How to Hook Up Cable Box to TV Without HDMI?

Modern-day devices use HDMI to interface for video audio and other media. However, if you have an old TV or cable box, one or both of them might not have an HDMI port. In that case, it becomes difficult to hook up the cable box to the TV without HDMI.

If you are one of the users having the same problem then this guide is for you. In this guide, We will show you some good ways to hook up a cable box to a TV without HDMI.

How to Hook Up Cable Box to TV Without HDMI

Using Composite Video Cables

The very first way to connect a cable box to a TV without HDMI is by using composite video cables. Prior to the introduction of HDMI, these cables were readily used to hook up cable boxes to TVs.

The composite video cable is a set of three differently colored cables. The three different cables are in red, white, and yellow color. The red and white colored cables are for audio and the yellow-colored cable is for video. You can easily find these cables in any electronic store near you and they are also easily available online. The great thing about these cables is that they are available in various lengths.

How to Use It?

Step 1: Make sure that both your TV and cable box has the ports for composite video cable.

Step 2: Plug the cables in both your TV and cable box in the right ports. Use and follow the colors to plug them correctly. Just make sure that you plug the yellow cable in the port with yellow coding and red in the red coding and white in the white one.

Step 3: Once you plug them in, go to your TV. In the input, select the composite option for this method to work.

That’s it!

Now, this method is only good if both your TV and cable box support RCA composite video cables.

Using Component Video Cables

Unlike the composite video cable which just has one cable for video, the component cable has multiple cables for videos and then two more cables for audio. For video, it uses green, blue, and red cables and for audio, the cables are white and red.

Again these are easily available in any electronic shop and you can find them online as well.

How to Use It?

Step 1: Just make sure that both your cable box and TV have the support for component video cables.

Step 2: After that, just connect the cables to the required cable points.

Step 3: Now go to your TV and select the input as a component.

After that, you should be all good.

Using HDMI Converter

Well, what if your cable box has an HDMI port and your TV doesn’t, or vice-versa. In that case, you can use an HDMI converter.

This depends on the type of cable box or TV you have. If you have a TV with an HDMI port but your cable box only supports RCA cables then you will have to get an RCA to HDMI converter.

You can get one of those online.

In case you have a cable box with an HDMI output but your TV does not have an HDMI port then you need an HDMI to the Component converter to connect your cable box to the TV.

How to Use it?

Step 1: If your TV has an HDMI port then you just have to connect the RCA cables to the HDMI converter and then connect the HDMI cable to the TV and converter.

Step 2: Once you connect all the cables correctly, go to the TV input menu and select HDMI as input.

How do You Normally Connect a Cable Box to a TV?

If you have a fairly new TV and cable box, with both having HDMI ports, then the process is quite straightforward. You take an HDMI cable and connect both ends of it to the TV’s HDMI port and cable box’s HDMI port respectively. Then you select the input source as HDMI on your TV and you start receiving programs from your cable to the TV.

What If I Don’t Have an HDMI Port on My TV and/or Cable Box?

In case you do not have an HDMI port on your TV or the cable box then you will have to use other methods to establish a connection between them. The other methods include the use of composite video cables, component video cables, and HDMI converters. Let’s understand the use case of each of them one by one so that you can select the best method for yourself.

That’s it!

Also Read: How to Watch Movies from Phone to TV Without HDMI

Conclusion

So that was all about how to hook up cable box to TV without HDMI. The three main and effective methods are using composite video cables, component video cables, and HDMI converters.

The first two methods, that is by using cables are relevant if you have an old TV and an old cable box which do not have any HDMI ports at all.

However, if you have a fairly new TV or a cable box and either of them has an HDMI port then you should go with the last option. That is using an HDMI converter. Just make sure that you select the right HDMI converter based on the type of RCA ports or connecters your TV or cable box has. Just remember that the right HDMI converter can help you watch your cable TV without any problems even if you do not have an HDMI port.

We hope this guide helps you in fixing your HDMI port issue and watch the TV seamlessly.

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