How to Install a Converter Box to an Existing TV

A converter box shifts the digital signal sent from television stations into an analog signal, which allows it to be viewed by an older analog TV. If you have a newer digital-capable TV, or receive your TV signals from a cable or satellite service, you don't need a converter box. Your current system should work just fine. However, those with old-fashioned rabbit ears or rooftop antennas (and TVs which don't include digital conversion equipment of their own) need to purchase a box. Converter boxes retail for about $40 and are extremely easy to install.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Converter box
• TV
• Coaxial cable
• VCR (optional)
• RCA cables (optional)

1. Check the back of your TV for a coaxial input jack. This is a round outlet that looks a little like a flat screw. There's a pinhole in the center surrounded by milky white plastic. It will most likely be labeled "UHF/VHF" or "In From Antenna," and your rabbit ears or rooftop antenna will be attached to it.

2. Find a similar set of coaxial jacks on the back of your converter box. There should be two: one labeled "In" (or "In From Antenna") and one labeled "Out" (or "Out to TV").

3. Disconnect the antenna from the back of your TV and connect it to the "In From Antenna" jack on your converter box.

4. Attach one end of a coaxial cable to the "Out to TV" jack on your converter box and the other end to the "In From Antenna" jack on your TV. Most converter boxes come with a length of coaxial cable, and if yours doesn't, you can purchase a length of coaxial cable at most electronics stores for just a few dollars.

5. Turn on your TV and set the channel to 3 or 4. Turn on your converter box (using the remote if it has one), and follow any instructions which appear on the screen. That will complete the installation and allow you to watch TV as normal.

Tips & Warnings

• If you watch TV and change the channels through your VCR, you can still install a converter box into the system. Simply follow the installation steps as above, then connect an RCA cable between the "In" jacks on the back of your VCR and the RCA "Out" jacks on your converter. The RCA jacks are a series of three jacks, smaller than the coaxial jacks, and color-coded yellow, red and white. Set your VCR to receive signals from the converter by using the "Line" or "Line In" option on your remote.
• Once your digital converter is installed, do not change the channel on your TV or VCR. They will receive only snow. Change channels on the converter box only, and use it to tune any stations you wish to record on your VCR.