Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > Travel Technology
Reload this Page >

Can I use this old LCD monitor as a tv connected to my cable box?

Can I use this old LCD monitor as a tv connected to my cable box?

Old Aug 23, 2012, 7:22 pm
  #1  
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,034
Can I use this old LCD monitor as a tv connected to my cable box?

I have an older Acer LCD monitor.

The inputs on it are VGA and DVI-D

My basic cable box (I only get the most basic package and yes, that's all I want right now ) has this as its outputs:



Is there some easy/cheap way to use the monitor with the cable box?
cblaisd is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2012, 7:44 pm
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 37,486
No other outputs on the cable box I assume? Positive?

You'll need a converter to go from composite (the yellow video out) to VGA. It certainly won't go to the DVI inputs. Don't fall for the simple cables that go from VGA to composite, as they won't work - VGA requires pretty specific connections.

Assuming your cable box is still analog, you may be cheaper off with a new cable box that has HDMI or DVI out. I'd start with your cable company and ask if they have a better model for you.

Alternatively, sell the monitor and buy a cheap TV... 19" TV's go for around $90 nowadays.
ScottC is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2012, 7:49 pm
  #3  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
Wirelessly posted (Samsung Galaxy S: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.3.6; en-us; SGH-T769 Build/GINGERBREAD) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

Originally Posted by cblaisd
I have an older Acer LCD monitor.

The inputs on it are VGA and DVI-D

My basic cable box (I only get the most basic package and yes, that's all I want right now ) has this as its outputs:



Is there some easy/cheap way to use the monitor with the cable box?
Composite to vga converter will worl provided you have a plan for audio.
http://mobile.walmart.com/m/phoenix;jsessionid=8570537DAAFBCF4C4A838899EE0E355 E#ip/StarTech-Composite-S-Video-to-VGA-Video-Converter-for-Computer-Monitors/14658986
Yaatri is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2012, 7:54 pm
  #4  
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,034
Originally Posted by ScottC
No other outputs on the cable box I assume? Positive?
Yes.

You'll need a converter to go from composite (the yellow video out) to VGA. It certainly won't go to the DVI inputs. Don't fall for the simple cables that go from VGA to composite, as they won't work - VGA requires pretty specific connections.
Thanks for the warning

Assuming your cable box is still analog
Yes

you may be cheaper off with a new cable box that has HDMI or DVI out. I'd start with your cable company and ask if they have a better model for you.
I'll see what that might cost. I got this Comcast bundle because getting the basic cable was cheaper than just getting internet and it is a higher speed that just getting internet alone.

Alternatively, sell the monitor and buy a cheap TV... 19" TV's go for around $90 nowadays.
Been watching BensBargains and Techbargains but mostly see only much bigger and more expensive TVs

Originally Posted by Yaatri

Composite to vga converter will worl provided you have a plan for audio.
http://mobile.walmart.com/m/phoenix;...itors/14658986
The monitor does have built in speakers, although they were never very robust.
cblaisd is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2012, 11:46 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,693
Buy a cheap tv as previous person suggested or get a free tube tv that people are throwing out. Not worth your time or trouble.
Centurion is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2012, 6:18 am
  #6  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 37,486
Originally Posted by cblaisd
Been watching BensBargains and Techbargains but mostly see only much bigger and more expensive TVs
I'd recommend looking at real stores instead of daily deal sites

Walmart has plenty:

http://www.walmart.com/search/search...h_constraint=0

The 19" monitor is worth at least $60, sell that and buy a refurbished TV instead.
ScottC is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2012, 8:23 am
  #7  
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,034
Thanks, Scott.

I've had the monitor plus stand on CL for a month now with no inquiries.
cblaisd is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2012, 3:55 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 816
Converter
glob99 is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2012, 7:28 pm
  #9  
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,034
Originally Posted by Centurion
Buy a cheap tv as previous person suggested or get a free tube tv that people are throwing out. Not worth your time or trouble.
I ended up getting a very good deal on a used 24" LCD tv from my local CL.

Last edited by cblaisd; Aug 24, 2012 at 9:40 pm
cblaisd is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2012, 9:40 pm
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Somewhere between here and there...
Programs: WWF, Appalachian Mountain Club
Posts: 11,595
Originally Posted by ScottC

You'll need a converter to go from composite (the yellow video out) to VGA.
Technically with the converter this will work, but keep in mind that these are two formats that were never meant to go together and you'll be sorely disappointed with the picture quality. Upconverting from composite never works quite right.
tkey75 is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2012, 10:06 pm
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,716
Originally Posted by tkey75
Technically with the converter this will work, but keep in mind that these are two formats that were never meant to go together and you'll be sorely disappointed with the picture quality. Upconverting from composite never works quite right.
Since he's on basic cable he may be satisfied with the converted signal. If he's watching on a 24" set there's not going to much to be gained from hi def anyway.

BTW, I did see a refurb 32" LCD TV at Micro Center for $199 today. Woof.
DenverBrian is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.