A gal trying to do a man's job needs help connecting new hdtv to HTIB &cable box

lyndsey · 01-16-2005, 12:42 PM

I just purchased this no name 30'' lcd tv. Please follow this link http://www.shopathometv.com/shopatho...6&sku=10011606. I have a time warner digital cable box (scientific atlanta Explorer 2200) and i just purchased the Panasonic SCHT820V Home Theater System w/ Progressive Scan DVD / VCR Combo. The cable box has an s-video out, (yellow) video-out ,(red&white) audio-out , (black) digital audio out & cable out and cable in rf terminal. With the overconnecting mcables accumulated throughout the years i couldnt connect this tv to my portable dvd or 5 yr old vcr . So i just broke down to buy a combo. Will the included connectors for the new panasonic be enough? or do i have to spend more $.

**rbinck** · 01-16-2005, 12:53 PM

According to what I can find on your equipment, I've attached a diagram for hooking up your system. This makes some assumptions. First that the SA 2200 has a DVI port that is activated for your HDTV connection and the speakers hook up to the Home Theater In a Box (HTIB) control unit. It may be the speakers hook up to the subwoofer and there is a cable from the HTIB control unit to the subwoofer. I assume you can get those particulars from the HTIB manual.

Based on that, it would seem all of the speaker cables are furnished and the A/V cable between the SA2200 and the HTIB control unit is also furnished. You will need to get:

A DVI-I cable to connect between the SA2200 and your TV.
A stereo audio cable to connect between the SA2200 and your TV.
Another A/V cable to connect between the HTIB and the TV
A component (RGB) cable to connect between the HTIB and the TV.

If the SA2200 DVI output is not there or not activated, then it can be replaced with another component cable if you have 2 component inputs on your TV. I am unable to tell how many component inputs your TV has from your link.

Hopefully this will be of some help.

lyndsey · 01-16-2005, 01:26 PM

okay.cool. i'll wait as long as it takes for help. Thank you in advance . I made a typo before though. I mean't to type "With the over 15 connecting cables accumulated throughout the years i couldnt connect this tv to my portable dvd or 5 yr old vcr or new laptops.''

**rbinck** · 01-16-2005, 02:13 PM

The way I've diagramed the system will allow you to watch cable TV without the HTIB having to be turned on. The signal would go through the DVI cable (video) and the stereo audio cable.

When you want to add theater sound to the SA2200 programming, you would turn on the HTIB and select the A/V input, but leave the TV selecting the DVI input.

When you want to watch DVDs, you would select the component input on your TV and, of course DVD on the HTIB.

When you want to watch VCR tapes, you may have to select the A/V input (the R-W-Y cable) on your TV. Some of the HTIBs will not output the VCR video throught the progressive scan outputs and you have to use the composite video output to get the VCR video.

If you are going to view a photo disc, you would use the same settings as the DVD.

Any questions, just ask.

lyndsey · 01-16-2005, 02:50 PM

OH my goodness, I was no way expecting such time consuming detail. Thank you sooo much for the fantastic information. I will go to the stores and purchase the necessary cables tmo. I am also trying to post a pic of the back of my tv..it'll take a moment or two

lyndsey · 01-16-2005, 04:19 PM

sorry, i'm trying to add pics

lyndsey · 01-16-2005, 05:42 PM

i hope these pics of the back of my tv is helpful

**rbinck** · 01-16-2005, 10:16 PM

Ok great. It shows you do have 2 sets of component inputs in the lower left photo. This may be necessary to be used instead of the DVI connection should the DVI give you problems.

I noticed the audio input for the DVI connection is a mini audio plug - in the upper right photo. You will need an adapter that goes from the 1/8" mini plug to two RCA female connections.
If you use the second component connections to hook up your SA2200 the audio connections are just to the right of the component connections.

Edit: I've revised the diagram in post #10

lyndsey · 01-17-2005, 02:02 AM

thank you again. Your expertise is priceless. There isnt a DVI connection on the SA2200 but everything on your schematic is on the money. I look forward to trying this again after i purchase necessary connectors. What an asset for us to have you and you help save us laymen or "laywomen" lots of $ as long as we have the patience and diligence.

**rbinck** · 01-17-2005, 08:40 AM

Here is a revised diagram. Be sure to review the cables you will need. You may have some of them from your existing stuff.

lyndsey · 01-21-2005, 06:50 AM

i have a question. (what else is new). I made the connections, best i could, but i only connected 1 set of r-g-b component wire from the HTIB to the tv's Y-PB-PR on the tv. But according to your revised diagram there should be another set connected from the y-CB-CR to the cable box. There isnt a rgb connection on the cable box. So where should it go? I can watch catv on the "tv" source mode and dvd's on the s-video mode (although the pic's are a tiny bit grainy but i'll continue to fiddle with the controls of both tv and HTIB. Havent tried the vcr yet. Also, there is 75 coaxial cable I connected from the TV's RF- in to the rf-in on the panasonic. Shoould i connect it another way or if it works dont try to fix it rule applies here? lol

lyndsey · 01-21-2005, 07:52 AM

what is dvi input on the tv used for?

**rbinck** · 01-21-2005, 07:53 AM

My apologies. I was thinking you had a HDTV cable box. Your TV is a HDTV so I would think about getting a HDTV cable box from your provider which will have the component connections. I don't know if they charge extra for this, but it would be worth looking into so you can watch HDTV.

Using the current cable box the video will need to be connected via the s-video.

**rbinck** · 01-21-2005, 07:54 AM

The DVI input can be used with a cable box or DVD that has a DVI output. Can also be used with a computer that has a DVI output.

lyndsey · 01-21-2005, 10:04 AM

thanks again rbinck. I totally understand the asumpton..i will look into hdtv thru my cable ompany today. does the dvi offer better picture quality for cable or dvd?

01-16-2005, 02:13 PM	#4
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 16,976	The way I've diagramed the system will allow you to watch cable TV without the HTIB having to be turned on. The signal would go through the DVI cable (video) and the stereo audio cable. When you want to add theater sound to the SA2200 programming, you would turn on the HTIB and select the A/V input, but leave the TV selecting the DVI input. When you want to watch DVDs, you would select the component input on your TV and, of course DVD on the HTIB. When you want to watch VCR tapes, you may have to select the A/V input (the R-W-Y cable) on your TV. Some of the HTIBs will not output the VCR video throught the progressive scan outputs and you have to use the composite video output to get the VCR video. If you are going to view a photo disc, you would use the same settings as the DVD. Any questions, just ask. Last edited by rbinck; 01-16-2005 at 09:53 PM..

01-16-2005, 10:16 PM	#8
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 16,976	Ok great. It shows you do have 2 sets of component inputs in the lower left photo. This may be necessary to be used instead of the DVI connection should the DVI give you problems. I noticed the audio input for the DVI connection is a mini audio plug - in the upper right photo. You will need an adapter that goes from the 1/8" mini plug to two RCA female connections. If you use the second component connections to hook up your SA2200 the audio connections are just to the right of the component connections. Edit: I've revised the diagram in post #10 Last edited by rbinck; 01-17-2005 at 08:42 AM..

01-16-2005, 12:42 PM	#1
lyndsey newbie Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18	A gal trying to do a man's job needs help connecting new hdtv to HTIB &cable box I just purchased this no name 30'' lcd tv. Please follow this link http://www.shopathometv.com/shopatho...6&sku=10011606. I have a time warner digital cable box (scientific atlanta Explorer 2200) and i just purchased the Panasonic SCHT820V Home Theater System w/ Progressive Scan DVD / VCR Combo. The cable box has an s-video out, (yellow) video-out ,(red&white) audio-out , (black) digital audio out & cable out and cable in rf terminal. With the overconnecting mcables accumulated throughout the years i couldnt connect this tv to my portable dvd or 5 yr old vcr . So i just broke down to buy a combo. Will the included connectors for the new panasonic be enough? or do i have to spend more $.

01-16-2005, 01:26 PM	#3
lyndsey newbie Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18	okay.cool. i'll wait as long as it takes for help. Thank you in advance . I made a typo before though. I mean't to type "With the over 15 connecting cables accumulated throughout the years i couldnt connect this tv to my portable dvd or 5 yr old vcr or new laptops.''

01-16-2005, 02:50 PM	#5
lyndsey newbie Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18	OH my goodness, I was no way expecting such time consuming detail. Thank you sooo much for the fantastic information. I will go to the stores and purchase the necessary cables tmo. I am also trying to post a pic of the back of my tv..it'll take a moment or two

01-16-2005, 04:19 PM	#6
lyndsey newbie Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18	sorry, i'm trying to add pics

01-17-2005, 02:02 AM	#9
lyndsey newbie Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18	thank you again. Your expertise is priceless. There isnt a DVI connection on the SA2200 but everything on your schematic is on the money. I look forward to trying this again after i purchase necessary connectors. What an asset for us to have you and you help save us laymen or "laywomen" lots of $ as long as we have the patience and diligence.

01-21-2005, 06:50 AM	#11
lyndsey newbie Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18	i have a question. (what else is new). I made the connections, best i could, but i only connected 1 set of r-g-b component wire from the HTIB to the tv's Y-PB-PR on the tv. But according to your revised diagram there should be another set connected from the y-CB-CR to the cable box. There isnt a rgb connection on the cable box. So where should it go? I can watch catv on the "tv" source mode and dvd's on the s-video mode (although the pic's are a tiny bit grainy but i'll continue to fiddle with the controls of both tv and HTIB. Havent tried the vcr yet. Also, there is 75 coaxial cable I connected from the TV's RF- in to the rf-in on the panasonic. Shoould i connect it another way or if it works dont try to fix it rule applies here? lol

01-21-2005, 07:52 AM	#12
lyndsey newbie Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18	what is dvi input on the tv used for?

01-21-2005, 07:53 AM	#13
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 16,976	My apologies. I was thinking you had a HDTV cable box. Your TV is a HDTV so I would think about getting a HDTV cable box from your provider which will have the component connections. I don't know if they charge extra for this, but it would be worth looking into so you can watch HDTV. Using the current cable box the video will need to be connected via the s-video.

01-21-2005, 07:54 AM	#14
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 16,976	The DVI input can be used with a cable box or DVD that has a DVI output. Can also be used with a computer that has a DVI output.

01-21-2005, 10:04 AM	#15
lyndsey newbie Thread Starter Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 18	thanks again rbinck. I totally understand the asumpton..i will look into hdtv thru my cable ompany today. does the dvi offer better picture quality for cable or dvd?