Digital to 625 line set

[AidanCroft]

Hiya,

All - I have a few 625 line sets and a digital box. Obviously it can convert digital TV but how can I get it to output to a Belling Lee connector (TV cable)?

Needless to say, these TV sets won't accept the SCART output of the digital box!! Is there a SCART to Belling Lee cable?

Kind regards,

Aidan.

[ppppenguin]

You need a modulator. Audio and video in, analogue UHF out.

A few Freeview boxes included a modulator. You can use any old VHS machine, or buy a stand alone modulator. This sort of thing: https://www.toolstation.com/proception-a...tor/p80695 Lots of types available.

[AidanCroft]

You need a modulator. Audio and video in, analogue UHF out.

A few Freeview boxes included a modulator. You can use any old VHS machine, or buy a stand alone modulator. This sort of thing: https://www.toolstation.com/proception-a...tor/p80695 Lots of types available.

Thanks for that.

So a TV antenna connects to my set top box so what connects the set top box to the modulator and modulator to TV set?

Kind regards,

Aidan.

[ppppenguin]

SCART to phono audio and video cable from STB to modulator. Or SCART to phono adaptor and set of phono leads. Since SCART can be input or output you may need to experiment to find the right connections.

Co-ax to co-ax cable from modulator to TV.

You'll need to tune the TV to the same channel as the modulator. Avoid channels that are in local use for Freeview as you may get interference which shows up as noisy pictures.

[Mike Watterson]

Though some Freesat set boxes have so called anti-piracy protection on the SCART which is incompatible with lots of older TVs. A generic DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 setbox with no Freesat/Freeview/Sky branding will work perfectly and cost half as much and work with an un-encrypted USB HDD for recording. Most don't do MHEG5 (the Red Button and Text Interactive) but any actual video on the "red button" will be on those boxes as a regular channel such as BBC RB1.

We wasted over €100 on a Manhatten and over €200 on a Humax. The Turkish made €45 Redline boxes have a far better GUI than Sky/Humax/Manhatten, work with a USB HDD for recording or general playback, SCART is 100% compatible (RGB or composite) and the G140 has a 4 pole 3.5mm socket with stereo and composite video. Also HDMI, 2 x USB host and 12V 1A supply on that model (SMPSU included). Also works for 4 x or 8 x Multiswitch or motorised dish.

The DVB-T setboxes for Hong Kong should be cheap and compatible even with a UK plug, but not all have SCART.

[Mike Watterson]

You can even use the modulator out of older VHS that's tuned with a brass screw. Not the later ones tuned via a menu. They need 5V or 9V and take mono audio and composite video direct.

No regular analogue video modulator ever did Nicam stereo. A very few did dual analogue sound carriers for some continental markets. UK TVs rarely had the ability for dual analogue FM audio carriers.

[AidanCroft]

Folks -

In the attached photos I have a simple Bush set top box with sockets shown.

I also have the white Hedgehog that converts digital to 405 line.

A number of options have been mentioned above but can I do anything with these existing items? Will I still just need a modulator to take in a SCART cable?

I have a coaxial cable with male ends.

Aidan.

[ppppenguin]

Since you said your TV was 625 line, the Hedghog is irrelevant. As you've been advised both here and elsewhere, you need a UHF modulator. Most modulators have phono sockets for audio and video inputs (rather than SCART) but that doesn't matter. Again as explained above.

Incidentally, the Hedghog doesn't "...converts digital to 405 line.". It takes analogue 625 video and converts it to 405 analogue video. It also contains a modulator that takes 405 video, plus audio from a pair of phonos and produces a System A RF signal on any desired channel from 1 to 13.

[Murphyv310]

This is what you need.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-RF-HD...3430468980

I have one and it does the UK system I and other European systems, I use it for my Russian TV. Excellent picture and sound quality.

[Tharg]

Since you said your TV was 625 line, the Hedghog is irrelevant. As you've been advised both here and elsewhere, you need a UHF modulator. Most modulators have phono sockets for audio and video inputs (rather than SCART) but that doesn't matter. Again as explained above.

Incidentally, the Hedghog doesn't "...converts digital to 405 line.". It takes analogue 625 video and converts it to 405 analogue video.  It also contains a modulator that takes 405 video, plus audio from a pair of phonos and produces a System A RF signal on any desired channel from 1 to 13.

This is very useful- thanks. I ordered one today :-)