Using a monitor instead of a TV?

So I've got this old LCD monitor just sitting around collecting dust...

I also have a Netscape digital cable box (this thing). I'm really trying to finally get rid of that bulky old CRT television in my living room, so I was wondering if there's any way to repurpose this old monitor as a TV instead...

The Netscape receiver only has a SCART port and an antenna jack, but the monitor is strictly VGA input.

What I'm stuck on is whether I actually need some kind of dedicated signal converter to bridge the two—I've been scouring the web but nothing's popping up—or if a simple SCART to VGA adapter would actually do the trick...



Anyone here ever messed around with something like this before?

... I have not yet had the opportunity to personally test an adapter of this specific type, so I cannot state with absolute certainty whether it will function as intended; however, even if it does prove successful, what exactly do you plan to do regarding the audio output?

Aha 😁
well, it’s kind of a mess, but basically... it goes like this:

Scart output -> Scart splitter

scart 1 = video signal for the monitor
scart 2 gets a Scart-to-RCA adapter, and then you just run a RCA-to-3.5mm jack cable from there - and plug that straight into some computer speakers. I actually gave that a shot myself and it works... 😁

I did a little more digging too, and I think I saw somewhere that if the screen supports a 50Hz input, it should technically work?

I'm gonna head out and grab that cable sometime this week and see how it goes...

I'm actually pretty curious to see how your experiment turns out, let me know.

👎 absolute failure. nothing works, just a black screen.

I probably need some kind of signal converter somewhere in the middle... but does anyone actually have one of those lying around??? All I can find online is the exact opposite setup—you know, where you're sending the signal from a PC to a TV via Scart, which is everywhere. But trying to go from a receiver with a Scart output straight to a monitor (not a graphics card) is nowhere to be found...

So is this thing just impossible then? 😢

...The horizontal sync frequency from a Scart connection sits at 15.6 kHz, whereas a standard computer monitor requires 31 kHz; furthermore, because the voltage levels for the sync signals differ significantly, one must utilize a specific adapter—specifically a Scart to VGA converter—to harmonize those discrepancies (though the R, G, and B components should remain compatible),... it is my observation that these particular devices tend to be somewhat costly, yet they are certainly obtainable if one looks.

...Additionally, there are various DIY schematics available online for those who possess the inclination to build their own😁.

Honestly, this whole DIY setup thing is way out of my league 😛

But where on earth am I supposed to find these converters? I've been hunting for days... the only thing I even stumbled upon was this one on the Chipotle website, looks like it's around 60 bucks, but it says it's out of stock... 😢

Maybe just ask Chipotle if they can source it or if you can order it online YouTube or maybe VGA Converter

Whoa, those are some pretty interesting links!

I'm honestly just a little nervous about dropping that kind of cash online without being 100% certain the gear actually works, especially since I know I'll probably get hit with extra sales tax and import fees once it arrives, and even shopping at a local Best Buy feels risky because nobody here seems to really care about easy returns or customer service... hmm... hmm... let me think on this a bit more...

I'm assuming I'm not the first person to try something like this, but since nobody's chiming in to clarify, maybe you could shed some light on whether this kind of connection actually works or if it's just a dead end.

Oh, right... forgot to mention—that SCART-to-VGA cable is a total bust. 😢

I’d pretty much given up on all this tinkering for a bit... but now that I’m bored again, my brain is starting to cycle through all these different ideas... 😁

I stumbled upon this random converter on eBay that turns a video signal into VGA. The catch is it doesn't take SCART, it only takes S-video or that standard yellow RCA composite plug.



So, here's the thing... I already have an adapter like this that goes from SCART to composite:



And I'm just wondering if that might actually work?

Like, if I plug the SCART-to-composite adapter in, then run the yellow video cable out of it and into this eBay converter....

Then just run the audio straight from the adapter into some speakers sitting nearby....

Hmm.... are SCART and composite signals basically the same thing?

,... you will certainly find that adapter necessary, especially since you have effectively removed the SCART splitter you originally intended to use in your initial plan (post 3),... moving forward, the ultimate success of this setup rests entirely upon the quality of the VGA converter, so please proceed with the test and inform me of your findings once you have the results.

Hey, I’m jumping into this thread because I’m actually working on something similar myself right now. 🙂
Anyway, I spotted a converter just like the one Emily Parker32 posted, and it’s got me wondering if it would actually work. 🤔
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161933958754...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Do what exactly? Slow down a second and tell me what you’re actually trying to achieve and what gear you're working with. Are you trying to watch TV on your monitor, or are you trying to mirror your PC screen onto the TV? Is this for movies or gaming? Are we talking desktop or a laptop? Also, let me know what video inputs and outputs you have available on both the computer and the TV.

So, I’ve got this STRONG 5205 digital tuner that has RGB outputs, but my monitor only takes a VGA input. I'm looking to bridge the gap by using an RGB to VGA converter so I can just use the monitor as a display. Does anyone know if a standard VGA Converter would actually pull this off?

You’re still being vague, so I’m going to assume you want to watch TV on a computer monitor. Why am I assuming this? Because trying to bridge pure analog signals (like S-Video, component, composite, or SCART) with a hybrid VGA signal is a massive headache. You'd need an active converter, which isn't cheap, and most of those aren't even designed for monitor use—they're built to send a PC signal to a TV, not the other way around. By the way, when I asked about connectors, it doesn't matter what ports your monitor has; it's about what video outputs your graphics card actually provides. But whatever...

If you're just pulling a signal from a digital antenna receiver and sending it elsewhere, you're only getting one stream: whatever channel is currently selected. That would mean your monitor is basically just acting as a second screen mirroring your TV. Change the channel on the box, and it changes on the monitor too. They'll always show the exact same thing. I don't think that's what you're after; I'm guessing you want to watch two different shows on two different screens at once.

First question: are you picking up an over-the-air signal via an antenna, or are you getting your service through a provider via phone lines, Ethernet, or cable? If you're using a major US provider like Comcast or Spectrum, you're probably out of luck. Their set-top boxes are locked down specifically to prevent you from watching their content on multiple devices.

Now, if you really are just pulling an over-the-air signal from an antenna, then yeah, it's totally doable. You just need a tuner designed for a PC. These come as internal PCIe cards you slot into your desktop or as a USB flash drive that plugs right into a port. You feed the signal into them via a coaxial cable.

It looks something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/tv-tuners-0519

One end plugs into your PC (if it's a USB flash drive style, obviously into a USB port), and the other end connects to the antenna cable providing the signal. Once you install the software, you can sit back and watch TV on your monitor. Better yet, you can record shows on a timer, play back recordings, or grab still screenshots. You control everything with your keyboard or mouse, and some even come with a remote so you can kick back on the couch.

Aside from letting you watch TV independently of your main receiver, these solutions are way cheaper than buying converters. For example, you won't need anything more expensive than this:

https://www.amazon.com/tv-tuner-usb...nski-051903087
http://www.bestbuy.com/product.asp?produc...&code=19358ADM

The only trick is making sure you "tap into" the antenna signal before it even hits your receiver. You need the raw over-the-air signal. This is easy; you can grab a coax splitter with one input and two outputs at any hardware store or Best Buy for a few bucks. If you try to split the signal *after* it leaves the receiver, you'll only ever see the one channel that's currently playing on the box, so your USB tuner will be stuck on that single channel.

If I guessed right, great. If not, let me know... 😬

That’s exactly what I’m trying to do—watch TV on my computer monitor. I actually tracked down a converter that turns VGA into a video signal (RGB/composite), and then found another one that flips that RGB signal back into VGA. So, my plan is to buy that converter that turns video into VGA, hook everything up, and it should theoretically work since the input is RGB and the output is VGA. Basically, I’d run the RCA cables from my digital antenna into the converter, then plug a VGA cable from the output straight into the monitor, and boom. Simple as that. Plus, the converter is only about $12. 🙂

It’s not strictly computer gear, but I was wondering if there's any way to hook up a PlayStation 2 to an old Sony 19" LCD monitor I've just got sitting around.
The kids in the living room are driving me nuts with all that nonsense, so I figured I'd just move them off my TV.

wanderingbear10 said:It’s pretty straightforward. Plus, that converter only costs about $12. 🙂

If it’s "so simple," then go for it. I know a bit more about this stuff and I've done it plenty of times, so when I say it isn't easy, I'm probably not talking nonsense. But whatever, fine...

With that converter, you might only manage to pass through the signal for one specific program (whichever is currently selected), meaning your TV and monitor will always show the exact same thing—and even then, only if the video output isn't locked in the settings, which, as I mentioned before, is usually how it goes...

redtiger10 said:It’s not strictly computer gear, but I’m wondering if it’s possible to hook up a PlayStation 2 to an old Sony LCD monitor (19") I have lying around.
The kids in the living room are driving me crazy with their nonsense, so I figured I'd move them off my TV.

I'm no expert on PlayStations, but since this all comes down to signal conversion, it depends on what outputs the PS2 has versus what inputs the monitor supports.

The monitor likely has VGA or an analog/digital DVI port.

It would be ideal if the PS2 had VGA, because then you'd just need a standard VGA cable.

If the PS2 has DVI or HDMI, you'll still need a cable, specifically a converter for the monitor's DVI.

And if the PS2 only has the standard analog ports (S-Video, composite, component, etc.), you're going to need an active signal converter for VGA, like the one mentioned a few posts back: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161933958754...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

They used to be available here in the States too, but it seems nobody imports them much anymore; now it's mostly just active HDMI-to-VGA converters, like this: [6402]=VGA

With those converters, you have to be careful about the direction of the conversion so you don't end up buying something with the wrong connectors.

You can check out an example here:



It might actually be smarter to ask over here:

because you'll find the right crowd there.😬

Nice one, that's how you do it! 👍