How to Program a Digital Cable Box

Digital cable delivers shimmering picture and sound

Digital cable provides razor-sharp video and crystal-clear audio. Unlike dad's old cable service, digital cable requires more extensive setup and programming, with numeric codes from the cable company to activate and program the box. Most professional installers will connect the box to the TV with standard coaxial cable, but other jacks that can deliver superior picture and sound are available for hooking up AV cables .

Things You'll Need

• Component AV cables
• TV

Instructions

1. Turn on the cable box and the TV, then press the "Cbl" or "Cable" button on the remote control until the LED starts blinking on the remote.

2. Enter the numeric code that came with the cable box using the keypad on the remote control. The code is typically printed on a sticker attached to the cable box or in the instruction manual.

3. Press the "Enter" button to complete the programming.

4. Call the cable service using the telephone number provided to activate certain services such as pay-per-view, which must be set up by the cable company from its offices.

5. Press the "Menu" button on the remote control and use the up and down arrow keys to reach "Settings" to adjust operation of the cable box to personal preferences, such as aspect ration for widescreen TV sets.

Tips & Warnings

• Use component cables instead of coaxial cable to connect the box to the TV. The red, green and blue video plugs connect to the Video OUT jacks on the cable box and Video IN jacks on the TV. The white and red plugs connect to left and right audio, respectively.

• Always unplug the cable boxes and TV from the electricity while connecting AV cables.

References

• The Clicker: Setting up your cable box