How to properly connect a digital set-top box and set up the receiver

Connecting and configuring a digital television set-top box should not be a problem for the user with a detailed study and strict adherence to the recommendations and step-by-step instructions suggested in the article.

Necessary equipment for connecting a TV set-top box: video review

To be able to broadcast in digital format on an old or new TV, you will need to purchase certain equipment:

• set-top box with support for DVB-T2 format ;
• reliable cable with appropriate connectors;
• antenna for the transmission of the TV signal.

Set-top box (receiver) for digital television

The need to purchase a digital set-top box or receiver lies in the fact that it helps to decrypt the received encoded digital TV signal on the TV.

Some TV sets manufactured after 2012 already have a digital tuner as standard. This eliminates the need to purchase an additional
receiver – you can immediately start tuning the antenna.

If the TV does not have a digital tuner, it becomes necessary to purchase an external set-top box. The receiver model should take into account the minimum requirements of the latest standard:

1. Ability to support DVB-T2 . TV models may have a digital tuner of the old DVB-T format for receiving a TV signal, but this is an outdated format and will not be suitable in new conditions.
2. The presence of support for video in mp4 format . Allows you to play videos of the highest quality.

The set-top box can be endowed with additional features suitable for users when connecting old TVs to the receiver:

1. USB presence . The presence of this connector makes it possible to connect a flash drive with movies to the receiver for viewing on a large-screen TV. In this case, there is no need to connect to the Internet.
2. A program for pausing a TV broadcast during a live broadcast and recording it to a hard drive for later viewing.
3. Support for connecting to a router . It is possible to connect using Wi-Fi or via a LAN connection (wires).
4. Operating system Android . Thanks to this application, an old home TV will be enough to create a multimedia entertainment center.

When connecting equipment to modern
Smart TVs , there is no need for additional costs for the purchase of a more expensive set-top box, because the TV set will already have its own operating system. This feature makes the device a multimedia center. In this situation, digital TV broadcasting will be available even with the cheapest antenna supporting the DVB-T2 format. How to choose a DVB T2 set-top box for 2020: https://youtu.be/Z5zluZx2CjM

Cable

The high picture quality of today’s broadcast format necessitates the use of an HDMI cable. It represents the latest and most advanced development in telecommunications technology. With such a wire, the image quality will be HD. In some situations, it is necessary to connect a new digital set-top box to an old TV set. The TV device may be equipped with outdated ports – “tulips” (RCA connector). To connect equipment belonging to different generations, you need to purchase an additional RCA-HDMI adapter. This link will be connected by wire on one side to the RCA output, and on the other to HDMI. How to choose an HDMI cable? https://youtu.be/IoyjxyVg_Gw

Antenna

Reception of the modern DVB-T2 digital broadcasting format is possible with almost any antenna. If there was no interference during analog TV broadcasting and the sound on the TV did not disappear, then such a device can also be used for digital broadcasting.

How to make your own antenna for digital television is discussed in detail in
another article .

According to feedback from users of old antennas, in certain cases, receiving a new broadcasting format is possible even with a miniature
indoor antenna . In this regard, when connecting digital television, it is not necessary to spend money on purchasing a new antenna.

If there was interference during analog broadcasting, then most likely it will be necessary to purchase a special
TV signal amplifier . This device will be needed if the TV tower is at a very large distance from the antenna.

The amplifier must be selected, making sure that certain parameters can be supported:

1. frequency range . According to the recommendations of experts, broadband amplifiers should be preferred due to their ability to catch more TV channels.
2. Distance of the nearest television tower . If the house is located at a distance exceeding 150 km from the TV tower, buying an amplifier will be useless. According to experts, only a satellite dish will be needed.
3. Gain (unit – decibels). It is better to buy an amplifier that operates within 10-20 dB. These are average indicators, which will be enough to receive a high-quality TV signal. If you have too powerful equipment, the number of additional extraneous channels will increase, but the image will become of poorer quality.
4. Noise index . This value should be minimal – no more than 3 dB.

https://youtu.be/TzPEDjIGi00

How to connect a digital set-top box to a TV: different ways and video instructions

To properly connect a digital set-top box to your TV, you will need to use a modern HDMI cable or RCA connector if there are no other options.

HDMI

It is the most modern option that links several digital devices. This technology transmits the sound of the best format without losing the initial parameters.

To protect data from copying, modern equipment uses a special built-in protection mechanism. The more expensive the HDMI cable, the more securely the transmitted information will be encrypted.

The rear panel on the TV and receiver must be equipped with a flat HDMI connector. You can connect the components only by inserting the ends of the cable into two ports without additional adapters. The only drawback of the HDMI cable is the high cost of the equipment. You can achieve some savings if you do not use viewing on a 4K home TV. Then you can get by with a cable for 500 rubles when using all the advantages of the technology. Although this is not the best option, Full HD image transmission will be possible. A set-top box for digital television broadcasting is connected in such a situation according to the simplest scheme. How to install, connect and configure a TV DVB T2 digital terrestrial receiver: https://youtu.be/KwhhnRAljYs

RCA cable

Connection using an RCA module is an obsolete form. Users tend to call it “tulip” or “bell”. The wire contains 3 cores with different colors of plugs. Manufacturers specifically used color distinction to make it easier for people to determine the order of connecting equipment.

As a rule, such a connection is used to connect old TVs to a new digital receiver. In such a situation, use a special RCA-HDMI adapter.

Inside the wire there are separate cores, each of them has a specific function. The video signal is transmitted using one port, the audio signal is transmitted using two steel wires. A significant disadvantage of such a connection is the mixing of the video signal due to the transmission of several streams over one channel. This causes image distortion. How to connect a DVB-T2 digital set-top box to a TV via HDMI and RCA cable is described in the following video: https://youtu.be/4KrR7wVUudw

Connecting the cable to the antenna

With this connection, a coaxial cable is used, which consists of the following components:

• central conductor;
• dielectric insulation;
• outer protective layer;
• sheath to protect the conductor from negative external influences.

The wire must be selected taking into account the outer sheath so that it provides reliable protection of the internal cavity from possible damage. As a rule, PVC or PE are used for the manufacture of outer layers. Particular attention must be paid to the thickness of the coating – it depends on how well the wire will be protected from mechanical stress.

Previously, manufacturers used a sheath of different colors (black, white), and professionals advised to purchase black protection when the wire was located on the street side of the building. Now these differences are not significant: all layers protect the core from damage.

It would be better if a metal foil with a braid of a different metal was used to make the conductor. The need for this layer is important to reduce external interference from electrical equipment located near the TV. The central core must be copper. According to experts, this contributes to the transfer of better quality to the screen.

Connecting a set-top box to a Soviet TV

Many citizens still have Soviet-era TVs, released at the turn of the 90s of the last century. Connecting the receiver to such equipment is not an easy task due to the lack of “tulip” connectors in it. With some TVs equipped with scart outputs, only component signals can be received. There are two options for dealing with these issues:

• search for a circuit to the conductor to the input A / V to scart and its independent sealing;
• purchase in the store of a special adapter for connecting the RCA cable from the receiver or adapter cable.

There are also older Elektron TVs, which do not provide any inputs, with the exception of the antenna. Through this connector, the TV will receive a modulated signal with a high frequency. To watch digital television on such equipment, you will need to purchase an additional modulator equipped with RCA connectors. How to connect a digital set-top box to an old TV using an Rf modulator board is described in the video below: https://youtu.be/4aqEcGDw0rc

How to connect digital TV to two TVs at once

As a rule, a digital receiver is connected to one TV. If there are several television receivers at home, they usually use different set-top boxes for each of them. Even taking into account the relatively low cost of the receiver, users often try to avoid unnecessary costs and purchase one set-top box for two TVs. This situation is possible subject to certain restrictions:

• One of the TV receivers must be equipped with an HDMI input . The possibility of using two old TV sets is excluded.
• One and the other TV will have the same image due to the impossibility of viewing several TV channels on them at the same time.
• Channel switching will only occur on the remote control of the main TV (with HDMI). To switch the TV channel on the second TV receiver, you need to go to another room, because the remote control will not function through the wall.

Connecting a digital TV set-top box to a TV takes place in the following steps:

1. An HDMI cable is inserted into the connector of the main TV and connected to the desired input on the receiver.
2. The connection of the second TV with the set-top box is carried out using an RCA cable, the other end is connected to the TV.
3. The antenna cable is connected to the digital set-top box using the appropriate port.

If all actions are performed correctly, the same image will be broadcast on two TVs.

Connection via coaxial cable

A coaxial antenna cable is used when connecting a TV that is too old and does not have a video input. Before work, it is necessary to turn off the power of the TV and connect the antenna directly to the receiver using a coaxial wire. Then the channels are tuned. https://youtu.be/vFspjBOoUkU

Not all receivers have antenna inputs. In this regard, you should immediately think about purchasing a suitable set-top box for a specific model of an old-style TV.

Connection without a receiver

Only a new TV with a built-in digital tuner can provide digital channels without a special receiver. This technique has been commercially available since 2012. Information about whether the TV has a built-in digital receiver is indicated in the instructions or on the packaging.

How to set up a digital set-top box and connect channels

Each receiver has its own interface. In general terms, you need to follow the following procedure:

1. Through the remote you need to go to the menu.
2. Go to “Settings” or “Options”.
3. Select the TV signal standard (in this situation DVB-T2).
4. Click “Auto Search”. After a while, all available TV channels will be found.

If the automatic search found an insufficient number of TV channels or did not find them at all, you should go to “Manual tuning” in the menu.

How to set up a set-top box for 20 channels in manual mode is shown in the video below: https://youtu.be/Fcb8l2Snwb0

Signal Quality Check

If TV channels are found, you need to make sure that the reception quality is good. Otherwise, you can get a situation where the image will turn into a cluster of pixels of different colors, freeze or completely disappear from the screen. To diagnose the quality, you should use the information button on the remote control. You may need to press the green button. Combinations may vary slightly between models. The exact meaning of the buttons can be found in the instructions for the receivers. In the window that appears, two scales with the strength and quality of the TV signal will be highlighted. The best option – both indicators are more than 70-80%. This will mean that the reception of the signal is confident. Otherwise, you will need to carefully (by centimeter) move the antenna. Each adjustment should be accompanied by a check of the necessary indicators. Only with a positive result, the setting will be completed. https://youtu.be/eKakAAfQ2EQ

Possible problems and solutions

During set-top box setup, the following problems may occur:

1. There are noises in the picture . This is due to a weak signal or lack of contact. It is necessary to provide a more suitable direction of the antenna and recheck the connection of the cables.
2. Black and white picture . You need to check that the cables are connected correctly. In the tuner settings, you need to select Pal or Avto.
3. Some TV channels are not available . You need to change the position of the antenna or scan again using auto search.
4. All TV channels are unavailable . You need to make sure that the connection is correct and start auto-search again.

More problems with digital TV broadcasting are described in
this article .

Connecting the receiver to the TV receiver is not a difficult process. To make a correct connection, the types of cables and connectors must be taken into account. When setting up, you need to use automatic or manual channel search, and be sure to check the signal transmission quality.