Why can't my digital set-top box connect to my TV? Diagram for connecting a digital set-top box to a TV for beginners

Today, quite a few TVs can work with digital channels, but budget models, alas, only accept the DVT-T format or do not have a digital tuner at all. This signal is not used in our country, but a digital television set-top box broadcasting in the DVB-T2 range we need will help solve this problem.

Based on its characteristics, this device can be fully called a tuner, which is located in a separate block. Connecting such a unit is extremely simple and universal for all models. The device comes with either a traditional AV cable or a modern HDMI splitter. High-quality premium models are always equipped with special adapters in case you have an outdated type of TV, so there shouldn’t be any problems here. We’ll talk about which digital set-top box is better below.

Budget devices, as a rule, have more modest contents of the box, but the problem of synergy, if it arises, is solved by purchasing the necessary adapter (HDMI-*, AV-* or Scart-*). Please pay special attention to this before connecting your digital set-top box.

In fact, your TV can even be a picture tube - the set-top box doesn’t care about this at all. The only thing that remains is to decide on the characteristics and model of the device you need. Before choosing a digital set-top box, we advise you to take a closer look at our list, which includes the most intelligent representatives of this type of equipment.

SUPRA SDT-94

This device belongs to the budget segment. Despite the low price, the Supra SDT-94 digital television set-top box perfectly receives the DVB-T2 signal. In addition, the device supports HD resolution, can record all television programs on an external USB drive and play files from it (not only recorded ones).

Connecting the device is simple: the kit includes both HDMI and a regular composite splitter. You just need to select the desired output and connect it to the TV. In the case of the HDMI interface, all channels broadcast quite adequately, but with the AV cable there may be some problems. That is, certain programs that are designed for HD broadcasting may not be displayed entirely correctly (black bars at the top and bottom).

Device Features

The owners received these digital set-top boxes quite warmly. Reviews for the SDT series are mostly positive. First of all, users liked the price tag of the device and the main functionality, and only then all the additional features and bells and whistles, of which there are not so many.

Separately, we can note the presence of a useful parental control function, which will come in handy if you have small children in the house. Some owners complain that the remote control is too demanding, where you need to aim well for normal operation, but this point can be forgiven by looking at the price tag.

Advantages of the model:

  • quite affordable price tag;
  • good signal reception;
  • setting up the device is clear and intuitive, even without instructions;
  • the presence of a modern HDMI output;
  • There is a parental control function.

Flaws:

  • narrow directional remote control (you need to aim);
  • clearly visible black bars and sometimes “jumping” images when watching HD channels from the AV output.

Estimated cost is about 1300 rubles.

Oriel 963

This digital set-top box has an extremely simple setup that can be handled by anyone, even those farthest from electronic technology. In addition, the tuner differs from similar devices in its segment with its excellent aluminum body. This suggests that the digital set-top box heats up slowly and cools down almost instantly after turning off.

There is a USB interface on board, to which you can connect not only a regular flash drive, but also a full-fledged external hard drive. Moreover, the built-in media player can be confidently called omnivorous - it can easily digest any format and display it on the screen.

Distinctive features of the model

Owners speak well of the capabilities of this tuner. They liked the stylish appearance, fast response of the interface and adaptation of the device to any video formats. Among other advantages, users highlight the presence of a delayed viewing function, where it is possible to pause the broadcast and leave for urgent matters, and then finish watching the program. This functionality is enabled by default, so keep this in mind before setting up your digital set-top box.

Pros of the model:

  • very sensitive tuner;
  • excellent case characteristics (materials and design);
  • main controls are conveniently located on the front panel;
  • the console is extremely simple and intuitive to use;
  • there are all the necessary outputs and connectors;
  • Digital TV recording function.
  • Channel names are not always displayed correctly in the menu.

Approximate price - about 1800 rubles.

D-COLOR DC1302

A very easy-to-use digital set-top box that almost perfectly receives the DVB-T2 signal. In addition, the model was distinguished by the presence of support for the HD format and an AC3 codec capable of reproducing sound at a high bitrate, so the tuner can easily be used as a multimedia center.

Simplicity of settings and ergonomics is added by a clear control panel on the front of the device. The appearance of the set-top box also deserves special mention: a metal case, high-quality plastic inserts (not smelly during prolonged use), as well as a high-quality remote control in many respects.

In 2015, all of Russia will experience immeasurable happiness in the form of complete coverage of the country's territory with digital television broadcasting. Europe has already almost completely switched to digital, Japan and America are tirelessly developing this format, but why are we worse?


Unfortunately, most Russians are not aware of such rapid progress, and therefore it is worth talking about digital television in more detail so that everyone can form their own opinion.

With the advent of digital, even in the most remote corners of our vast Motherland, the same channels that central Russia is now watching will be received. That is, the number of channels received in Moscow and Chukotka will be the same and, in addition, will increase compared to what is available now. The image quality will improve due to greater noise immunity, and there will be even more broadcasters because signal transmission tariffs will decrease. They also say that it will be possible to notify the population in case of emergencies using a digital television signal! There are advantages everywhere, no matter how you look at it!
It is known that not all TVs support the DVB-T2/MPEG-4 digital broadcasting standard. But this is not a reason to run to the store and urgently buy a new TV; you can join the benefits of civilization in a much simpler and cheaper way. You just need to buy a digital set-top box - the stores are full of different models and brands at very affordable prices (compared to a new TV). They differ in design, capabilities and sometimes equipment, but they do their job equally well!

1. This is what a typical representative of such devices looks like, opening the doors (or windows?) to the world of new digital television. More precisely, this is what the box looks like, and the console itself is inside, so let’s do an autopsy!


2. Each kit contains everything you need to connect, so it will only take about five minutes to get the TV set up and running.


3. Everyone’s favorite “tulips” will easily make friends between your TV and the receiver, the main thing is to connect it correctly! For those who find even such a simple point (inserting a plug into a connector) difficult, there is a color scheme.


4. Just like two fingers: red to red, yellow to yellow and white to white! Ready!


5. Now all that’s left to do is connect the external UHF antenna to the receiver. Find the antenna connector on the back of the receiver and insert the free plug of this beautiful round thing there. By the way, it’s better to put it higher.


6. Well, that's all! Now all you have to do is insert the batteries into the remote control, turn on the TV with the set-top box and you can enjoy watching! Congratulations, you now have digital television! Feeling advanced?

That's right - progress cannot be stopped!

The state program for a phased transition to the digital television broadcasting standard DVB T2 is approaching the final stage - a gradual reduction in the number of analogue repeaters. This suggests that the time has come to join new technologies and switch to digital. We will talk about the equipment necessary to receive a television signal in the new format, as well as how to properly connect a digital set-top box (receiver) to a TV or monitor.

Necessary equipment

To watch digital broadcasting, as opposed to analogue, you will need a receiver that decodes the signal. Many modern TV models (Philips, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, LG, Panasonic, etc.) are equipped with such a unit. To make sure of this, you should refer to the user manual, this brief instruction is included with each product. At the same time, check whether the built-in tuner supports the DVB-T2 format; if not, you will need to purchase a receiver.

Depending on the set of functionality, the cost of such a device can vary from 800 to 3000 rubles. Note that many digital cable television providers provide receivers for rent to subscribers.

In addition, we will need to receive a digital signal. In cities and large towns this will not be a problem; just contact your local providers. Residents of rural areas will need to install a UHF antenna or satellite dish. The latter is preferable, since it is not a fact that your home is within the coverage area of ​​the nearest digital repeater. In addition, the option with a satellite dish provides a wider selection of television channels.

Let's look at what is included in the standard set of the receiver; this information may be useful when connecting it to a television receiver.


Let's list what is shown in the figure:

  • A – user manual, we recommend that you carefully read this manual to get a complete understanding of all the functionality of the device and its connection to the TV and antenna.
  • B – “Tulip” cable (RCA) with characteristic connectors allows you to connect the set-top box to almost all modern models of television receivers.
  • C – a device for decrypting and converting a digital signal into an analogue one (receiver).
  • D – packing box.
  • E – remote control for the device.
  • F – batteries for the remote control.
  • G – network adapter for connecting the device to a household power supply.
  • H – warranty service coupon.

The basic configuration may differ slightly from what is shown in the photo (for example, the “Tulip” is replaced by an HDMI cable).

Connectors and their purpose

There are various connectors on the back of the device; we’ll briefly explain what they are for.


Figure 3. Connectors of the SDT-96 receiver from the SUPRA range

Explanation of the picture:

  1. Antenna output.
  2. Connector for connecting a satellite dish, UHF antenna or cable from a local provider.
  3. A socket for an HDMI cable allows you to connect a monitor or TV equipped with such an input (digital output can transmit sound and image).
  4. Sockets for the “Tulip” cable (transmits an analog video signal, as well as stereo sound).

Some devices may be additionally equipped with a “SCART” connector; a TV, VCR or DVD player with a video recording function can be connected to it.


In addition, you may find devices that have D-SUB (Fig. 5) or DVI outputs instead of an HDMI jack.


Fig 5. Digital set-top box with standard VGA (D-SUB) output

Please note that such interfaces do not transmit sound, so an additional connection using “tulips” will be required to transmit it.

The process of connecting a digital set-top box to a new TV step by step

Important! All manipulations must be done with the equipment turned off. If you connect working equipment, there is a high probability of its failure.

Let us describe the order of our actions:

  1. You need to select the interface for connecting the set-top box to the TV. It can be analog (tulips, D-SUB, SCART) or digital (HDMI, DVI). The choice is made depending on the specific TV model. Despite the fact that many FULL HD television receivers have an analog input, it is better to feed them digitally, since double conversion of the signal will negatively affect the quality of the “picture”.

This interface allows you to transmit video and audio, so the connection can be made with one cable.

If the TV does not have a digital input, it can be connected using any analog interface; the easiest way to do this is using tulips. In the case where the device only has a bulky SCART connector, you can purchase a tulip adapter for it. In this way you can connect almost any model, except for very ancient ones.

  1. We check the availability of the cable necessary for connection; it may come with the receiver or television set. If you cannot find one, you will need to purchase it.
  2. We remove the protective film from the set-top box (if any), install it in the chosen place and connect it to the TV. The cables are made in such a way that it is physically impossible to insert them into a connector not intended for this purpose. The exception is tulips, they can be mixed up. But to prevent this, manufacturers make nests for them in the appropriate color.

As you can see, the colors of the connectors match the colors of the sockets (4 in Fig. 3).

  1. Connect power to the console. If the network adapter is built-in, simply plug the plug into the socket; pre-connect the remote power supply to the corresponding socket of the receiver.
  2. We connect the provider's cable, a decimeter antenna or a satellite dish to the antenna input (2 Fig. 3).
  3. We insert the batteries into the remote control, turn on the set-top box and the TV.

This completes the connection procedure, and you can begin setting up channels. If your TV does not have the interfaces listed above, do not worry, we will tell you how to get out of this situation.

Connecting to an old TV

The signal converter can work even with older models of television receivers when connecting them to the antenna output (1 in Fig. 3). To do this, you will need a piece of antenna wire of the appropriate length and two antenna plugs. In order not to bother yourself with soldering, you can take special F-connectors; the procedure for installing them on the cable is demonstrated in Figure 8.


Procedure:

  1. We remove the insulation from the antenna cable, carefully so as not to damage the braiding (it is enough to clear 15 mm).
  2. We bend the braid as shown in the picture.
  3. Carefully remove the insulation from the central core.
  4. It is necessary to expose 10 mm of the central wire.
  5. We screw the connector clockwise.
  6. We do this until the central core protrudes 2 mm from the connector.

Using a manufactured cable, we connect the antenna input of the TV to the corresponding output of the set-top box. In this way you can connect any TV, be it Horizon 101 or the legendary KVN.

How to connect 2 TVs to a digital set-top box

Two television receivers can be connected via the antenna output; this requires a special adapter from one to two cables (splitter).


Since the set-top box is intended for only one device, two TVs will work synchronously, that is, show the same channel.

Settings

The set-top box is configured in the same way as a TV, namely:

  • The menu is called up using the button of the same name on the remote control.
  • Select the appropriate command to start scanning channels.
  • When the scanning is completed, we save a list of detected channels; if desired, they can be grouped in a certain way, given a name, etc.

Detailed instructions and descriptions of functionality can be found in the user manual. In most cases, the menu interface is intuitive, so setting up the receiver is as simple as connecting a digital set-top box to the TV.

Even as a child, living in the village, I always tried to tune the TV to good reception of a large number of channels. The only option that I understood for myself from these attempts is that the higher the antenna is, the better the quality of the channels and the greater their number. But there is a limit to the height of the antenna mast. Therefore, some channels were always shown well, some were shown not so well, and some were not shown at all. Now, living in the city, you don’t experience any problems with the quantity and quality of the TV channels provided, but when visiting a village, sometimes you want to turn on the TV and change channels, choosing an interesting program. But in the countryside, time moves slower and modern technologies arrive there late, and sometimes don’t arrive at all.

In this regard, I set out to set up as many television channels in the village as possible. To begin with, I propose to consider what options are available today for obtaining a high-quality signal and picture on the TV:

1Cable TV- television, in which the signal is distributed through a television cable that is directly connected to each television

Pros: high-quality TV.

Cons: Subscription fee, available only in large cities.

2 Satellite television. Satellite television broadcasts using a satellite suspended in low-Earth orbit. The signal is received by TV viewers on an individual dish antenna.

Pros: high-quality TV.

Cons: Cost of equipment, subscription fee.

3 Terrestrial television. Terrestrial television distributes the signal using terrestrial repeater stations; in order to receive this signal, you must use an antenna.

Pros: minimum costs.

Cons: the signal level is often low; the display and quality of channels depends on the weather, distance from the tower, mast height, etc.

You can also say that TV channels can be watched via the Internet, but in this article I would like to talk about watching channels without using a computer/laptop, and especially the Internet.

Of all the methods described, the only one that suited me was using satellite TV, but I really didn’t want to spend money on buying equipment and then paying a subscription fee. After scouring the Internet, I found an alternative way - terrestrial digital television. The essence of digital television is the following: the transmission of television images and sound occurs using digital encoding of the video signal and sound signal using digital channels. Digital encoding, unlike analogue, ensures signal delivery with minimal losses, since the picture and sound are not influenced by external factors (interference). Of the nuances of using digital television, I will note the following - a television channel in digital television has two situations, it will either work in good quality, or it will not work at all. Unlike analog TV, there is no borderline state or interference, the only exception is if the channel has very poor communication quality, it can slow down, turn off and turn on again, to avoid this you need to use another antenna, raise the existing one higher or turn towards the TV tower .

What you need to watch digital television:

TV antenna;

TV or set top box (Set Top Box) with tuner DVB-T2(namely DVB-T2, the outdated DVB-T will not work), support for the MPEG4 video compression standard and the Multiple PLP mode.

You do not need to buy an additional antenna, just use an antenna for an analog signal. But the antenna itself is not enough, to watch digital TV you need a set-top box with a DVB-T2 tuner (some modern TVs do not need such a set-top box, since it is built into the TV, this information can be obtained from the documentation for the TV or on the manufacturer’s website, which discusses a similar case ). Set-top boxes are not expensive, on average from 1500 to 2000 rubles. In fact, you don’t need to buy anything other than this set-top box. Another plus is that you don’t need to pay a subscription fee for terrestrial digital television.

It is important to note that digital TV allows you to view a limited number of channels; at the time of writing there were 20 (possibly less depending on the region of residence).

Digital television is not configured according to the principle - the higher you raise it, the more you catch. You can only tune these 20 channels, plus you can add more analog channels that your antenna will pick up (if your DVB-T2 set-top box or your TV has such a function). To learn more about the number of channels and the possibility of using digital television in your region, you can call the RTRS hotline: 8-800-220-20-02 (calls within Russia are free) or on the website: www.rtrs.rf.

So, I propose to move from theory to practice. In my case, I used a regular television antenna, which was very popular about 15 years ago. With this antenna I managed to catch about 3 analogue channels in good quality, 2 in satisfactory quality, and a couple more channels appeared in poor quality in good weather.

I purchased a DVB-T2 set-top box. Regarding the choice of consoles, I didn’t rack my brains, since technically they are all as similar as two peas in a pod. Most of them have two outputs - tulip (some SCART) and HDMI, there is a USB connector for viewing the contents of USB media. I got the impression that they are all made at the same Chinese factory, only they are equipped with different boxes and labels. When purchasing, pay attention to the control panel of the set-top box, since you will use it constantly (switch channels, turn the volume lower, higher, etc.).

I connected the antenna to the DVB-T2 set-top box, and connected it to the TV using a tulip (it usually comes with the set-top box).

Tulip RCA connectors for video and stereo audio. Yellow is for video, white is for monaural or left channel of stereo two-channel audio, red is for right channel of stereo two-channel audio.

I’ll make a reservation right away that I connected the set-top box to an obsolete CRT TV, so I chose a tulip cable. If you have an LCD or plasma TV with an HDMI output, then you should connect it with a proper HDMI cable (it must be purchased separately), since the image quality will be much higher.

I switched the TV to AV mode and got to the DVB-T2 set-top box interface. Setting up the set-top box requires minimal effort; all default settings will satisfy most users. The main thing you need to do is set up the channels. To do this, I went to the channel search menu and selected Auto search.

A few minutes later, the DVB-T2 set-top box found those same 20 channels + 3 radio stations. But a few days later, channels 11 to 20 disappeared, on the website rtrs.ru I saw that the towers to which I connected did not support 2 multiplexes (from 11 to 20 channels), and the fact that they worked for a couple of days was most likely tests. As a result, I purchased a high-quality, “strong” antenna to watch all 20 channels. Test video below.

Antenna test video ANT-T2-MAX

In order to understand the capabilities and settings of this set-top box, I offer a photo of each menu item (I apologize for the low quality of the photo).

A digital set-top box, as I wrote earlier, can play files from a USB flash drive. To do this, insert the USB device into the set-top box, go to the menu, select "USB" - "Multimedia", select the playable format (music, pictures, video).

In addition, digital set-top boxes have the ability to record images from the TV to a flash drive. To do this, just press the “Rec” button on the control panel of the DVB-T2 set-top box, after which the recording will begin on a USB device.

To summarize, I am very pleased with the quality and quantity of digital TV channels (of course, more channels are possible, but not all at once). In my opinion, for remote places, dachas, villages, towns, where people are not ready to spend 10,000 rubles on purchasing satellite TV + pay a subscription fee, I consider this option the most suitable.

The whole world has long switched to digital television. Our country began the process of transition from analog signal transmission relatively recently. Digital television has contributed to the emergence of digital channels broadcasting throughout the country. TVs that support DVB-T 2 digital broadcasting have gone on sale.

This is very convenient, you just need to connect the television cable to the TV, and no other wires are required. However, if the TV does not support digital broadcasting, then a digital set-top box comes to the rescue. Many people, having purchased this device, do not know how to properly connect it to the TV. Therefore, it is necessary to fill this information gap.

Required equipment

To broadcast digital television in your apartment, you need the following equipment:

  • TV;
  • receiver;
  • antenna or satellite dish.

The TV must be such that it has an input for an antenna, connectors for “tulips”, scart - an input with a video input. Modern TVs have an HDMI connector, which is also suitable for connecting a receiver.

Before purchasing a set-top box, you need to familiarize yourself with the list of companies providing digital television broadcasting services. Can consult with specialists selected company, which will advise the required receiver model. Some companies hold promotions that allow you to purchase and install the device for free.

The set-top box itself is just an attribute that allows you to receive and configure channels broadcast in a completely new format and much better quality for a specific TV. In order for them to broadcast through the receiver, you need to understand the broadcast source. It could be:

  • Internet;
  • satellite dish;
  • other similar elements.

However, you shouldn’t rack your brain too much about this issue; you just need to contact service providers who will explain everything in detail and clearly.

How to connect a digital set-top box

This set-top box can be connected not only to a TV, but also to a DVD.– player and monitor. If the receiver is not connected to a TV, you will need a special adapter to connect the cable to the device. This adapter is sold at any electronics store.

Connecting the set-top box to the TV is as follows:

After this, all that remains is to configure the digital receiver.

Setting up a digital set-top box

You need to configure the digital set-top box as follows:

  • you should take the remote control of the set-top box and press the “Menu” button;
  • a window will appear in which you need to select “Configure channels”;
  • press “OK” and wait for the set-top box to automatically configure the channels;
  • then you need to accept the detected channels and save them.

Thus, setting up the receiver is quite simple.

Connecting a digital device to an old TV

Many people still use old TV models. If the attachment is attached to modern models quickly and easily, then Old "electrons" do not have a connector for "tulips".

Some older TVs do not have an A/V input, but they do have a SCART connector, some pins of which accept component signals. Therefore, you can find the “tulips” to SCART adapter circuit yourself and solder it.

In addition, you can purchase an adapter from audio-video to SCART. It comes in two types: adapter cable and the adapter itself, to which a standard RCA cable from the set-top box is connected.

Old Soviet TVs of the "Electron" type are not equipped with any inputs at all, so you should only use the antenna socket, where a high-frequency modulated signal is supplied. Thus, you will need to find a modulator with RCA inputs.

Conclusion

Having connected digital television, do not forget to pay every month for a certain package of channels. Some providers offer the purchase of digital set-top boxes with a set of digital TV channels which are already included in the price.

The main thing is to take a break from watching your favorite TV shows from time to time to spend time with your family.