How do I connect my TV to my cable box using hdmi cables?

Question

So, I have a Samsung LCD tv with 2 HDMI plugs and I know that my HD DVR cable box also has an HDMI plug. If I connect an HDMI cable to the TV, do I still need all the other audio in/out (yellow, red, white cables) to be plugged in?

I guess my question is, by connecting the hdmi cable from my tv to the cable box, what do I remove from the current setup? Is it the audio in/out lines or is it the cable wire?

Thanks

Answer 1

You would only need the HDMI between your TV and your DVR HD cable box. However, if you want surround sound to your receiver, you will either have to connect the HDMI out to the receiver's HDMI in if it has one. If not, then you will need to connect either a digital cable or the regular analog audio cables (i.e. L and R) between your TV and your receiver.

H a p p y
H o m e
T h e a t e r i n g !

Answer 2

HDMI carries both digital video and audio. You should be able to completely disconnect all other cables and just run the 1 HDMI cable. Thats one of the major benefits to the HDMI cable, it eliminate the mess behind your TV.

Just plug the HDMI cable into the TV, and the other end into your cable box.

Answer 3

In theory, the HDMI is "suppose" to carry the sound and picture back and forth to all you equipment...But not everything is compatible quite yet...Some current specs only allow for VIDEO to pass through the cable.

When it's all "hammered out" in the future, all of our home theater equipment will work together and hook together with no frustrations thanks to HDMI...But in the mean time, click this link to see why HDMI isn't always the best connection: http://www.whydoesmyhometheatersuck.com/hdmi.html

What I'm saying is that you might loose your AUDIO if you start pulling out cables...The HDMI might not be taking care of your sound...But, it might very well be doing everything it's supposed to be doing...Try it both ways and see for yourself.

Answer 4

HDMI was engineered to carry both video and audio so you can disconnect all other cables.

Answer 5

As for the instructions, I am going to assume the DVD player is not a combo unit with the VCR, and that you want to record TV on your VCR. Step 4 will include connecting your DVD player, but if the DVD player is a combo unit with the VCR, just ignore step 4 part as DVD connection will be included in the VCR set up.

1) Connect the coaxial cable coming out from the wall to your digital cable box in the ‘video in’ slot. It might also be labeled ‘antenna in’ or ‘cable in’.

2) From the cable box, connect a coaxial or composite (yellow video cable) and stereo (red-white) RCA audio cables to the VIDEO IN terminal on your VCR.

3) From the VCR, you will have to connect this to the RF Modulator using a coaxial cable from the VIDEO OUT on the VCR to one of the IN ports on your RF modulator.

4) You can now connect your DVD player to the RF Modulator by using the yellow-red-white composite/RCA cables from the VIDEO OUT on the DVD player to another port on the RF modulator.

5) From the RF modulator, connect this unit to your TV by using a coaxial cable. It will be from the VIDEO OUT on the RF modulator to the VIDEO IN or CABLE or ANTENNA IN port on your television.

This should be all you need to get started watching your digital television. In simple terms here is what you did:

Coaxial from wall to cable box
Cable box to VCR
VCR to RF modulator
DVD player to RF Modulator
RF modulator to TV

You will only be able to record what is on channel three because the digital cable will require you be on channel three. As for future connections to the RF modulator - just plug your viewing device into it and hit the button activating the video signal for the device you want to view. As long as it is connected to the television and the TV is on channel three, you should be able to see your video signal. :