# DVDs and old TVs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 3, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337 "2004-05-03T20:40:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/21 "2004-05-04T01:54:42Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Or if you have a VCR already hooked up to that TV, and that VCR has RCA connectors in it, run the DVD player to the rca IN on the VCR and then run a coax from the VCR to the TV. > > All you gotta do is have the TV on chnnel 4 (or 3 if your VCR is weird), have the VCR switched on and on the “AUX” or “LINE IN” channel, and the DVD player will work through the VCR. > > If you have CABLE going to the TV, put the cable through the VCR’s IN coax and then put that OUT to the TV (same as above). You shouldn’ thave to have the VCR on to work the cable tv in this case. I see Asterion already addressed the problem of running the VCR. You will be able to see most movies this way but they will fade in and out or jump around. You can get an RF modulator for less than $20. Best Buy or Wal Mart. If its a really old TV you will have to get an antenna adapter. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/22 "2004-05-04T03:00:27Z")
Allow me to be the third one to jump on the “don’t run it through your VCR” bandwagon. Macrovision - which is on a vast majority of store-bought DVDs - causes the picture to get really bright and\or really dim (or both) and\or the picture might scramble occasionally. (Imagine a 2 year-old playing with the “brightness” control on your TV and you’ve got the picture). It’s not enough to keep you from watching the DVD, but it _will_ get annoying within the first 30 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/23 "2004-05-04T03:40:14Z")
We have covered why you should NOT hook up a DVD player to the back of a VCR in previous posts. On my Aunt’s TV, a DVD player through the VCR gave the lighting of the TV screen waves of Light to Dark. I think in general, a tv will keep up with the times for as long as it can. My old rabbit ears- dial tv my grandmother gave me (easily older than I am) needed an RF modulator, but I bought a device that allowed a Co-axial cable hookup. In college, I was surprosed to find out that I could get the first 13 channels on our cable system with out a box. It turned out still just to be the local networks (ABC CBS NBC FOX UPN etc) but the quality was superb. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/24 "2004-05-04T14:28:05Z")
Macrovision, eh? That answers a question I was thinking of starting a new thread about–“Why does the picture on some DVDs fade in and out?” My TV is a dinosaur, and I’ve been running the DVD player through the VCR. I usually get a decent image, but with at least two DVDs (both of them store-bought), I’ve encountered the fading problem, exactly as described above. Is there any way to strip the Macrovision protection? I used to have a modulator, but it died on me and once I figured out how to go through the VCR, I decided not to buy a new one. I’m afraid my only other option is to buy a new TV…but at least now I know the problem isn’t with my DVD player so much as it is with the connection. ---
**Author:** ![mbacko1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mbacko1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbacko1)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/25 "2004-05-04T14:36:50Z")
The cheapest thing to do is go with the other suggestions above and get a new RF modulator. You could also replace the TV with one that has RCA inputs. Your other option would be to get a cheap DVD player that can be hacked to defeat the macrovision protection. You can do some Google searches on this. I think the Lite-On commercial models are hackable. Mike ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/26 "2004-05-04T14:51:49Z")
> [@Skopo](#): > > Is there any way to strip the Macrovision protection? Yes there is. But I won’t tell you how for fear of the SD Police. I _can_ tell you that said removal equipment will cost $199-$299, so you might be better off just getting a new TV. The best way to view NTSC DVDs is with component connections - only newer TVs will have these connectors. The picture is noticeably better with component connectors over composite or s-video on the same TV and same DVD player. Try it, you’ll like it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/27 "2004-05-04T15:51:17Z")
D’oh! :smack: Yes, you could just get an Apex DVD player for $50 or so. I don’t know why I was looking at “professional” Macrovision strippers for $299 when I used to have an hacked Apex myself! ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/28 "2004-05-04T17:21:41Z")
I fail to understand why DVD players don’t have RF Modulators in them already. The cynic in me wants to blame it on corporate greed. And the fact that my mother in law bought a Hitachi DVD player on sale for $20, and then needed an RF modulator to connect it to her TV… which cost $25. (Although I bet if I had searched hard, I could have found one for $5.) ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/29 "2004-05-04T17:53:10Z")
Why should the electronics companies pay extra $$$ for RF modulators when maybe 10% of the TVs out there need them? (I’m sure the number of TVs needing RF is higher, but I’m not taking “Grandmas” that will _never_ get into DVD into account). I can’t think of a TV made in the past 15 years that doesn’t at least have composite inputs or one “family roo” sized TV in the past 5 that doesn’t have component ones. Besides, playing DVDs on a 15 year-old TV is just silly. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/30 "2004-05-04T19:04:29Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > Yes there is. But I won’t tell you how for fear of the SD Police. I _can_ tell you that said removal equipment will cost $199-$299, so you might be better off just getting a new TV. Oops, didn’t mean to encourage any illegal activities. I don’t mean to engage in piracy–I just want to be able to see the movie properly! Please ignore the question about stripping techniques. Besides, you and **mbacko1** have already answered it to my satisfaction–it would be more cost-effective for me to buy a new TV. The increased aesthetic value of the picture is another argument in favor of the new TV. ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/31 "2004-05-04T19:18:28Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > Macrovision - which is on a vast majority of store-bought DVDs - causes the picture to get really bright and\or really dim (or both) and\or the picture might scramble occasionally. (Imagine a 2 year-old playing with the “brightness” control on your TV and you’ve got the picture). > > It’s not enough to keep you from watching the DVD, but it _will_ get annoying within the first 30 seconds. Well _that_’s odd to me… I’ve been running the video line from my DVD player through my VCR for years, and have never seen any problems with the picture. I did notice, though, that the audio quality sucked when I ran the audio through the VCR. Put it directly into my stereo receiver, and the problem disappeared. Other appliances running audio thru the VCR (like the gamecube) don’t show any sound problems. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/32 "2004-05-04T19:23:14Z")
> [@Skopo](#): > > Oops, didn’t mean to encourage any illegal activities. No worries. I know you’re just trying to watch your DVDs, but sometimes the admins here get a little too itchy with the trigger finger if you know what I mean. It seems like any time I mention that I did 27mph in a school zone I get the “we don’t discuss illegal activities here - once more and you’re banned” speech. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/33 "2004-05-04T19:30:31Z")
> [@Engywook](#): > > …and have never seen any problems with the picture. Except that it sucked? YPrPb is the only way to go, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/34 "2004-05-04T21:13:21Z")
Au contraire, the best pic is skip the whole analog step and go DVI… (not that many DVD players output DVI…) Brian (who is using S-video) ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/35 "2004-05-04T21:22:02Z")
> [@bughunter](#): > > I fail to understand why DVD players don’t have RF Modulators in them already. One of the main selling points of DVD over VHS is the vastly superior picture quality. If you wind up modulating the signal to RF at the DVD (or a separate modulator) and then demodulate it at the TV, you’ve lost a significant portion of that picture quality. That’s why DVD players are designed to be used with newer TV’s that can do justice to the picture. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/36 "2004-05-04T21:36:18Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Au contraire, the best pic is skip the whole analog step and go DVI… > (not that many DVD players output DVI…) > > Brian > (who is using S-video) Heh. Well yeah. But how many people go directly from COAX to DVI? 😃 Most anyone that knows what “DVI” is can probably hook up their own DVD player. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/37 "2004-05-10T13:57:09Z")
You still have that TV? I’ve got through two since then and left a 32" in my last flat as I was too lazy to bring it with me. IIRC that TV doesn’t have a scart so you’ll have to do the RF thing. Tuning shouldn’t be too hard. There is a little red or white selector beside the wheel that you turn to tune. I think this should be set on the bottom setting to get a DVD signal if not try the other two. You could just get me a shout around when you get the DVD and I’ll do it for you in a totally non-patronising way. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/38 "2004-05-28T22:27:22Z")
OK, so I got the RF modulator, and I’m still confused. I’ve hooked up the “TV Aerial”, “Video In” (yellow) and “Audio In” (white). Am I supposed to just leave the red cable hanging around? There’s no place on the modulator to plug it in. There is something called “DC in” but it’s a different kind of cable and I can’t figure out what I’m supposed to plug that into. Also, **Usram** is correct that it’s supposed to use Channel 36 … but my tv dial only goes up to 12 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/39 "2004-05-28T22:37:33Z")
There are two audio cables because the audio is stereo (left channel and right channel). I recall from somewhere that the whole audio track can actually be shifted to one channel, but I’ll be damned if I can verify that. The alternative is to get a “Y” connector that connects both cables to a single output. Again, maybe $5. “DC in” is for an electrical adapter, if your RF modulator runs on a battery. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337/40 "2004-05-28T23:24:35Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > …but my tv dial only goes up to 12 😕 Dial?? Woo-boy… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvds-and-old-tvs/243337.md?page=3)