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Getting connected

To be extra safe, disconnect everything from the mains at the start and do all the other connecting before plugging into the mains. See Connection wizard for how to set up your kit.

For high definition (HD) boxes you should use an HDMI lead so your TV will have to have to have an HDMI input. If you do not have an HDMI input on your TV you can sill connect by SACRT (see below) but you will not get HD quality.

For standard definition boxed the best way to connect up is to use a SCART lead. If your TV has several SCART sockets, you will get the best quality using a SCART input on the TV which is RGB compatible.

Drawing of a SCART lead hdmi HDMI lead

Which ones do this might not be obvious, particularly if you’ve long since parted company with the TV manual. But there are often several clues.

Make sure you keep the instruction manual for your box in a safe place as you will need to re-adjust the box’s settings when changes are made to the broadcast signals at switchover.

Manufacturers usually use the first SCART input for RGB (may also appear as AV1 or Ext 1). Try this. If the TV detects an RGB signal, the letters RGB or a TV logo with three dots in it may briefly appear on the screen.

It may be that your TV does not have a spare RGB SCART. Most have at least one – but yours may already be in use with a DVD player.

If so, there are a couple of options. You could buy a 2-way SCART switch box – available from electrical suppliers for around £10 for a manual switch box to £45 for a clever automatic switching system. Avoid cheaper products, without a switch.

Alternatively, if there is a second SCART socket on your TV set which is free, you could connect your set top box to it. Many of these second sockets support S-Video. If so, this is your next best bet (after RGB) for a high quality video connection.

You’ll need to choose a digital box with an S-Video output option on its main SCART, and check that S-Video is activated on both the set top box or digital TV recorder and the TV. The instruction manuals or on-screen set-up menus should help. However, few set top boxes offer this option.

Finally, take the aerial cable from the TV and connect it to the box, then connect the box to the mains. With some twin tuner digital TV recorders you may have to also connect a short ‘link cable’ at the back of the box to link the two tuners.

Drawing of the 2 ends of an aerial lead

Even if your TV does not have a (free) SCART socket, you may still connect a box to it through the aerial lead, provided your box has a UHF TV modulator but the number of boxes with this option is very limited. You can search for this feature on the set top box test report page. It is possible to but an external modulator from specialist electronics stores.

Connecting to a TV that has no SCART socket

Why does the picture sometimes break up or freeze?

With digital terrestrial, you might get some channels perfectly and others not. You will need to upgrade your aerial – because it is not exactly right for your particular area, or the aerial cable from your roof is damaged or waterlogged. With any of these problems, the aerial will receive some multiplexes better than others. To explain: TV and radio stations on digital terrestrial are broadcast in groups (multiplexes). Each multiplex works at a different frequency on the broadcast TV band and the frequencies used for each multiplex vary from region to region. TV aerials are very frequency sensitive and need to be right for your area and in good condition.If your region has not yet gone through digital switchover you will find that the situation changes after switchover because transmitter powers will be increased and some multiplexes will change frequency.

If you live in flats with a complex TV aerial distribution system, and get problems with reception or picture quality, it could be more than the aerial at fault. Contact whoever is responsible for maintaining the distribution system.