Is a '94 TV suitable for a digital-to-analog converter box?

Question

A few years ago, I bought a '94 Sony TV from a yard sale. Instead of cable, I have an antenna on my roof, but it didn't seem to be receiving any signals so I got an Insignia digital-to-analog converter box to see what I could pick up. The back of the TV has only three outlets that I can plug things into, however: 1 Audio(white), 1 Video (yellow) and 1 VHF/UHF. The Insignia box needs outlets for red, white, and yellow. I do not have the red outlet.

Is the design of a '94 TV simply to outdated to accept modern converter boxes? Is there something in addition I have to buy to be able to plug in the Insignia?

Answer 1

Your '94 Sony should work fine.

Go into the converter's menu and change the sound from stereo to mono. Then just hook up the yellow and white wires.

The red output of the converter is only needed if your TV has stereo sound. (If it had stereo sound it would have a red jack.)

One thing. If your antenna can't receive any analog TV signals it is very unlikely that it will pick up any digital channels either.

In North America analog and digital broadcasts use the same antennas. You will have to figure out why you can't get analog reception and fix whatever the problem is. Common problems include damage to the antenna wire or the antenna has broken free and is no longer pointed in the right direction.

Answer 2

The extra outlet you dont have is just another speaker wire. Your TV is mono not stereo. It only has 1 speaker not 2.

The convertor box will work fine Just find the video cable (probably the yellow one) and use 1 audio cable.

1 cable from the box wont be used.

Answer 3

" a few years ago....."  I assume you just recently plugged in your  TV, then, and found your roof antenna lacking? Anyway, yeah, it is mono (not stereo) so you're cool with only the white for sound (and yellow); accessories are sold like this everywhere for TVs such as yours.

Only other thing I can suggest (in the case of a damaged roof antenna or EVEN the area where you're located) is a portable outdoor antenna which you would mount outside yourself.  Get a good one, anything over 50db.  

Make sure, though, to get any appropriate adapters you might need for your particular television (you don't want to make any more trips than necassary! :-) ) Who knows, you might end up using cable!

Answer 4

If you can't pick up analog signals with your antenna, you probably won't be able to pick up digital signals. Either you have a bad antenna, bad coax cable, or live in a bad location. It is not your TV that is the problem. You may need an new antenna... make sure it is a combination VHF and UHF.