# The Cub doesn't Want to Watch the CFL in black and white \[Fixing color on a TV\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042 "2017-10-28T02:02:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/21 "2017-10-30T05:30:20Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Or damaged the RCA jack on the TV. While it’s possible, any force strong enough to damage an RCA jack would most likely damage the cable first. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/22 "2017-10-30T14:25:09Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > While it’s possible, any force strong enough to damage an RCA jack would most likely damage the cable first. not necessarily; when I worked for an electronics manufacturer I got my folks one of their LCD TV sets. the component input crapped out in a similar way and they said there were microswitches in the jacks to sense whether anything was plugged into it. ---
**Author:** ![icbm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@icbm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icbm)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/23 "2017-10-30T20:57:58Z")
Make sure blue and green are not mixed up at either end. They look similar to me in the low light conditions typically found in the cramped spaces behind my home entertainment stuff. Don’t remember what the symptom of mixing those two up is, but I do remember doing it. And the red for right channel audio isn’t swapped for the red for component video. But you would probably have noticed the missing sound from the right speaker. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/24 "2017-10-30T21:05:58Z")
I’ll second the test idea - try using the red, then the blue to connect (only) green out to green in. Do you get the same B&W? That will tell you the cables are working - or not. Try different combinations. Green to green (works) then try connecting blue out to blue in using the red cable… etc. I assume once all connected, you’ve tried turning power completely off then on again for both ends… I assume you are not mixing up the red audio and red video…? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/25 "2017-11-12T01:29:52Z")
Aparently RCA jack cables are now a special order item. So I went with the suggestion for HDMI cable instead. But then, there was still no picture. I could change channels and get audio, but no picture. So I called my cable company and tech support fixed it remotely. We now have lovely Hi-Def TSN, and are watching the Road to the Roar, a/k/a the opening round of the Canadian Olympic curling qualifiers. More importantly, I fulfilled my manly duty of fixing the electronics for Mrs Piper, the day before the eastern semi, when the Riders will take on the RedBlacks. Whew! Life would not have been good if she had to listen to the game on the radio! So, go Riders! And thanks for the help, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/26 "2017-11-12T01:46:15Z")
What was the issue? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/27 "2017-11-12T02:22:58Z")
Just could not get the RCA jacks to work. Gave up and went HDMI. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/28 "2017-11-12T04:28:22Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Just could not get the RCA jacks to work. Gave up and went HDMI. Welcome to the world of high definition. Start working on your story now so you can take the credit when your friends and family marvel at how much better it looks. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/29 "2017-11-12T23:32:48Z")
And the Riders make it to the Eastern Final, in full HD colour. Mrs Piper very happy, both with TV and Riders. Next week: Green and White v. Double Blue in Toronto. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042/30 "2017-11-13T03:13:33Z")
lol make him play Atari 2600 on a black and white $40 kmc special 🙂 He’ll appreciate all the modern things kids get these days … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cub-doesnt-want-to-watch-the-cfl-in-black-and-white-fixing-color-on-a-tv/800042.md?page=1)