Can I adapt my HD TV with no HDMI input to accept HD programs?

Question

I purchased a Mitsubishi Medallion HD 1080 rear projection TV three years ago in anticipation of HD on cable and from DVD's. Yet, it has no HDMI input. Video, S video, RGB and Component video, but no HDMI. Every Hi Def product I look at outputs in HDMI.

Is there a device that accepts HDMI and converts to Component or RGB inputs? I got an adaptor at Radio Shack that does not do the trick. Any ideas?

Answer 1

You may have a 2004 Mitsubishi unit with the "m-link" dvi input- there are adaptors that convert that format, but some sources will still require the "handshake" that hdmi is designed to support in order to allow the highest resolution images to be displayed. For a comprehensive look at the possibilities, try this link: http://www.mycablemart.com/store/cart.ph...

If you only have the Y/P/Br three-cable video connection and nothing else, you are pretty well done- time for a new set. Corporate paranoia (the same stuff that killed the music industry), AKA Digital Rights Management is the paradigm driving HDMI and also HDMI-2. Early adopters with the faith to buy when HD first became available basically lost somewhere between 2 and 15 grand ("data grade" front projection rigs with "line doublers" could push 40) to this idiocy, so you're in very good company. My 5K Sony WEGA had a gorgeous image- and was trash in short order for the same reasons.

Answer 2

If your TV is only 3 years old, you should have DVI. If it does, you can buy an inexpensive adaptor to convert the HDMI output to DVI input. You will have to run digital audio from your cable box to your TV because DVI doesn't handle the audio feed.

All of the inputs you've listed are analog. The best way to pass HD analog from one device to another is component video.

Use the RGB to input component video from your cable box for 1080i. I know it's a little confusing but it's a dual purpose input. The TV will recognize that you are using component instead of RGB and switch accordingly. If you use the inputs marked as component video, you might be limited to 480p. Without an exact model number, I can't tell for sure.

Nothing you can purchase will convert digital (HDMI) to analog (component video) better than the cable box unless you are prepared to spend an enormous amount of money. It would be cheaper to buy a new TV.

Answer 3

Strange - Every device I have with HDMI also outputs Component with HD Video. This includes my BluRay, HD-DVD player, HD Cable box and xBox360.

Check the fine print on what you are looking at.

The only thing that wont work is a up-converting DVD player - these only output the up-converted signal on HDMI. Short of that - everything should offer component output.

Below is a link that takes HDMI in and spits out Component (but I suspect you dont need it).  This link came from AGB.. (another guy here)

Answer 4

You cannot convert HDMI to Component.   You can get HD through component video and still looks good.  Just more cables.