosing different languages (some programs broadcast a second language soundtrack)
• turning on/off closed captions and setting the color and size
• setting a parental code and setting the program rating levels that require the parental code to be entered
• setting the automatic shutoff timer (the factory preset is 4 hours.  If you turn on the converter box, it will turn off in 4 hours unless you change the timer).

CONNECTING A CONVERTER BOX TO A VCR

If your TV antenna is connected to a VCR (videocassette recorder), and you want to connect a converter box to the VCR so you can record programs from digital TV channels:

• Go through the same steps 1 through 5, above.

• For step 6, follow the same instructions, but instead of connecting the converter box to a TV, connect it to a VCR. You can use the VCR's "LINE INPUT" connections, if available, to connect the converter box.
  

• Otherwise, use the VCR's "antenna connection" to connect the converter box. 
  

• You should be able to watch the converter channels on the VCR (either with the "LINE INPUT" selected, or with channel 3 or 4 selected).  You can record the converter channel coming through the VCR.
  

• Watch the VCR output on your TV the same way you do now.
  

Here are more references for connecting converter boxes:

Converter Quick Start Hookup Guide 

FCC Consumer Facts: Setting up Converter Box (Basic)

FCC Consumer Facts: Setting up Converter box (Basic with Twin Lead Antenna)

FCC Consumer Facts: Setting up Converter Box with a VCR

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CAPITALIZED WORDS are defined in the Digital TV Glossary.