Will Either of these Cable Boxes work on my Analog Set?

[mwplefty]

Since we are post-DTV Transition:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-HAMLIN-C...#ht_1019wt_913

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/ele/1974350941.html

[Dave A]

Not at all if your system has gone digital. These are old, probably 42 channel boxes.

[radiotvnut]

These will work only if your cable provider still offers analog delivery. Also, like what has already been said, these probably don't go higher than the 40's. For years, many "cable ready" TV's didn't go higher than 36. Then, cable companies started adding more channels, which made it necessary to produce TV's, VCR's, and cable boxes that would go higher.

If your CATV provider offers digital only delivery, the only thing these will be good for will be a paperweight.

I have an old Jerrold 36 channel click style pushbotton box and a few of the digital readout boxes that only go up into the 40's and 50's. They still can be used, since we still have analog cable service; but, they will not receive all channels (our service goes up into the upper 60's).

[mwplefty]

Question: I just connected a cable cord into my 2005 LCD digital set and plugged it directly into the cable outlet on the wall (no box). I got channels 2-31 (minus a few channels in-between). For any old analog TV, specifically one with 300-ohm screw terminals and not cable-ready, can I attach the cable cord to the TV Balun (300-ohm transformer) and then plug it into the cable outlet and get channels 2-13, or VHF?

[radiotvnut]

Yes, you should be able to receive channels 2-13 if you connect the cable feed directly to a non-cable ready set. I use the rotary tuner in my '79 Zenith for channels 2-13 on the cable. If I want to watch anything above 13, I select channel 4 on the TV and use the VCR's cable ready tuner for the higher channels.

[bandersen]

I have Comcast basic analog cable and am able to just use a 75-300 balun for all of my vintage TVs to get channels 2-13

[mwplefty]

Originally Posted by bandersen

I have Comcast basic analog cable and am able to just use a 75-300 balun for all of my vintage TVs to get channels 2-13

So does this imply that the VHF rotary tuner can still be used to change channels? If so, can I also attach the 75-300 Balun to the UHF to get channels 14-83 (or 51 for some sets)?

[mbates14]

we still get channels 2 through 76 on basic analog cable.

time warner cincinatti.

[mbates14]

you gotta be careful with those analog cable boxes though.

I have found that the channel-to-frequency mapping changes as you start getting higher in the channels on those boxes. compared to modern cable-ready sets.

[mwplefty]

Originally Posted by mbates14

we still get channels 2 through 76 on basic analog cable.

time warner cincinatti.

You'd think that Chicago, the vintage electronics capital of the country, would offer me more channels on basic analog cable.

[mwplefty]

Originally Posted by mbates14

you gotta be careful with those analog cable boxes though.

I have found that the channel-to-frequency mapping changes as you start getting higher in the channels on those boxes. compared to modern cable-ready sets.

But if I plug my 1974 RCA directly into the cable outlet on my wall (no box) using a 300-ohm transformer/balun, can I use the VHF rotary tuner to change channels 2-13 or do I have to use some other type of remote control?

[mbates14]

as long as you have analog, yes...

[mwplefty]

Originally Posted by mbates14

as long as you have analog, yes...

That's good to hear (I do have analog). I love using those rotary tuners.

[andy]

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[mwplefty]

Originally Posted by andy

Not exactly. Cable channels 14+ are on different frequencies than UHF. Cable channels 14-64 fill the gaps between VHF channel 6 and 7, and VHF 13 and UHF 14. UHF channel 14 roughly corresponds to cable channel 65. If your cable system has analog channels that high, they will come in on a UHF dial.

But should I be able to at least get a few channels if I connect the TV Balun to the UHF screws (whether they correspond to the correct cable channel or not)?