How to Use a TV Monitor

A 17-inch desktop TV monitor.

A TV monitor can be used primarily in four ways: to watch cable or satellite programming, to play video games, to watch digital media such as movies on DVD and Blu-Ray, and to view and hear information on a personal computer or laptop. Most new TV monitors are equipped with a variety of connection options on the back panel, such as RCA and S-video jacks, component video jacks, coaxial jacks for cable and satellite reception, and VGA inputs, which are the multi-prong jacks for connecting a monitor to a computer. DVD players and video game consoles use RCA plugs and jacks. Cable and satellite systems rely on a threaded coaxial cable that screws into the coaxial jack on the back of the TV monitor. Computers can be connected to a TV monitor via a stragith VGA jack or by using an adapter to connect with older televisions.

Things You'll Need

• TV monitor External equipment such as a DVD player, cable box, video game console or computer

Instructions

How to Use a TV Monitor

1. Disconnect power to all equipment before making connections.

2. Connect DVD and Blu-Ray players or video game consoles by plugging the red RCA jack from the device into the red (right channel) audio input jack of the TV, the black RCA jack from the device to the black (left channel) input jack on the TV, and the yellow (video) jack to the video input jack on the back of the TV.

3. Make a note of which device is connected to which TV input. If the DVD player is connected to input 1 on the TV, you'll need to use the TV remote control to select Video Input 1. Similarly, if a gaming system is connected to input 2, press the remote control input button to Video Input 2.

4. Use the single S-video or component video cable and jack for components equipped with these types of connections. S-video and component video cables deliver a superior signal over RCA-type connections.

5. Connect cable and satellite receivers by screwing the threaded coaxial cable from the receiver into the coaxial jack on the back of the TV monitor.

6. Connect a computer to a TV monitor by attaching a VGA jack to the computer jack for connecting a monitor and screwing in the two bolts used to secure the plug to the computer.

7. Connect the other end of the computer cable directly to newer TVs equipped with computer-compatible jacks, or use an adapter with a VGA plug for the computer on one end and RCA or S-cable jacks on the other end for plugging into the TV monitor.

8. Reconnect the power to all equipment.

9. Verify the correct TV input for the device you wish to use.

10. Adjust the resolution of your computer when connecting to an old tube-type TV, as the TV resolution will be lower than what a computer monitor is capable of producing. A setting of 800x600 pixels is a good starting point to adjust the resolution for optimum quality on an older TV monitor.

Tips & Warnings

• Always disconnect the power before hooking up electronic equipment.