Hooking up a Digital TV Converter Box

I know the video is 4 years too late. But, I'll be canceling cable TV soon and wanted to make a video that shows a perspective for some people that may have cable or satellite and simply forgot about the transition.

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[bigcountrybumpkin]

This video, although 8 years old, was EXTREMELY helpful, I've got an old CRT Television that I've had for quite some time, I used to use it to watch cable television but ever since we cancelled it I've never had the time to use it, or never had the care more like it, once I put away my old SNES and ATARI 2600 I never used it for anything, but after seeing this video I can finally start using it again as I've tracked down a shiny set of snap on rabbit ears like you've got (it has the mounting point for them) and I can still buy a converter box from some box stores, and I can finally enjoy watching the tube again!

[nicolascuenca]

This was great. Not a lot of tutorials on this subject matter. Not sure why so many people disliked this tutorial. I just got a portable RCA tv from 1976 that only has screw terminals as inputs and now I know a little bit more about the lingo so I can start searching on how to input with twin leads. You got my like and sub.

[TheAdventuresOfJimiJaden]

Sweet, I have a 1986 Mitsubishi TV at home and we’re finally cancelling Cox. Our family has had converter boxes before between 2009-2014. My family has flat screens now and they stream their shit, I still watch TV and VCR. This is the only video I’ve seen where I’ve seen a person hook up a converter box to a TV with antennas that are part of it, or attached to it, especially the kinds of TV’s from the 70’s. Usually I’m seeing TVs from the 90s and beyond being hooked up with a converter box. This is really useful because my TV also has rabbit ears built into them, it can also be unscrewed I think. My TV has the pitchforks and the coaxial, so this is perfect. Though instead of the knobs, its buttons with a glowing number channel screen above them.

[sandrastawski]

Thank you so much! You explained everything so clearly and perfectly, that we resuscitated our old portable black and white TV. So awesome.

[louiseogden]

Excellent video. I'm having enough trouble getting good reception on a digital TV set in my bedroom. I'm having to route things through an Xbox and a signal booster to get anything I actually want to watch.

My mum and dad chucked out our old CRT TV but I'd have use for it now for retro gaming.

[ocass]

I always had a sweet spot for seeing an image through a CRT Television set. Although flatscreen HDTVS don't have an obnoxious ringing and usually have professionally put together guides, there was always something about a bulky CRT with those vibrant colors that triggered my nostalgia.

[evankolar]

That TV is so cool looking! I love the wood grain! Now I can use my old TV just like anybody else can! The new TV’s are made so cheap! These are made to last!

[lovelove-olvg]

I am so happy I found this video. my boyfriend just bought me at flea market a table top RCA victor Tv I was happy cause he knows I love vintage items Ur video is exactly what I was looking for omgoodness thank u can't wait to buy this pieces I need

[supergamer-xt]

Time to say goodbye to analog TV for the last time tomorrow at 11:59 pm.

[OfficialKuyaJebi]

GMA Affordabox, the digital TV box unit in the Philippines, also has the two RF terminals; the RF in is for the antenna, and the antenna out is connected to the TV set. Instead of ATSC, the box receives DTV signals using the Japanese ISDB-Tb system.

[IAmNotAFunguy]

Another thing worth mentioning is that if you have a stereo TV or VCR with RCA(red/white/yellow) inputs, you will only get sound output in stereo by hooking up the box with those cables. In that case you want to find the A/V input mode on your TV or VCR.

[hakemon]

You can use the red and white RCA jacks directly on the back of the converter box and connect that directly to a stereo. If you mean about the coax then yes, it doesn't have built in MTS (stereo encoder) built into the converter so it's coax is mono only.

[ItsTheKris]

I appreciate this video immensely. Everything about it. 5 stars. My only thing is the TV I was working on had a fine tuner on it.

[RPatzshun]

Thank you so much for this. I have an old tv with built in VHS that I wanted to use and I bought a converter box that doesn't mention using the co-axel cord, and I was clueless. Couldn't figure out how to get it to work! Thanks for helpin out an old lady with no technical skills!

[kensmith]

Still useful info
the thing is a "BALUN" for "BALanced to UNbalanced" converter. It gets pronounced as that.
The 2nd thing is also called "BALUN". A nifty thing about BALUNs is that they work both ways.
Converters usually output on CH3 or CH4 remind people to select that channel/
After you get the converter working do the "scan for channels" thing on it. It will be in its menu.
You may have to fiddle with the rabbit ears to get the most stable picture on any given channel.
I get about 100 channels on rabbit ears.
Your mileage may vary.

[agentstepheng]

Just bought a "Spirit of 76" TV at a garage sale yesterday.  Going to use this information to use it!!

[hakemon]

Any adapter will work, though some work better than others. Digital Stream is one of the better ones. All you truly need is a UHF for most channels, and VHF antenna for the VHF ones. I believe a powered antenna will help, as long as it has both bands. "Digital antennas" are nothing but glorified UHF antennas, which doesn't always help. For example, here in Orlando, channel 2 WESH is actually VHF despite being digital.

[IAmNotAFunguy]

Also, if you have a VCR connected to your old TV you want to connect the cable going out from the box to the back of your VCR instead of your TV. That way you can still use the VCR for watching pre-recorded tapes and can also use the DTV converter box to tune and record channels with the VCR.

[ZuneTech]

Interesting that there are still technologies that bring CRT TVs back to life!

[joelpuromula]

What type of converter is that and where can I buy it? 😕