How to connect a digital set-top box to a TV. Setting up a DVB-T2 digital television receiver

Hello dear readers of the blog site. Today I will try to explain in detail and in an accessible language what setting up a receiver is and how to set up digital television correctly and without unnecessary problems.

In previous articles I have already talked in detail about. Before you start setting up your TV set-top box, you need to set it up correctly.

Most digital set-top boxes are very similar to each other. They may differ in the set of additional functions, but with all this, they perform their main purpose of “transmitting the converted signal to a TV” in the same way. If you set up digital television correctly, then you can enjoy watching over-the-air channels at home or in a suburban area.

We would like to remind you that an integral part of a complete connection scheme is a suitable antenna. You should approach your dacha with full responsibility.

Since there are a huge number of TV set-top boxes on sale at the moment, I don’t see any point in citing a specific one as an example. That is why I will try to describe in accessible language main nuances how to set up digital television.

However, if there are certain snags throughout the process. It’s worth taking a peek at the instructions, or asking a question in the comments to this article.

The first thing you need to do after turning on the TV is to select the appropriate video input using the remote control. If you have a fairly old TV, then this will be the TV/AV switch. If the model is new, then it is advisable to select the connection via an HDMI cable.

Now it’s time to move on to setting up the receiver directly:

Using the remote control of the set-top box, find and press the “Menu” button;
To make the process of setting up the receiver clear and simple, the first step is to go to the menu and select the appropriate language (in our case, Russian);
In the section intended for searching channels, select the DVB-T2 signal standard. These actions will avoid searching for analog signals;
Thanks to automatic search, you can get twenty channels from two at once.

Please note that when setting up digital television, a situation may occur that only ten channels could be received. In order to solve this problem and use the receiver fully, it is worth checking whether the antenna is directed correctly and whether the appropriate tower has been selected.

The search for channels occurs in two packets in turn. That is why at first you will see only ten channels, and after waiting a little more the rest will be installed. If the order does not suit you, then this can be easily corrected. However, I will talk about this in one of the new articles on my blog. In order not to miss the latest issue, I advise you to subscribe to updates.

It may happen that certain channels are not found. In this case, you should use manual configuration of the receiver. Having selected the required frequency, the search will be carried out channel by channel.

Checking signal quality when setting up digital television

At the very end of all actions, it is worth checking the signal quality so that you can finish with peace of mind. Using the remote control with the TV and set-top box turned on, press the “info” button three times (it’s usually yellow). We pay attention to the quality indicators of the received signal and its intensity. If the data is above 60%, then everything is done perfectly.

Be sure to check the signal quality on two different multiplexes: on the first channel and, for example, on TNT.

That's all. As I said at the beginning of the article, setting up a receiver and digital television is a fairly easy process. Even a child can cope with this task. And according to tradition, if there are any additional questions, I’m waiting for them in the comments.

Since the end of 2013, extensive broadcasting of a digital signal of the DVB-T2 standard began, but there are still many questions about how to set up digital television on a TV. Below are steps that will help you set up a digital tuner to receive signals and clarify some questions on this topic.

1. It is important how far you are from the transmitting station, i.e. you are in a rural area or city to receive free digital television.

2. In most cases, it is necessary to have an outdoor antenna with an amplifier, and in the city, in houses on the 4th or 5th floor, you can use a “mustache” or “frame” antenna without an amplifier with the inclusion (and also without switching on) of the signal amplification option on the TV set-top box .

3. Go to the digital television website http://rtrs.ru and determine the digital television coverage, signal broadcast frequency or its number, according to your region.

4. Through the TV set-top box, select Menu - Manual channel tuning - Select frequency (first or second multiplex) or air channel number (for example, frequency 594 MHz corresponds to channel 36) - Observe the signal level on the screen (adjust to the maximum value).

5. If the signal is not stable (constantly changes its level) and has less than 30% of the full signal, even if the channels show, there is a high probability of their interruption, broadcast stop or temporary absence of signal. In this case, it is necessary to: strengthen the signal, raise the antenna higher, move the antenna from the reception restricted area.

6. Enjoy watching!

How to choose a digital set-top box

Let me explain right away when choosing a digital set-top box, you should understand that there is now a large number on the Russian market.

The price of DVB-T2 standard set-top boxes in stores starts from about 1000-1200 rubles, this includes the simple functionality of the set-top box, i.e. on the tuner:

NO control buttons,

NO display,

AVAILABLE additional codecs for playing audio and video content from a USB drive, in some

NO cords for connecting to a TV,

NOT the fastest processor in the line of tuners from this company, plastic case,

Maybe ABSENT HDMI and analogue TV output on TV,

EAT control panel and also + compact body.

In my opinion, such a set-top box is suitable for those who are ready to “cut down” on the points stated above, and you can purchase a set-top box and not lose the quality of signal reception.

Now about digital set-top boxes that can be bought from 1800-2700 rubles. The price range is large, but buying a digital set-top box for 1800 rubles, or maybe cheaper, so to speak, in the maximum configuration is realistic. I mean that the digital set-top box is equipped with:

channel control buttons, menu, On/Off.
display (shows channel number, time)
Great support for video and audio codecs
RCA cable, batteries, remote control
HDMI input
analogue TV output to TV
compact, metal body

Owners of set-top boxes who watch video content via USB on the set-top box often encounter the problem that there is a video image, but no sound, but this problem does not occur with all video files. Many people think that the console is faulty. But everything is much simpler, the digital set-top box does not have an audio format codec "AC3" aka "Dolby Digital". To avoid disappointment in the future, I recommend purchasing with this format.

Buy a DVB-T2 digital set-top box from China

Buy a DVB-T2 digital set-top box for a car from China

Buy a DVB-T2 digital set-top box for Android phones and tablets from China

TV CHANNELS INCLUDED IN THE RTRS-1 PACKAGE

Do you want to watch your favorite TV channels in high quality for free? Take advantage of the DVB T2 digital terrestrial television service. In many countries this standard has already become the main one over the past few years. Unfortunately, in Russia it is just beginning to gain popularity. Today, 20 of the most popular Russian channels are already available, and in the near future the organization responsible for technology development promises to add another package of channels.

If you need to regularly pay a monthly subscription fee for cable television, then the benefits of digital terrestrial television are obvious - having only paid once for a set of equipment, after about a year its cost is fully recouped and in the future you watch TV for free. In addition, it is very rare that you need the entire package of channels that is provided by cable or satellite providers.

In today’s material we will tell you in detail what features the DVB T2 digital terrestrial television service has, as well as what you need to independently install and configure the equipment. Once you are armed with the knowledge, installing over-the-air antennas will be very simple and you can save significant money by not calling a professional. So let's get started.

Until recently, terrestrial television was associated with poor image quality, a large amount of various interference, and a minimal set of channels. It was necessary to manually tune each frequency separately, and different channels could operate in different bands, which led to the need to install several antennas or one multi-band one. In some cases, additional information could be received along with the signal, for example, teletext, when it was possible to receive information about a TV show or various entertainment content directly on the TV screen. Today, in the Internet era, such additional services have lost their relevance, but in the era of high-quality video and high-resolution screens, high-quality television pictures have become more in demand than ever. Therefore, a digital television standard was developed.

It is the use of digital technologies that has allowed us to reach a completely new level of quality. If earlier for this it was necessary to use exclusively satellite television, which entailed additional installation difficulties, and not everyone could afford the set of equipment, now it is enough to install and configure an almost ordinary decimeter antenna, in some cases an amplifier, as well as a television set-top box. And if you consider that many modern TVs already have a built-in DVB T2 receiver, then you can get by with just one inexpensive antenna.

Let's take a closer look at what advantages and disadvantages T2 digital terrestrial television has.

Advantages:

Despite the huge number of advantages, there are a number of certain disadvantages:

The state of digital television in Russia

In some ways, Russia has lagged behind other European countries. Their DVB T2 television format has long ago become a generally accepted standard, and in many places there is no analogue broadcasting at all. In Russia today there is a transitional stage, when everyone realizes the need to abandon analogue television, but the digital infrastructure is not yet sufficiently developed. In general, in most large cities you will be able to catch a number without any problems, but if you live in very remote regions, you will either have to be content with one multiplex, or just be patient. Fortunately, there are practically no such places left; the signal covers, by and large, all populated areas.

Now let's talk about the content of channel packages or, as they are officially called, multiplexes. Today there are 2 multiplexes broadcasting with 10 channels each. In the coverage area of DVB T2 digital terrestrial television, reception of the first multiplex is guaranteed, while the 2nd is not yet available everywhere. There is talk about launching a third package, but due to the shortage of frequency resources and the need to free up frequencies for it by turning off analogue broadcasting, the launch date is still unknown.

What channels are included in each package? At the beginning of May 2017, their composition was as follows:

Please note that the content of multiplexes is not constant and changes from time to time. This has happened several times over the past few years. In any case, the set is quite diverse and there are channels for every taste and for any audience.

Required equipment

So, what equipment do you need to purchase to watch DVB T2 digital terrestrial television? Depending on the equipment you already have and the distance from the transmitting center, you may need the following set:

Antenna installation

It is almost impossible to list all special cases and conditions of admission in one article. Therefore, we will give only general recommendations that should be taken into account when installing a DVB T2 digital television antenna.

Room

Place the antenna on the windowsill and turn it towards the transmitting tower. Make sure there are no radio sources nearby, such as a Wi-Fi router. The distance between them should be at least several meters.

Outdoor

External antennas also need to be turned towards the tower and securely secured so that wind or other weather conditions cannot disturb its position. It is best to first install a reliable bracket and attach it to the wall or roof of the house, and then attach the antenna to it. This will allow you to vary the position of the device. When installing, be sure to keep in mind that you will have to rotate it to fine-tune it, so do not fix it right away, it is better to do this after completing the complete installation.

Don't rush to use the amplifier. Try experimenting without it first. Twist the antenna or move it a little to the side, sometimes this can help significantly. If all else fails, only then use the amplifier.
If you plan to use several TVs, the antenna must be external. By the way, in this article you can learn how to connect several TVs to one antenna.
Minimize situations where the signal is shielded or blocked. For example, do not place the antenna under a metal roof or near a multi-story building that is blocked by a tower or high-voltage lines. True, in some cases it is possible to use the signal reflected from a high structure and amplify it using an amplifier.

Fine-tuning signal quality

You can, of course, accurately capture a signal of the proper strength and quality yourself, without the use of additional equipment. However, in difficult reception conditions, it is best to use a special device for tuning over-the-air antennas. What is such a device? Usually this is a small box with a mechanical dial or liquid crystal screen that displays the signal strength. On one side the power is connected, and on the other there is an input for connecting the antenna cable. Since adjusting the antenna based on the visual perception of the image on the screen is not the most reliable, such a device will greatly simplify your task.

Take the device and connect the antenna cable to it, and also supply power either from the built-in batteries or from an external battery pack.
Turn the antenna towards the receiver. If the direction is correct, the device will immediately begin to emit a sound signal, and the numbers or arrow will appear on the scale.
If the device shows insufficient signal level, change the position of the antenna by turning it to the side, raising it higher or lowering it lower. Achieve maximum signal performance.
Turn off the device, secure the antenna and you can start setting up the equipment.

Connecting the antenna to the TV

If you have a built-in DVB T2 receiver

Find a special input on your TV for connecting an external antenna. It is usually signed Ant In.
Connect the cable coming from the antenna to this connector. During this time, the TV must be turned off for safety reasons.
Turn on the TV and activate the digital tuner in the settings.
Perform automatic channel search.
Enjoy watching.

When using a digital tuner set-top box

Connect the cable coming from your antenna or amplifier to the antenna input on your set-top box.
Connect the set-top box to your TV. Ideally, this should be an HDMI cable, as it provides the highest quality video signal. If this interface is not available, connect the two devices using traditional analog connectors, the so-called tulips. There should be 3 of them, they are indicated in different colors. Usually it is yellow, red and white. Two of them are audio connectors, while the third is video. Most often, the connectors on both the TV and the set-top box have the same color designation, so it is quite difficult to confuse them.
Turn on the TV and use the remote control to select the external signal source to which the tuner is connected. This can be either HDMI or AV. It all depends on the connection method.
Search for TV channels automatically or configure each one manually.

Conclusion

We showed you a detailed step-by-step guide on how to install and configure DVB T2 digital television. Now you can watch up to 20 free channels without any problems. If you still have questions, or something doesn’t work out, ask in the comments or contact our specialists.

Allowing you to watch digital television. Digital TV has many more advantages than regular TV, which is why many people are switching to it. And, of course, you need to start by choosing a receiver. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the manufacturer’s brand, functionality, quality and, of course, price. Finally, once you have purchased a digital receiver, you need to prepare it for use. But how to do this? In this article you will learn how to connect and configure DVB-T2 digital television. Let's understand the issue together.

If you want to know how to set up a TV set-top box, then this article is for you

The first step is to connect all the elements together. There is nothing difficult about this, see for yourself. Connect the antenna to the receiver, and the receiver itself to the TV. That's it - ready! It is recommended to connect the set-top box via an HDMI cable, of course, provided that the devices have the appropriate inputs and connectors. If HDMI is not supported, connect via regular tulips. Any model of the console comes with instructions that clearly show what needs to be connected to what.

Let's start connecting the device

Please note that the setup process is the same for all models of digital receivers, so it does not matter what brand of set-top box you have. Of course, the design of windows and some names of menu sections may differ slightly, but the general essence does not change.

First, choose a connection method

After connecting the device, turn on the TV and set-top box. On the TV you need to select video input to go to the receiver menu. If everything was done correctly, then on the screen you will see a welcome window in which you will need to select the language, region, mode and image format, as well as the search mode. Set the necessary parameters using the set-top box remote control. You don't have to change the settings and leave them as default. Click "OK" to move to the next window.

The first dialog box on the screen

If in the “Search mode” section there is “DVB-T + DVB-T2”, then the receiver will immediately find all the channels available for your region on its own. But this method will only work if you already have a working antenna pointed in the desired direction. Once the auto search is complete, you can close the menu and enjoy watching. Other users need to perform antenna positioning. There is nothing complicated about this, all you need is to make a few settings in the receiver menu.

The list of available channels is loaded manually or automatically

If you didn’t have an antenna before and it only appeared now, together with the DVB-T2 set-top box, while in the welcome window, press the button to call up the menu on your remote control. Go to the “DVBT Settings” section and select “Channel Search”. In the window that opens, set “Search Mode”. Here you can set both “by channel” and “by frequency”. There is no big difference here - choose what you like best. Next, set the search band to “UHF”.

To simplify the channel search process, go to a special website with information on frequency channels for your specific city. In principle, it is not necessary to do this; you can do without it, but this approach will make the setup process easier and faster. Select the desired value in the “Frequency channel” item. If the direction was chosen correctly, then after a couple of seconds you will see the “Signal Intensity” and “Signal Quality” scales filled in at the bottom of the window. If the scale level is good, then click “Search”. After this, the receiver will perform tuning in the specified frequency channel.

If you do not know the desired direction of the antenna, take it and rotate it smoothly, watching the intensity and quality scales. Once they are filled to an acceptable level, attach the antenna and search. As soon as

The state program for a phased transition to the digital television broadcasting standard DVB T2 is approaching the final stage - a gradual reduction in the number of analogue repeaters. This suggests that the time has come to join new technologies and switch to digital. We will talk about the equipment necessary to receive a television signal in the new format, as well as how to properly connect a digital set-top box (receiver) to a TV or monitor.

Required equipment

To watch digital broadcasting, as opposed to analogue, you will need a receiver that decodes the signal. Many modern TV models (Philips, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, LG, Panasonic, etc.) are equipped with such a unit. To make sure of this, you should refer to the user manual, this brief instruction is included with each product. At the same time, check whether the built-in tuner supports the DVB-T2 format; if not, you will need to purchase a receiver.

Depending on the set of functionality, the cost of such a device can vary from 800 to 3000 rubles. Note that many digital cable television providers provide receivers for rent to subscribers.

In addition, we will need to receive a digital signal. In cities and large towns this will not be a problem; just contact local providers. Residents of rural areas will need to install a UHF antenna or satellite dish. The latter is preferable, since it is not a fact that your home is within the coverage area of the nearest digital repeater. In addition, the option with a satellite dish provides a wider selection of television channels.

Let's look at what is included in the standard set of the receiver; this information may be useful when connecting it to a television receiver.

Let's list what is shown in the figure:

A – user manual, we recommend that you carefully read this manual to get a complete understanding of all the functionality of the device and its connection to the TV and antenna.
B – “Tulip” cable (RCA) with characteristic connectors allows you to connect the set-top box to almost all modern models of television receivers.
C – a device for decrypting and converting a digital signal into an analogue one (receiver).
D – packing box.
E – remote control for the device.
F – batteries for the remote control.
G – network adapter for connecting the device to a household power supply.
H – warranty service coupon.

The basic configuration may differ slightly from what is shown in the photo (for example, the “Tulip” is replaced by an HDMI cable).

Connectors and their purpose

There are various connectors on the back of the device; we’ll briefly explain what they are for.

Figure 3. Connectors of the SDT-96 receiver from the SUPRA range

Explanation of the picture:

Antenna output.
Connector for connecting a satellite dish, UHF antenna or cable from a local provider.
A socket for an HDMI cable allows you to connect a monitor or TV equipped with such an input (digital output can transmit sound and image).
Sockets for the “Tulip” cable (transmits an analog video signal, as well as stereo sound).

Some devices may be additionally equipped with a “SCART” connector; a TV, VCR or DVD player with a video recording function can be connected to it.

In addition, you may find devices that have D-SUB (Fig. 5) or DVI outputs instead of an HDMI jack.

Fig 5. Digital set-top box with standard VGA (D-SUB) output

Please note that such interfaces do not transmit sound, so an additional connection using “tulips” will be required to transmit it.

The process of connecting a digital set-top box to a new TV step by step

Important! All manipulations must be done with the equipment turned off. If you connect working equipment, there is a high probability of its failure.

Let us describe the order of our actions:

You need to select the interface for connecting the set-top box to the TV. It can be analog (tulips, D-SUB, SCART) or digital (HDMI, DVI). The choice is made depending on the specific TV model. Despite the fact that many FULL HD television receivers have an analog input, it is better to feed them “digital”, since double conversion of the signal will negatively affect the quality of the “picture”.

This interface allows you to transmit video and audio, so the connection can be made with one cable.

If the TV does not have a digital input, it can be connected using any analog interface; the easiest way to do this is using tulips. In the case where the device only has a bulky SCART connector, you can purchase a tulip adapter for it. In this way you can connect almost any model, except for very ancient ones.

We check the availability of the cable necessary for connection; it may come with the receiver or television set. If you cannot find one, you will need to purchase it.
We remove the protective film from the set-top box (if any), install it in the chosen place and connect it to the TV. The cables are made in such a way that it is physically impossible to insert them into a connector not intended for this purpose. The exception is tulips, they can be mixed up. But to prevent this, manufacturers make nests for them in the appropriate color.

As you can see, the colors of the connectors match the colors of the sockets (4 in Fig. 3).

Connect power to the console. If the network adapter is built-in, simply plug the plug into the socket; pre-connect the external power supply to the corresponding socket of the receiver.
We connect the provider’s cable, a decimeter antenna or a satellite dish to the antenna input (2 Fig. 3).
We insert the batteries into the remote control, turn on the set-top box and the TV.

This completes the connection procedure, and you can begin setting up channels. If your TV does not have the interfaces listed above, do not worry, we will tell you how to get out of this situation.

Connecting to an old TV

The signal converter can work even with older models of television receivers when connecting them to the antenna output (1 in Fig. 3). To do this, you will need a piece of antenna wire of the appropriate length and two antenna plugs. In order not to bother yourself with soldering, you can take special F-connectors; the procedure for installing them on the cable is demonstrated in Figure 8.

Procedure:

We remove the insulation from the antenna cable, carefully so as not to damage the braiding (it is enough to clear 15 mm).
We bend the braid as shown in the picture.
Carefully remove the insulation from the central core.
It is necessary to expose 10 mm of the central wire.
We screw the connector clockwise.
We do this until the central core protrudes 2 mm from the connector.

Using a manufactured cable, we connect the antenna input of the TV to the corresponding output of the set-top box. In this way you can connect any TV, be it Horizon 101 or the legendary KVN.

How to connect 2 TVs to a digital set-top box

Two television receivers can be connected via the antenna output; this requires a special adapter from one to two cables (splitter).

Since the set-top box is intended for only one device, two TVs will work synchronously, that is, show the same channel.

Settings

The set-top box is configured in the same way as a TV, namely:

The menu is called up using the button of the same name on the remote control.
Select the appropriate command to start scanning channels.
When the scanning is completed, we save the list of detected channels; if desired, they can be grouped in a certain way, given a name, etc.

Detailed instructions and descriptions of functionality can be found in the user manual. In most cases, the menu interface is intuitive, so setting up the receiver is as simple as connecting a digital set-top box to the TV.