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Connecting it all up

Why are there so many sorts of connecting cables? Find out with this quick guide.

Why are there so many sorts of connecting cables?  Find out wit
published on UK Free TV

Why are there so many sorts of connecting cables? Find out with this quick guide.

The connectors on each cable are called plugs (and are also called male) and they will usually fit only into one sort of socket (or female connector).

Most cables you will come across are male to male. Occasionally you will find leads with a socket on one end and a plug on the other, and these are called "extension cables".

SCART



The SCART cable is used to connect a set-top box to a television set, or to a video recorder. This can only be a short cable. The SCART cable carries all of these types of signal:

  • analogue stereo sound
  • a single RGB television picture
  • a single composite video picture
  • a single S-Video video picture
  • widescreen picture signal


As stereo sound, RGB picture and widescreen signal is the best possible combination for digital television viewing, it is vital to use a SCART lead between any set-top box and the main television.

The composite video picture with stereo sound is the best combination for a VHS video recorder. If your set-top box has two SCART sockets, it is likely that the one marked TV will carry RGB picture information and the other will not.

If your television has more than one SCART input, you may need to choose a special one (marked RGB) if you want to use RGB from the SCART cable.

On most set-top boxes it is possible to turn the RGB output on and off. This can be used to test the RGB input function on the television ? the picture quality appears blurred when it is disabled.

If have a DVD player, rather than a VHS recorder, you can attach this to the set-top boxes second SCART connector. The signal from the set-top box will normally be overridden by the DVD player when it is on, usually in high-quality RGB.

Some very cheap SCART cables do not have all the pins connected. They may not provide RGB and widescreen picture signals. SCART cables are normally no more than three metres in length.

UHF lead



The UHF lead is a lead that you would traditionally associate with television signals. They can carry:

  • up to 45 (but normally only five) analogue television channels
  • a single picture from a set-top box
  • around 50 analogue cable TV channels
  • mono sound
  • NICAM stereo sound
  • Teletext services (for example, Ceefax)


You can't avoid these cables if you are going to use Freeview, as these cables are the only ones that you can use to distribute Freeview signals around the house.

Where you have an integrated digital television (an idTV) you just need to get the signal from the aerial to the television with one of these cables.

If you are using a Freeview set-top box, you will need to get the signal from the aerial to the set-top box using this aerial lead, but for best results connect the TV to the box with a SCART cable.

You can also use a UHF lead to connect a set-top box to a television somewhere in the house. Your set-top box will require a RF (radio frequency) modulator. Note that "RF passthough" is another way of saying there is no modulator. You will be able to "tune" the second television into the picture showing on the set-top box.

Some boxes (all Sky boxes) have the ability to connect a remote control receiver to the second TV end of the interconnecting cable, so you can change channels.

The set-top boxes, whilst providing a reasonable quality picture to the second TV, will always provide only mono sound via a UHF lead.

The step-change in picture quality obtained by switching to RGB on a SCART is far greater than any obtained though spending any more on a gold-plated SCART cable.

Satellite or cable TV cable



These cables are usually very stiff, and have a very basic screw connector on the end. Usually they will provide an unbroken link to the satellite dish. At the dish end they plug into the device on the end of the arm, the LNB.

Don't try to disconnect these cables when the set-top box is on. Usually there is a small voltage that will cause dangerous sparks.

If the cable connects to a satellite dish, there is not much you can do with the cable. Each receiver in the set-top box needs it's own wire to the LNB. With a personal video recorder (such as Sky+), or a multi-room installations there are two cables to the four-output LNB on the dish. If you want more rooms, each will require it's own cable.

If the cable is providing cable TV, then it is possible to use inexpensive "Y connectors" to link the incoming signal to various set-top boxes, cable modems, or - via an adaptor - directly to the back of a TV.

Composite video cable



This is the most simple and basic video connection you can get. It carries:

  • a single picture from a set-top box


The picture will be in colour, and of comparable quality to a analogue broadcast station. However, there is no sound. For that reason this cable is often found joined to a stereo audio cable.

These signals are quite robust and can be carried for many metres. Often modern television sets have a single yellow photo input on their front input panel.

You also use an identical cable to carry digital stereo (SPDIF) sound.

Stereo audio cable





These cables carry the left and right channels of sound on two joined cables. They are usually required when a SCART cable is not being used, as the SCART cable already carries stereo sound.

If you are connecting your set-top box to an external stereo system, a separate stereo audio is used.

There is no real practicable limit to the length of these cables, but excessive length will degrade the quality of the signal.

S-video cable



The S-video standard is not well supported by most UK digital TV boxes, and very few have a S-video socket. If you need one for a particular analogue camcorder, use it, but avoid S-video with digital television. If you are using what appears to be a monochrome picture from a SCART lead, it will certainly by an incomplete S-Video signal and you should change to the RGB input.

VGA cable



This is the cable you will use to connect a computer to a old style monitor, and some modern LCD screen too. Most modern LCD TVs will have a VGA input too.

If you want to connect a set-top box to a LCD monitor, you can buy a conversion box from around 60. However this will not result in a better picture than using an existing SCART socket if there is one.

The only way to get higher than normal television resolution is to use a VGA in conjunction with a personal computer or modern games console.

DVI cable



If you want to get the very best out of a television or monitor use a digital video interconnect (DVI) cable.

This will be the only way for most televisions and monitors to receive high-definition pictures from a computer, and some set-top boxes.

If you can use either a VGA cable or a DVI cable, choose the DVI option.

HDMI cable



If you want to get the very best out of a television use a HDMI cable.

This will be the only way for most televisions to receive high-definition pictures from set-top boxes.

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Comments
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
KB Aerials Sheffield
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

7:12 AM

Wendy - As brian says
The sky box if it is a plus box and not a HD box has 2 scart sockets

one scart socket is marked vcr one is marked tv
connect the vcrs output to the VCR socket then the TV socket to the TV
when you press play on the vcr the tape should come up on the screen automatically- as Brian says you may have to put the sky box into standby

link to this comment
KB Aerials Sheffield's 274 posts GB flag
B
Bob Draper
10:52 PM

I have a Samsung TV with built-in Freeview HD. It's great, but I want to record and thus get a PVR like the Samsung 7800. But then I will have three tuners, in effect. Last time i got a PVR it simply wouldn't work with both tuners at a time. My aerial has improved but what should I do about connecting it all up? Should I effectively disgard the TV tuner?
At the moment the whole Freeview reception thing is weird. If I turn on my Blueray player the TV says weak or no signal on the Freeview channel I'm watching. I guess that must be the comp video modulator causing interference.

link to this comment
Bob Draper's 1 post GB flag
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
J
jb38
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

7:58 AM

Bob Draper: Assuming that you are meaning the Samsung DT7800 Freeview PVR there shouldn't be any problem with what you wish to achieve if you are in an area with reasonable signal strength.

If your signal strength is OK then you can simply "daisy chain" the aerial through the PVR then into the TV, but if any further Freeview devices are intended being used or that your signal isn't that good, (ref: Blue-Ray comment) then simply use a two-way (or more) powered splitter to feed each device, this guaranteeing that each gets the same level of signal, this being a commonly done and highly effective method to use, and which eliminates any potential problems of one thing affecting another.



link to this comment
jb38's 7,179 posts GB flag
E
Eileen Bosworth
4:24 PM

We have Sky and Freeview+ in Lounge in our apartment . We got a Freeview+ for TV in bedroom but when trying to tune it in, it keeps saying no carrier found, what does this mean?

link to this comment
Eileen Bosworth's 1 post GB flag
Dave Lindsay
sentiment_very_satisfiedPlatinum

4:45 PM
Doncaster

Eileen Bosworth: The message itself suggests no signal. What aerial are you using?

Please can you post your postcode and someone might be able to help you further?

link to this comment
Dave Lindsay's 5,724 posts GB flag
Dave's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Saturday, 12 November 2011
T
T.Fowler
1:39 PM

i have recently purchased a freesat box.also have surrond sound/dvd combo.what is the best way to connect to tv.

link to this comment
T.Fowler's 1 post GB flag
M
Mark Fletcher
sentiment_satisfiedGold

3:43 PM
Halifax

T Fowler.Connect via HDMI or Scart socket,from yer Freesat box into either HDMI or Scart socket on yer TV.

link to this comment
Mark Fletcher's 673 posts GB flag
Mark's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Sunday, 13 November 2011
J
J HOLMES
4:16 PM

Trying to set up digital tv receiver and recorder keeps coming up with no signal can anyone please advise. It would be much appreciated

link to this comment
J HOLMES's 1 post GB flag
A
alan duxbury
4:30 PM

what is the best way to connect from a skyhd box and a tv to tvs in other rooms,any help please with the connections.

link to this comment
alan duxbury's 1 post GB flag
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
I
ian from notts
sentiment_satisfiedSilver

7:42 AM
Belper

alan duxbury
the best way to connect your sky hd box to other tv's is to use sky rf2 port on the rear of the box, your tv aerial needs to be connected to the sky box if you and someone else want to watch different channels on different tv's ?
not sure what you mean about connecting a tv to other tv's ?

link to this comment
ian from notts's 253 posts GB flag
ian's: mapI's Freeview map terrainI's terrain plot wavesI's frequency data I's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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