Cable upconversion?

[BigLar]

My out-of-town daughter connected here new HDTV to the cable in her apartment, but was unable to get any signals. The local cable guy said that the system did not support HDTV, but he demonstrated on a small TV that a standard NTSC TV could use the signals directly.

Apparently she doesn't not have a converter box, just the end of a coaxial cable. (I gather the cable system does not supply HDTV signals. (This is in New Orleans and I guess its post-Katrina stuff.)

She says she'd like to get a small NTSC set and connect it (and presumably let the HDTV gather dust????). That sounds nuts to me...leave the HD and buy something that will be completely obsolete in a couple of years?

So, is there a gizmo that I can put between the cable and the HDTV to solve the problem?

 

[montypythizzle]

Model number of the TV please.

 

[BigLar]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
Model number of the TV please.

Best Buy House Brand:

Insignia Model NSLCD22

BB's description

 

[spidey07]

It's like any other TV, you need to tune the channels first. This is in the manual.

It's part of the initial setup of ANY tv.

-edit-
She plugs the coax into her TV. Reads the manual about auto-tuning channels, she's all set.

You don't need a tuner for regular programming, but you would need one for HD content over cable/satellite. She can get over the air HD by plugging an antenna to her HDTV.

 

[BigLar]

Originally posted by: spidey07
It's like any other TV, you need to tune the channels first. This is in the manual.

It's part of the initial setup of ANY tv.

-edit-
She plugs the coax into her TV. Reads the manual about auto-tuning channels, she's all set.

You don't need a tuner for regular programming, but you would need one for HD content over cable/satellite. She can get over the air HD by plugging an antenna to her HDTV.

Since Dad is, by definition, a bit on the stupid side, I'm going to email this link to her. L----, try this out!


Here's hoping...

 

[JusticeChick]

This is the daughter, and thanks for the tips, however I tried them and the tv tries to find channels but then says there are none. The cable guy had said it was since it was not a digital cable. It's a nice tv and I know it works since I have watched DVDs on it, but it when I try to get cable it just shows fuzz with the exception of two channels which are just near fuzz, though these don't get recongized in the find channels either.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: JusticeChick
This is the daughter, and thanks for the tips, however I tried them and the tv tries to find channels but then says there are none. The cable guy had said it was since it was not a digital cable. It's a nice tv and I know it works since I have watched DVDs on it, but it when I try to get cable it just shows fuzz with the exception of two channels which are just near fuzz, though these don't get recongized in the find channels either.

Don't believe the cable guy.

But in all honesty call them back out again. I'm going on the ASS-U-MUPTION that your TV has a regular tuner given that it has a HD tuner built-in. I don't know for sure if it does.

I don't think this is a problem with your service, but a problem with the setup of your TV.

1) There is no cable box involved?
2) You have the coaxial cable from your cable company directly plugged into your TV that may be labeled ANT1 or ANT2?
3) You have selected this input (ANT1/ANT2) on your TV?

 

[1sikbITCH]

I looked at the specs and nowhere does it say that it has an analog tuner. I find it hard to believe that it doesn't, but if not, you're going to have to go either digital cable or satellite. I found a couple analog boxes being sold on Ebay, but you'd have to call your cable provider with the model number and ask if it will work before you start bidding. I'd just go digital.
And now halftime is over, so good luck

 

[Slammy1]

No tuner just means you need to run through something with a tuner (like a VCR).

 

[intogamer]

I believe that the technician means no HD broadcast feed?

 

[JusticeChick]

Thanks for all the advice. It's a small time cable provider which due to the apartment I can not change from, and they do not offer digital or HDTV. Thanks for all the help.

 

[BigLar]

Slammy 1 has the right idea.

First, try putting the cable into the Tivo and the Tivo output into the HDTV.

If that doesn't work, you can get an old VCR (from me) and put it into composite video input. That should work!

 

[montypythizzle]

Link to manual, PDF:
http://www.insignia-products.c...nts/NS-LCD22_press.pdf

Reading now.

 

[montypythizzle]

All I can get from that, is that you make sure you have chosen "Cable Auto", that is probably the problem.
If not, guess you have to go the VCR route with the cable going in and composite out.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: JusticeChick
Thanks for all the advice. It's a small time cable provider which due to the apartment I can not change from, and they do not offer digital or HDTV. Thanks for all the help.

do not offer digital cable??... I'm pretty sure that the FCC has mandated that by 1/1/2009 ALL cable will be digital...

Regardless... perhaps you have a VCR? VCR's have standard analog tuners...
Hook up the VCR to your TV with composite cables (red white yellow) and use the VCR to select channels from the cable service.

 

[BigLar]

Originally posted by: montypythizzle
All I can get from that, is that you make sure you have chosen "Cable Auto", that is probably the problem.
If not, guess you have to go the VCR route with the cable going in and composite out.

Thanks for finding the manual! Here's the specs:

Type LCD TV
Panel 22-inch TFT LCD
TV system American TV standard ATSC/NTSC system
Receiving channels VHF 2-13, UHF 14-69, CATV 1-125, CADTV
1-135, DTV 2-69
Audio multiplex BTSC system
Audio out 4W x 2
Power requirement AC 100-240 V. 50/60 Hz
Power
consumption
60 W
Dimensions 23.2 x 19.2 x 7.1-inches
(589 x 487 x 180 mm)
Weight 24 lbs/11 kg
Input terminals 1 Composite Video/Audio (L/R)
1 S-video
1 Component Video/Audio (L/R)
1 HDMI interface
1 VGA/Audio
1 Antenna
Output terminals 1 Composite Video/Audio (L/R)
1 headphone jack
Control terminals 1 RS-232


So with an NTSC tuner and CATV being differentiated from CADTV, I think it should work all by its lonesome. I think your "Cable Auto" comment many be right on the point!

 

[montypythizzle]

Also, make sure that it is set on the correct tuner, there may be a button on the remote (didn't show it in the manual), usually though they just get inline with the regular channels and are marked as ##-#.

 

[Big Lar]

There may also be a setting called Cable Std, or Cable Digital. May need to try those for a channel search as well. My Olevia tv in the bedroom has those settings, and it drove me nuts in the initial setup of the unit. Perhaps you have the same thing with your tv.

OP, Nice Screen Name

Larry

 

[BigLar]

Originally posted by: Big Lar
There may also be a setting called Cable Std, or Cable Digital. May need to try those for a channel search as well. My Olevia tv in the bedroom has those settings, and it drove me nuts in the initial setup of the unit. Perhaps you have the same thing with your tv.

OP, Nice Screen Name

Larry

Nice that Big Lar helps BigLar!

 

[Big Lar]

It's the least I can do, hopefully it helps

Larry

 

[BigLar]

Well, I read the manual and we walked through the set up, including selecting the Source Input as "TV" and trying "Air","Cable", "Cable HRC", "Cable IRC". and "Cable Auto" (followed in each case by a channel autoscan and, in each case, got zippo.

Now a couple of more curious point:

1. At least three other people in the building are unable to get their HDTV to get the cable signal (but OK on over-the-air TV).

2. The TV works fine with DVD input.

What bugs me is that the cable guy's NTSC set worked OK, which suggests that the signal is getting to the cable.

Could it be that the HDTV's NTSC tuner is defective?

And if all the HDTV's are not working properly, what could account for that?


BTW Big Lar, what do you do with that rig, perform calculations for Sandia in your spare time?:thumbsup: