Buzz
Want to enjoy your favorite cable channels on a smart TV? Whether you're using a digital TV decoder or just basic cable, there are plenty of ways to watch cable TV on your smart TV. Today, Mytour will guide you on connecting your TV to a cable box, as well as the steps to take if you want to connect your smart TV to a standard coaxial cable wall jack.
Steps
Using a Cable Box
Check the HDMI port on the cable box. Most cable boxes come with an HDMI port, making it easier to connect to the HDMI port on your smart TV. The HDMI port is usually labeled "HDMI" (though not always) and has six sides—a longer top edge, a shorter bottom edge, and inward-facing left and right edges.
- If your decoder has an HDMI port, you can use a standard HDMI cable to connect the device to your smart TV.
- If you still have an old cable box and just upgraded to a smart TV, contact your cable provider to see if they offer a compatible HD converter box.
Find a converter if the cable box lacks an HDMI port. You have several options:
- If the cable box has a Composite RCA port (yellow, white, and red), you can connect it to the TV using an RCA-to-HDMI converter. While the image quality won't be high, you can still watch cable TV at a lower resolution this way.
- If the cable box has a Component port (red, blue, and green), you can connect it to the HD-compatible Component port on your smart TV. If your TV doesn't have a Component port, you can use a Component-to-HDMI converter to still enjoy HD resolution (up to 1080p).
Turn off both the cable box and the smart TV before starting. If either device is on, switch it off immediately.
Connect the cable box to the wall cable jack. Use the coaxial cable that came with the cable box for this connection. Plug one end of the coaxial cable into the wall jack and the other end into the "Cable In" (or similar) port on the decoder.
- If you're using both Internet and cable TV services, you likely have a coaxial splitter—a device that allows you to connect both the cable modem and the cable box to the wall jack simultaneously. Plug the coaxial cable into an available port on the splitter and connect the other end to the cable box.
- Do not turn on the cable box just yet.
Connect the cable box to the smart TV using an HDMI cable. Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the cable box (or converter) and the other end into an HDMI port on the smart TV. Take note of the port number you're using.
- If using an HDMI converter with a cable box that lacks an HDMI port, connect the converter to the Component cable plugged into the cable box, then plug the HDMI end into an available HDMI port.
Turn on the cable box and the smart TV. Depending on the model, the TV may automatically detect the cable box and switch to the cable TV channel.
Use the TV remote to switch to the cable input. If the TV doesn't automatically detect the cable box, press the Source or Input button on the smart TV remote and select the HDMI port connected to the cable box.
- If using a Component cable, select the Component input.
Start watching cable TV. Depending on your service provider, you may need to activate the cable box after connecting. Once set up, you might need to program the cable remote to work with the smart TV (or vice versa). Check the documentation included with your smart TV and/or cable package for specific instructions.
Options for connecting without a cable box
Check if your cable provider offers a streaming app. Many cable providers release their own TV apps. As long as you're subscribed to their service, you can use the app to watch channels without directly connecting to a cable box. If your provider has an app, install it from your TV's app store to stream cable TV. Here are some apps from U.S. cable providers:
- Cox: Contour TV app
- Optimum: Altice One app
- Mediacom: XtreamTV app
- RCN: RCN2Go app
- Sparklight: Sparklight TV app
- Spectrum: Spectrum TV app
- Wave: Wave TV On the Go app
- Wow: Wow! TV+ app
- Xfinity: Xfinity Stream app
Use a coaxial cable with basic cable service. If your TV has a coaxial input, you can connect the smart TV directly to the wall jack using a coaxial cable. These inputs are round with a central hole labeled "Cable In," "Antenna In," or "DTV/TV."
- Even if your TV lacks a coaxial input, your cable provider might not offer channels without a decoder. Contact your provider to see if you can watch cable TV without a decoder.
- To connect a coaxial cable to your TV:
- Turn off the TV.
- Connect the coaxial cable from the wall jack to the TV's input.
- Turn on the smart TV.
- Use the smart TV remote to switch to the "TV" input.
- You may need to access the TV's settings, find the "Tuner mode," and switch it to "Cable." Then, scan for channels to start watching.
Try using a digital TV converter box. If your TV doesn't have a coaxial input, you can purchase an affordable converter box with a built-in tuner. These devices resemble cable boxes in appearance and come with a remote control. You can plug the coaxial cable into the converter box and connect it to the TV using an HDMI cable.
- To ensure compatibility with digital cable, opt for a converter box with a QAM tuner instead of an over-the-air tuner.
- Most of these converter boxes also function as DVRs, allowing you to record your favorite shows.
