Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Preparing the connection
• Part 2 of 4: Connecting the DVD player
• Part 3 of 4: Connecting the VCR
• Part 4 of 4: Connecting the digital decoder
• Tips
• Warnings

This wikiHow teaches you how to connect a DVD player, VCR, and digital decoder to your television using the best possible connections.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Preparing the connection

1. Check your TV's inputs. On the back or side of your TV there will be several ports to which you can attach cables. Depending on the age and model of your TV, you should see some (or all) of the following ports:
   • RCA - Red, yellow and white round gates. These can be seen most often on VCRs, DVD players and older consoles.
   • HDMI - A flat, wide input used for high-definition devices. Your TV may have more than one of these.
   • S-video - A round piece of plastic with several small holes in it. This input is ideal for obtaining optimum quality for older technology, such as VCRs or old DVD players. S-video is not a carrier for sound, so you will need the red and white cables from the RCA cable set if you are connecting a DVD player or VCR.
2. Check the outputs of your DVD player, VCR and cable box on. The options you have for connecting your devices to your TV determine the type of connection you can use:
   • DVD player - Usually RCA, S-video and / or HDMI.
   • VCR - RCA and / or S-video.
   • Digital cable box - HDMI, although some old cable boxes have RCA outputs.
3. Determine which devices you give priority. When it comes to picture quality, your DVD player and digital decoder take precedence over the VCR. This means you'll probably want to use an HDMI cable for both if possible, leaving you with an RCA or S-video connection for your VCR.
   • If your TV has only one HDMI input, you will probably want to connect the digital decoder to it and use a different type of cable for the DVD player.
   • If you have a receiver that is connected to the HDMI input of your TV, you may be able to connect both the DVD player and the digital decoder to the receiver via HDMI.
4. Use the correct cables for each device. This will largely depend on the type (and number) of connections your TV has:
   • DVD player - Ideally you use HDMI if available. If not, you use RCA cables or S-video-cables. Since DVDs are of higher quality than VHS tapes, use them here instead s video for the VCR.
   • VCR - Use RCA cables or S-video cables for your VCR. This usually depends on what you are using for your DVD player.
   • ’Digital decoder - You have a HDMI cable necessary to connect the digital decoder to the TV, as well as a coaxial cable to connect the decoder to the cable service.
5. Buy any cables you don't have. Most DVD players, VCRs and digital decoders come with the cables you need. However, if you are using S-video or HDMI on a box that came with RCA, you will need to purchase the appropriate cables online or at a tech store.
   • If you buy an S-video cable, make sure you get the right one.
   • When you buy cables, you don't necessarily have to buy the most expensive cables you can find. Good HDMI or S-video cables shouldn't cost more than $ 15 to $ 20, depending on where you shop (online is usually cheapest).
6. Turn off your TV and unplug it. Your TV must be turned off and disconnected from the power source before you can connect other devices.

Part 2 of 4: Connecting the DVD player

1. Find the connection cable of your DVD player. You must use an HDMI cable or an S-video cable for your DVD player.
   • If you are using an S-video cable for your DVD player, you will also need the red and white RCA cables.
2. Connect your cable to the DVD player. Connect the HDMI or S-video cable to the appropriate port on the back of the DVD player.
   • If you are using an S-video cable, you will also need to connect the red and white RCA cables to the red and white ports on the back of the DVD player.
3. Connect the cable to the TV. Plug the other end of the HDMI or S-video cable into the back or side of the TV. If you're using S-video, you'll also need to plug the red and white RCA plugs into the red and white ports on the back of the TV.
   • If you're using a receiver for your TV, you may be able to use your receiver's inputs instead of your TV's.
4. Connect your DVD player to an electrical outlet. Plug the DVD player's power cable into a power outlet. This can be a wall socket or a power strip with overvoltage protection.

Part 3 of 4: Connecting the VCR

1. Find the connection cables of your video recorder. If you are using an S-video cable, you will also need the red and white RCA cables that are normally built into the VCR. If not, just use all three RCA cables (the red, white, and yellow cables).
2. Attach the cables to the VCR. Connect the S-video cable to the back of the VCR. RCA cables are usually built into the VCR. If not, connect at least the red and white cables to the red and white ports on the back of the VCR.
   • If you are not using S-video cables, make sure the yellow RCA cable is also attached to the VCR.
3. Plug the other plugs of the cables into the TV. Plug the free end of the S-video cable into the 'S-Video In' port on the back or side of the TV, then plug the red and white cables into the red and white ports on the back or side of the TV .
   • If you're using a receiver for your TV, you may be able to use your receiver's inputs instead of your TV's.
4. Connect your DVD player to a power source. Connect the DVD player's power cable to an electrical outlet, whether it is a wall outlet or a power strip with surge protection.
   • If the DVD player cable has been disconnected from the player itself, you must also attach the cable to the back of the DVD player.

Part 4 of 4: Connecting the digital decoder

1. Find the cables from your junction box. You need at least three cables for your box: the coaxial cable, the HDMI cable and the power cable.
2. Attach the coaxial cable to the digital decoder. The coaxial input on your digital decoder resembles a metal cylinder with a hole in the center and a screw thread, while the coaxial cable has an attachment that resembles a needle. Insert the needle into the center of the coaxial input and screw the head of the cable clockwise to secure the connection.
3. Attach the other end of the coaxial cable to the cable outlet. On the wall behind your TV you should find a coaxial output similar to the one on the back of your cable box. Attach the coaxial cable to this output in the same way as you did with the digital decoder.
   • If the coaxial output is elsewhere in the room, you may need to purchase a longer coaxial cable and run it the length of the room.
4. Plug your HDMI cable into the digital decoder. Locate the "HDMI OUT" (or similar) port on the back of the digital decoder and plug in the HDMI cable.
5. Plug the other plug of the HDMI cable into your TV. If you only have one HDMI port on the back or side of your TV, use it for your digital decoder.
   • If you're using a receiver for your TV, you may be able to use your receiver's HDMI input instead of your TV's.
6. Connect your digital decoder to a power source. Connect the plug of the power cable to a wall socket (e.g. a wall socket or a power strip with surge protection) and then plug the other end into your digital decoder.

Tips

• If you are using RCA cables, keep the following in mind: red is for the right audio channel, white is for the left audio channel, and yellow is for video. Knowing this can help you diagnose sound or video problems if they arise.
• You should always put a VCR at the bottom of the quality standards. DVDs are much higher quality than VHS tapes, and your decoder should always be connected to an HDMI input as standard.

Warnings

• Always make sure that your TV is switched off and that you remove the plug from the socket when changing the connections of your devices.
• Placing too many devices (eg DVD players, VCRs, digital decoding, consoles, etc.) close together can cause overheating.