Help. Luddite in need of assistance

[cinders]

I am what some people call a luddite, but not to the true meaning!
My problem is this. We've got an older tele with video output and video input terminals on the back (red, white and yellow) and I want to connect the digital set top box up and also our dvd player. Buggered if I can work it out though. The dvd is a bit more modern and the set top box is an el cheapo from J.B. I'll try and attach a couple of piccy's
Cheers. I hope this works:(



Pictures by thinkingofabloodynameiscrap - Photobucket (http://s995.photobucket.com/albums/af73/thinkingofabloodynameiscrap/)

[Mick_Marsh]

The red, White and Yellow sockets style are RCA sockets.
Both the DVD and STB would have these.
Red goes to red, White goes to White and Yellow goes to Yellow.

DVD output goes to TV input
STB output goes to TV input

if the TV has only one input, you need an AV switch.

If you want me to be more specific send me the model numbers of your equipment. I will be happy to guide you over the phone.

regards
Mick

[dmdigital]

Red, white and yellow will be Right Audio, Left Audio, Composite Video.

Depending on your TV you will have one or more of these three combinations and they may also be labeled IN or OUT. You need to connect each device to an IN group.

On the DVD player and set top box will be corresponding ones of the same colour labeled OUT.

If you only have one set then this may be an issue.

If you post up the brand/model of of each item it may be possible to view the manuals online from their respective sites, this may help explain it.

[Mick_Marsh]

saw the pics. looks good to me. you need an av switch box and another set of RCA plugs. go see dick smith.

[dmdigital]

Looks correct, as mentioned you'll need a video switching box unless there is a second line in on the TV. Is there one on the front or side as well perhaps?

[cinders]

Thanks for the prompt answers. Looks like the Av switch might be what we need. Now I shall google it.
Cheers

[cinders]

Bloody technology these days suck I tell ya. Just **** itself!
So now back to jb to get another (maybe not so cheap) set top box.:mad:

[cinders]

Righto. Got the new stb, hooked it up to the av thingy plus I hooked up the dvd and video. The dvd and video are working but now I can't get a picture on the tele! I thought these stb's were supposed to pick up the signal automatically or have I done something wrong. The new stb has the same back as the one in the piccy's which is on that photobucket site. Could it be the new stb is incompatible with the tele?
So this is how it's hooked up. Antenna to stb. The 3 leads of stb to av thingy (in). 3 leads of av thingy (out) to the video input of the tele. The dvd and video is also plugged into the av thingy and as I said they work so what is going on, I'm going grey over this!

[Mick_Marsh]

Does the dvd display on the telly?
Does the dvd display on the telly if it's connected direct? (not through the switch)
Does the stb display on the telly if it's connected direct?
Some STB's only display on HDTV's, you may have one of those especially if it's a Wintal.
I recommend a TEAC HDB842 stb as I know this will display HDTV on a CRT TV (big old glass one).

If you understand this post, you are well on the way to becoming techno savy.

[cinders]

Now that you mention it I can't get the stb to work even when it's hooked up direct to the tele. The stb is a topfield tbf-7200 if that means anything to you, so I spose it could be a bit too technical for our tele:(
Cheers

[mike_ie]

Now that you mention it I can't get the stb to work even when it's hooked up direct to the tele. The stb is a topfield tbf-7200 if that means anything to you, so I spose it could be a bit too technical for our tele:(
Cheers

The set top box is not too "technical" for the TV - it spits out audio and video in the exact same way the DVD player does. If the DVD player is working, then the set top box should do the same.

Easiest way to do this is to eliminate the DVD player and switch - just hook the set top box up to the back of the TV, change the TV to the AV channel, and turn on the set top box. I would assume that even if it's not receiving anything, it has menus and so forth - bring up a menu and you *should* see it on the TV screen. If you don't see it on the screen, then double check your cabling, and double check the set top box. Check the instructions to make sure that you don't have to manually select an output mode on your set top box, i.e co-ax, AV or HDMI being your options from what I see in the photos.It *should*output on all three, but I have seen devices where you have to manually select, so it may be worth a shot. Until you get to that stage, none of us can really help...

[Blknight.aus]

did you set the TV to AV or AUX in this is usually depicted by a button on the front that is either a circle or radius-ed square with an arrow pointing inwards.

test each item directly to the TV and then again through the AV switch as suggested above to fault find the switch.

[dmdigital]

Just download the user manual for your stb.

Dumb question: Have plugged the antenna in to the ANT IN (top) plug?

Next...on p11 You cannot view high definition video with the composite video connector.

So you are not be able to view HD broadcasts via this output method. This means the stb does no down sampling of the signal for output on the composite (yellow) video connection.

The way to overcome this is either (a) get a new TV or (b) get a AV switch that will take component (R/G/B plugs on stb) and output Composite (Yellow plug).

[Blknight.aus]

Just download the user manual for your stb.

Dumb question: Have plugged the antenna in to the ANT IN (top) plug?

Next...on p11 You cannot view high definition video with the composite video connector.

So you are not be able to view HD broadcasts via this output method. This means the stb does no down sampling of the signal for output on the composite (yellow) video connection.


Qué?

I always thought that was what the digital set top box was for to pull the digitial highdef signal out of the ether and turn it into old school low def.


my read on this is that the output on the composite is a lowdef signal rather than no signal

IE if you hook up your high def TV to the yellow plug your not getting a high def signal.

could be wrong. hope Im not.

[dmdigital]

Link to manual: http://www.topfield.co.kr/data/download/TBF-7200-Aus-9520.pdf
Topfield Site: Welcome to TOPFIELD (http://www.topfield.co.kr/aus/product/detail.asp?idx=233)



I always thought that was what the digital set top box was for to pull the digitial highdef signal out of the ether and turn it into old school low def.
You and me both. I was very surprised to read it in the manual.

Mind you I have no need to buy a STB. Not because I have a latest and greatest TV (which I don't) but because, if we are lucky, the DTV roll out will get here in December 2013:eek: It's a bloody joke outside of major centres and eastern seaboard. Just another one of the Government's seen to be doing to appease the public. Not that I think we are missing out on any quality TV, just not getting the same rubbish in HD:p

[disco2hse]

keh?

I always thought that was what the digital set top box was for to pull the digitial highdef signal out of the ether and turn it into old school low def.


my read on this is that the output on the composite is a lowdef signal rather than no signal

IE if you hook up your high def TV to the yellow plug your not getting a high def signal.

could be wrong. hope Im not.

Maybe once but not anymore. In the move to digital TV and away from analog signals, fewer components will offer support for what are now effectively obsolete technologies.

Alan

[dmdigital]

Jaycar sell an HDMI -> Composite converter box : HDMI to VGA/Component and LR Analogue Audio Converter - Jaycar Electronics (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AC1605&keywords=hdmi+converter&form=KEYWORD)
But its $149 and it may be better to return the STB and look at a different model that has a converter built in.

[Blknight.aus]

yes thats why we've gone to these hidefinition TVs with wonderful digital singnals.

but isnt that the purpose of the digital set top box? to convert the new wonderful nearly useless at low signal strengths digital signal to old school analog so that everyone who cant afford a new tv, failed to purchase one with the "please remember this next election" rudd bux or the "buy yourself a new tv with that baby" plan can watch the free to air stuff on their old TV's.

[cinders]

Bloody hell I'm an idiot. I ignored the green blue red leads and used the old red yellow white leads from the stb to the tele. first nothing, give the connection on the back of the tele and hey presto we have a menu screen. so whoohoo and thanks for all your input. I was about ready to do an Elvis on it!
Cheers

[dmdigital]

Cinders are you now telling everyone your TV also has component (R/G/B) coloured plugs as well as the Composite (yellow) one? :o

[cinders]

No the tele just has the yellow, white and red plugs. The stb has these as well as red, green and blue. In the instructions I was under the impression I had to use r,g,b plugs cause that was the lead they supplied and the piccy with instructions to me is a bit misleading. I was confused:bangin: but I eventually got there so now the kid is happy, gotta keep up with the Jones's don't ya know;)

[disco2hse]

yes thats why we've gone to these hidefinition TVs with wonderful digital singnals.

but isnt that the purpose of the digital set top box? to convert the new wonderful nearly useless at low signal strengths digital signal to old school analog so that everyone who cant afford a new tv, failed to purchase one with the "please remember this next election" rudd bux or the "buy yourself a new tv with that baby" plan can watch the free to air stuff on their old TV's.

Not anymore. They have always converted the satellite signal into one which can be played on a tele but whereas previously they were able to output to analog and digital tv, now most only output to digital (no analog output in their circuits). They still do the same job but their range of output is limited.

[Blknight.aus]

ahh I think Isee where the confusion is...

I thought we were talking about the digital set top boxes for the free to air digital TV not the ones for satellite broadcast...

[Mick_Marsh]

I thought we were talking about the digital set top boxes for the free to air digital TV not the ones for satellite broadcast...
We are.

[cinders]

we've only got free to air tele so now I'm really confused but don't worry all is good now:D

[miky]

Not anymore. They have always converted the satellite signal into one which can be played on a tele but whereas previously they were able to output to analog and digital tv, now most only output to digital (no analog output in their circuits). They still do the same job but their range of output is limited.

If you have a digital tv, why would you want a set top box to convert digital to digital?
Surely all digital tv's have a digital tuner built in?

Mike

[Mick_Marsh]

If you have a digital tv, why would you want a set top box to convert digital to digital?
Surely all digital tv's have a digital tuner built in?

Mike
Mike,
Not all widescreen, LCD tv's have digital tuners. A friend was given one for christmas 2008 and it was analog only ("digital ready" I think is the correct term). Some are standard definition (SD) only so the don'y play high definition (HD) programs/channels.
The tv that is the topic of this thread appears to be a CRT (cathode ray tube) tv which would not have a digital tuner (analog only tuner). I have a widescreen CRT flatscreen tv bought only three years ago which has an analog only tuner. I bought several STB's before I found one that would play on it. The wintal STB's I tried were designed to be used on LCD tv's that had analog only tuners.
I could go on and on all night. Suffice it to say, digital tv can be very confusing to a luddite. I have helped many pensioners set up a digital STB on thier older model tv's and the simplest solution I have found is to buy a new tv.

regards
Mick

[miky]

Thanks for the explanation Mick.

Add me to the digital tv luddite list :(

With the analogue being phased out by 2013 I guess all of us who still have an analogue tv will need something if we still want to watch tv.
Wonder when Adelaide analogue will be turned off?

Mike

[disco2hse]

I am sticking with my analog until I can't use it anymore. The thing is that when analog signals are finally turned off you probably won't be able to use the analog TV anymore because none of the decoders will provide a feed for it and the hassle to get it going won't be worth it. By then, too, free-to-air digital decoders will be built into them so you shouldn't need an STB (saves money ;) ). New TVs are already coming out with the decoders built in but it is not standard yet so you still have to pay a premium for it - wait till everyone expects it and then it will be incorporated into the standard price tag.

[Bushie]

Thanks for the explanation Mick.

Add me to the digital tv luddite list :(

With the analogue being phased out by 2013 I guess all of us who still have an analogue tv will need something if we still want to watch tv.
Wonder when Adelaide analogue will be turned off?

Mike

Planned for 2nd half of 2013

Digital TV Switchover Australia - Rollout Map SA (http://www.digitalready.gov.au/rolloutmap_SA.aspx)

Martyn

[Mick_Marsh]

I am sticking with my analog until I can't use it anymore. The thing is that when analog signals are finally turned off you probably won't be able to use the analog TV anymore because none of the decoders will provide a feed for it and the hassle to get it going won't be worth it. By then, too, free-to-air digital decoders will be built into them so you shouldn't need an STB (saves money ;) ). New TVs are already coming out with the decoders built in but it is not standard yet so you still have to pay a premium for it - wait till everyone expects it and then it will be incorporated into the standard price tag.
It depends on how important TV is to you. Get yourself a STB. Generally they're less than $50 even cheaper s/h as people are upgrading thier tv's. The inbuilt analog tuner is an extra "bu##er all". I have been given a few (which I passed on).
If you're happy with your CRT tv don't buy a new one. New technologies are coming out all the time (plasma > LCD > LED). There's a new low energy plasma coming out soon if it's not out already and the pundits are tipping 3Dtv will be out by the end of this year. What this means is the current technologies will become cheaper.
What sort of tv do I have? Mine's a 50" true high def plasma with 6.2 surround sound and I love it. Movies are important to me.

regards
Mick

[e3j]

If the STB is new, have you actually run the tuning procedure? Differs for most (all?) models, but the users guide should explain it.