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Setting up your HDTV does not have to be a complicated process. In fact, you should be able to test and use your HDTV with minimal setup if you wish - it’s only when you start adding DVD players and home-theater systems that the connections get a little spaghetti-like. In this article, we help you open up the box and get the HDTV out (But of course you really don’t believe that. Oh well. Call Pat - he’ll come right on over! Kidding.). Okay, so what we really help you do is understand the overall layout of your HDTV system, and to understand where the parts fit. We start small and simple, with just an over the air connection, and work up to your most intense and complex HDTV home-theater operation. Making Connections Unless your HDTV has a built-in DVD player or VCR, you need to make some connections to actually use it - the video signal must come from somewhere. There’s probably a cluster of input and output jacks (jack panel) on your HDTV. How you use these jacks is determined by the devices you connect to your HDTV. Jack panels Depending on the cabinet design, there may be jacks on the front, at the side, or on the back of your set.
Input jacks Input jacks only receive broadcast signals and programs from your audio/video devices so you can watch them on your HDTV. You’ll probably see most or all of the following audio/video input jacks on your HDTV:
- ANT-IN: Two or more ports for
• NTSC analog and ATSC off-air signals These ports only work for ATSC if you’ve got an HDTV with built-in HDTV (or ATSC) tuner.
• Analog and digital cable-TV signals These ports only work for digital cable if you’ve got a DCR (digital-cable-ready) HDTV (see Article 8).
- DVI-D/HDCP IN: A digital-video input, usually teamed with two R/L inputs for audio DVI-D/HDCP ports can’t plug into cables that are connected to a PC’s (similar) DVI-I connection.
- Video In: Usually these are in sets with
• Composite and S-Video video inputs
• Standard audio inputs Usually these are connected to composite or S-Videoequipped video systems like VCRs. Your HDTV may require you to tell it whether you’re connecting to the composite video or S-Video jack. (Check your owner’s manual.)
- Component Video In: Component video plus standard audio inputs for accepting signals from component video systems such as DVD players
- PC inputs: Usually divided into
• PC Audio Input: These audio jacks connect to the audio output ports on your PC.
• PC Video Input: These video jacks connect to the video output port on your PC. Output jacks Output jacks send signals from your HDTV to your audio/video devices so you can - Record, listen to, or distribute the programs - Control other devices You’ll probably see most or all of the following audio/video output jacks on your HDTV:
- IR Out: An Infrared port for sending IR signals to control your attached devices
- Audio/video outputs: Usually an HDTV has two kinds of audio/video outputs that do a range of tasks:
• REC Out: A “record out” connection for recording what you see on your HDTV to an analog VCR.
• A/V Out: Regular composite video and standard audio outputs for connecting such devices as a VCR for editing and dubbing. Usually this output is bridged directly to an input; whatever is connected to the input jack goes to this output. These audio/video outputs usually have a couple of limitations:
• They output a downconverted video signal, not HDTV.
• You can’t adjust the audio volume with the TV remote.
- Audio Only: HDTVs usually have a couple of outputs for sending audio to other devices, such as amplifiers, receivers, and decoders:
• Digital Audio Out: A digital audio connection (usually an optical “Toslink” connector) for connecting external Dolby Digital-enabled amplifiers, receivers, decoders, or other home-theater systems that receive optical audio.
• Variable Audio Out: These are standard audio ports for connecting an analog amplifier with external speakers. Variable audio allows you to adjust the volume of your external sound system with your TV remote. Many TVs have an on/off switch that governs how the onboard speakers are used. You may be able to switch your speakers so either - The internal speakers carry all the normal audio signals. - The TV’s audio goes directly to the A/V receiver, and either
• The TV’s speakers can be the A/V receiver’s center speakers for surround sound.
• The TV’s speakers are entirely off. Bi-directional jacks Bi-directional jacks both send and receive data. A couple of these jacks are common on HDTVs. Two types exist:
- FireWire/IEEE 1394: These ports are for connecting devices for compressed video and audio signals. HDTVs with IEEE-1394 FireWire ports don’t always operate with all the other devices that include such connections. For instance, usually you can’t hook up a 1394-outfitted Mini DV camcorder to a TV. Check your manual closely about what can be connected to this port.
- RS-232 Jack: This is a serial-connection port that can be used with your PC for data transfer (like firmware upgrades), and which can also be used with some automation systems.
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