Panasonic HDTV -Model #TH-42PHD8UK - How to Hook Up Cable?

[Lynnix]

We own a Panasonic -High Definition Plasma TV -Model #TH-42PHD8UK. We can not connect the cable wire directly to the tv without some sort of adaptor. We have been to Future Shop and all kinds of other stores that we thought we could purchase the adaptor from. However, no luck. Do you know of a online site or store that would carry this product/adaptor that would work for this connection? We understand from one store that if we had a HD box that that may work but we do not.

Thanks!
Lynn

[MrBoylan]

We own a Panasonic -High Definition Plasma TV -Model #TH-42PHD8UK. We can not connect the cable wire directly to the tv without some sort of adaptor. We have been to Future Shop and all kinds of other stores that we thought we could purchase the adaptor from. However, no luck. Do you know of a online site or store that would carry this product/adaptor that would work for this connection? We understand from one store that if we had a HD box that that may work but we do not.

Thanks!
Lynn

Hi, Lynn,

Welcome to the forum. Actually, that’s not an HDTV per se. It’s an HD-ready TV. It is made primarily for commercial (non-consumer) installations, such as airports and sports bars. The difference being that your TV has no built-in tuner, where consumer HDTV sets do. If you want to watch TV shows on this set, you’ll need to get a cable box or satellite set-top box from your provider, or buy an over-the-air tuner (though I’m not sure what the selection is for over the air broadcasts and tuners in Canada).

No adapter will do what you need.

Once you have the set top box, you can use component video or HDMI to connect it to your TV, depending on which “blades” you bought with the TV. The only input that was standard on these TVs was VGA (computer), but the dealer who sold it to you probably sold you one or more input cards (also called "blades"). If you have the HDMI or DVI blade, then use that for your set-top box connection as that will give you the highest performance. If you don't have either of those, but have the component video blade, then use that for the set-top box connection as this still supports HD up to 1080i.

If you don't have either of those ports on your TV, then you will not be able to hook up the set-top box in high definition (composite and s-video connections do not support HD). You could use a regular composite or s-video connection for your set-top box but you will be limited to standard definition (480i) resolution.

I hope that helps, even if it's not the answer you were hoping for.

Regards,

-Chris

[LynnD]

Hi Everyone -
This thread is exactly what I was looking for. My problem is that we won our TV when my husband's job replaced it with a new one in their conference room. We received the wall mount and TV but that was it. How do I determine what kind of blades it has (and yes, I do not know what I am talking about). Can this TV be hooked up to a cable box from Cablevision? I am sooo confused.
Thanks for any help.

[MrBoylan]

Hi Everyone -
This thread is exactly what I was looking for. My problem is that we won our TV when my husband's job replaced it with a new one in their conference room. We received the wall mount and TV but that was it. How do I determine what kind of blades it has (and yes, I do not know what I am talking about). Can this TV be hooked up to a cable box from Cablevision? I am sooo confused.
Thanks for any help.

Your best bet is to look at the connectors on the back of your TV and on the back of your cable box. By the way, definitely get an HD cable box from your provider as this is the ONLY way you'll be able to watch TV in high definition.

As for the connections on the back of your TV, they should be labeled. The possible connection posts include:

• composite video (could be a standard round RCA jack or it could be a professional BNC connector). An RCA jack will look like the yellow video output on your cable box and would use a standard RCA cable for connection. A BNC connector would be slightly larger than that and have a locking collar around the edge. You can get a male RCA jack to male BNC adapter at Radio Shack if you do have a BNC composite vifdeo input. This does not support a high definition signal, but it will give you a decent standard definition (non-widescreen) picture.
• S-video: another standard video connector, round with 4 small holes for the connector pins. Also, not high definition but will pass a standard definition (non-widescreen) signal to the TV.
• VGA/DB15 (or DE15) - this is a computer input for attaching a PC or Mac. Roughly trapezoidal in shape with rounded edges - a fairly thin jack with two rows of pins (total of 15 holes). This is only for connecting a PC or Mac computer - will not work with a cable box.
• Component Video - should be 3 RCA or BNC jacks labelled Y, Pr, Pb and colored red, green and blue. If these are standard RCA jacks then just get a component video cable from Best Buy or Home Deport or WalMart. If they are BNC connectors then get a component video cable plus 3 RCA to BNC adapters as with the composite video connection - note: component video *DOES* support high definition video.
• DVI - also roughly trapezoidal, but with a characteristic thin "dash" connector on the left side accompanied by 18 or more smaller square pins - the number of pins on the connector can vary based on whether it is DVI-Digital or DVI-analog, but the connector on your TV should be DVI-digital (if you have the DVI blade). This also supports high definition video. To connect to a cable box, you would use a DVI cable (if your cable box has DVI out) or an HDMI to DVI cable if your cable box has an HDMI output
• HDMI - thin 20-pin connector roughly rectangular with a rounded trapezoidal bottom. This is the best possible connector as it can carry both audio and video. All of the other connectors above are video only, and will require separate audio connections (typically stereo left/right white/red RCA jacks).

And speaking of audio, the TH-42PHD8UK does not normally include speakers so you'll need to plug your cable box into a receiver or powered speakers if you want sound with your pretty picture. The speakers were available as an option so it you see these attached to your TV then you *DO* have sound which is lucky.

The TH-42PHD8UK was a very nice HD monitor in its day, but it is now almost 4 years old so don't expect it to be the equal of the very latest batch of Panasonic plasmas (which actually look quite stunning).

Good luck!

-Chris