Using my LCD as a TV

[antsct]

Hello everyone.

I have a 22" Widescreen LCD (1680x1050 resolution) that I would like to use as a TV in my room without a PC.

I would like to connect my high definition set top box to the monitor. Both the set top box and the monitor have DVI. However, because my monitor is 60hz and the set top box is 50hz (Australian TV), I get an 'out of range error' when I try to connect the two together.

In order to watch HDTV on my monitor, I was thinking of getting one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-XGA...VWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And using the component out of the set top box to view HDTV. I chose this model TV Box thing because it supports 1680x1050.

I would just like to know if anyone has had any experiences with one of these and if they are any good.

I have also spotted this: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/YPbPr-C...VWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

however I don't know if that supports widescreen.

Thank you in advance.

 

[airhendrix13]

You will have to lower the monitors refresh rate to 50hz to match the box, that should get rid of that error.

I used a product a lot like the first link you posted. It worked quite well for me. The first one will not give you true HD though. It lacks component, DVI, HDMI, or any other input that would give you true HD, with this option the will be slight quality loss. The same goes with the second one, it's input is a VGA port, which will lead to slight quality loss.

The reason for the quality loss is because you are taking your HD cable (digital) and plugging it into an analog input.


Cable Box --- digital signal ---> VGA Input --- (DAC converts digital signal into analog) ----------> Finally, your monitor displays your television using an analog signal

If you want to get the best quality viewable, buy something like these 2 products but with a DVI input. This way you are keeping the signal digital, which means no conversions, thus better quality.

I hope this helped.

Ryan

 

[airhendrix13]

Oh yeah, make sure it isn't DVI-A, that doesn't maintain a digital signal.