How to Hook Up an HDTV Converter Box
By February of 2009 all television stations in the U.S. will be required to switch to High Definition broadcasting systems. This means that if you still use an antenna (or don't have cable or a satellite dish) for TV reception, there will be only fuzz after this year. The government is issuing up to two coupons per U.S. household for "free" HDTV converter boxes. The coupon covers most of the cost, but the cheapest box will still cost about ten dollars. The good thing is that the box is relatively easy to install, it only takes about fifteen minutes and you can often gain new local channels already only broadcasting in HiDef.
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Things You'll Need
- HDTV converter box
- Analog television
- Television antenna
- Audio/Video cord
Instructions
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1
Unpack the entire contents of the HDTV converter box and make sure all parts are included.
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2
Turn the television off and unhook the antenna from the analog television set. It should be connected with a white or black coaxial cable at the "cable TV in" port.
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3
Connect the television antenna to the HDTV converter box at the "antenna in" port on the back.
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4
Use your own audio/video cords if you have them for easy installation on televisions with A/V input jacks.
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5
Plug the color coded A/V cord into the designated outlet for each color on the back of the converter box.
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6
Plug the other end of the A/V cord into the designated colored jack in the "video in" port. If there is more than one "video in" port on the back of the television. Use whichever you like, but plug all three cord ends into the same jack line.
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Use the short coaxial cable included with most HDTV converter boxes if there are no audio/video jacks on the back of the television. Attach one end of the coaxial cable in to the jack you disconnected the antenna from and the other in to the jack labeled "output to TV" on the back of the converter box.
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8
Set up the new remote control to control the volume and channels of the television through the new HDTV converter box. The remote controls will all differ slightly, but should come with a programming list of codes for televisions. Follow the remote control instructions for proper set up and programming. If there were no instructions included, go to the web site of the manufacturer or return the converter box.
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Tips & Warnings
Chances are installing a new HDTV converter box on your television will bring some new channels already only broadcasting in HiDef, but you will lose some that are not. Using a Smart Antenna can take care of this problem.
Always unplug electronics before installing new parts.
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Comments
View all 7 Comments-
Not sure just yet.
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caseyatbat
Dec 24, 2008
vitus: Yes. My old TV has a built-in VCR and has been hooked up to a DVD player for years. There is a simple hook-up between antenna and TV. That is a no-sweat proposition. Good luck on programming that remote, though. Remember....patience!
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caseyatbat
Dec 24, 2008
vitus: Yes. My old TV has a built-in VCR and has been hooked up to a DVD player for years. There is a simple hook-up between antenna and TV. That is a no-sweat proposition. Good luck on programming that remote, though. Remember....patience!
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caseyatbat
Dec 24, 2008
Hooking the box between the rabbit ears and the old TV is no big deal, Lucille - it's programming the remote that drove me crazy. What I beleive the problem is: a few of the TV stations in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area have not converted to HDTV transmission and that is why I cannot receive them (when the converter box is turned on - when it is off I can receive these stations). Simple it ain't, Luigi. It takes effort and thinking but it's worth it in the long run. The picture is so much better than the old pic (B.F.C. [before converter box]) there is little in comparison between the two.
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caseyatbat
Dec 24, 2008
Hooking the box between the rabbit ears and the old TV is no big deal, Lucille - it's programming the remote that drove me crazy. What I beleive the problem is: a few of the TV stations in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area have not converted to HDTV transmission and that is why I cannot receive them (when the converter box is turned on - when it is off I can receive these stations). Simple it ain't, Luigi. It takes effort and thinking but it's worth it in the long run. The picture is so much better than the old pic (B.F.C. [before converter box]) there is little in comparison between the two.
