Home » Connectivity Advisor

Customer Service | Basket Contents | Checkout

Shop by Brand

Freesat - Free satellite TV for everyone

Connectivity Advisor

Welcome to The Flat TV Company Connectivity Advisor.

In this section we try to help you understand the types of cables used in the world of TV and explain how to connect various TV hardware configurations.

We hope it helps make your life easier when you are choosing you next TV from The Flat TV Company.

1. Common Connection Cables

2. Connect - Television, DVD & Set Top Box

3. Connect - Television, DVD & Video

4. Connect - Television, DVD & DVD

5. Connect - Television, DVD & Surrond Sound

6. Connect - Television, DVD, DVD & Video Recorder

7. Connect - Television, DVD, Set Top Box & Video Recorder

8. Connect - Television, DVD, DVD & Set Top Box

9. Connect - Television, DVD, Video Recorder & Surrond Sound

10. Connect - Television, DVD, Set Top Box & Surrond Sound

11. Connect - Television, DVD, DVD, Video Recorder & Set Top Box

12. Connect - Television, DVD, Video Recorder, Set Top Box & Surrond Sound

13. Connect - Television, DVD, Set Top Box & Set Top Box

14. Connect - Television, DVD, Set Top Box, Set Top Box & Video Recorder

15. Connect - Television, DVD, Set Top Box, Set Top Box & Surrond Sound

1. COMMON CONNECTION CABLES

SCART CABLE

As you look at the end of a two way Scart cable, you will see up to 20 pins – see diagram above. This is the most commonly used connection between televisions, DVD and VCR units. They are usually able to carry a signal both ways. However, one-way Scart cables are also available. One way Scart cables will have less than 20 pins. If you are using a one-way Scart, please check that you have connected it to enable the signal to be carried in the required direction.

RF AERIAL CABLE

Male - Female connection

Female - Female connection

Male - Male connection

As you look at the RF cable, you will see a center pin that will either be hollow (female) or solid (male). This cable is used to allow your television, VCR and DVDR to receive a signal from your outside aerial. In addition to a Scart connection, any product that requires a broadcast signal should be connected to either another product that has a link to an aerial, or in the case of a TV, directly to the aerial. You will need to ensure that you have the correct type (ie male – female/female-female/male-male) depending on the products that you are connecting.

S-VIDEO CABLE

As you look at the s-video cable, you will see 4 pins (see above diagram). This cable carries a higher quality signal than a composite cable. However, in order to use this type of cable, both connecting products require a dedicated s-video input/output. In some cases, the s-video signal is carried via the Scart connection, in this instance, the cable will consist of a connector as above on one end and a Scart on the other. An S-video cable carries the picture signal only. Therefore, in addition to an s-video cable, you will also require two phono cables to carry the audio.

3 PHONO - 3 PHONO

As you look at a phono cable you will see a single pin. Although this diagram shows red, white and yellow, it is possible that you will have different colours. This is fine, providing you ensure that you use the same colour connection in each connecting product. Theses cables can be used in conjunction with a Scart adaptor (pictured below) to convert a phono connection to a Scart connection, or more commonly they are used to connect camcorders to TV front input, or TVs to hi-fis.

SCART ADAPTOR

On one side of the adaptor you will find 3 phono inputs and one s-video input (see previous diagrams). On the other side of the adaptor you will find a Scart input (see Scart explanation). This adaptor is used when you are connecting a product that has phono connections only into a Scart connection on an alternative product. An example of this would be connecting a camcorder to a Scart input.

COMPONENT CABLE

Hi quality cables are recommended for a component signal. However, three phono cables can be used. Component signal is a high quality signal mainly found on Plasma and hi-end DVD machines. In order to connect via component you must use three separate cables to carry 3 different colour signals: red, blue and green.

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)

HDMI is a modern connection which has been introduced by most manufacturers on a limited range of televisions. HDMI assures that the best video signal is always sent from source (HDTV signal, DVD Player….) to the display (Projection Television or Plasma).?It does this by allowing uncompressed video and multi-channel audio data to be input to the display device through one single cable. You can only use a HDMI connection between products that have HDMI onputs/outputs. When using this connectivity book, the principle for HDMI is the same as SCART. Therefore, if you have a DVD/Set Top Box with an HDMI output, follow the connection principle applied to SCART and ensure that your television is selected to the HDMI input by using the Input Select button on your TV remote control.
When using a HDMI unit, you are unable to link a non-HDMI product via the DVD/Set top box if you want to output a HDMI signal.

AUDIO|VIDEO CONNECTIVITY DIAGRAMS

2. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, SET TOP BOX

SCART CABLE
RF CABLE

Connections
1. RF cable (aerial) which supplies digital and analogue signal to set top box
2. RF cable supplies analogue signal to the DVDR
3. RF cable supplies analogue signal to the TV
4. Scart cable allows you to watch your set top box
5. Scart cable which allows you to watch a DVD from your DVDR
6. Scart cable which allows you to record from your set top box to your DVDR

To Use
- To watch your set top box, select AV1 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To watch your DVD recorder, select AV2 on your TV by using the input select button on your TV remote
- To record from your set top box, ensure that your DVD recorder is set to Line3 by using the input select on the DVD recorders remote control

TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, SET TOP BOX

SCART CABLE
RF CABLE

Connections
1. RF cable (aerial) which supplies the signal to your set top box
2. RF connection which supplies the signal to your DVD Recorder
3. RF connection which supplies the analogue signal to your TV
4. Scart cable which allows the DVD Recorder to be controlled by the set top box’s EPG and allows you to watch DVD's played on your DVD Recorder
5. Scart cable which allows you to view the set top box and DVD Recorder

To Use
- To watch your set top box, switch it on and select AV1 on your television by using the input select button on your TV remote
- To watch your DVD Recorder, select AV1 on your TV by using the input select button on your TV remote then switch off your Set Top Box
- To record from your set top box set the recording via the EPG and select record timer when the type of timer is requested

3. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, VIDEO RECORDER

SCART CABLE
RF CABLE

Connections
1. RF cable (aerial) which supplies signal to the DVD Recorder
2. RF cable supplies analogue signal to the VCR
3. RF cable supplies analogue signal to the TV
4. Scart cable allows you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Recorder or tapes from the VCR
5. Scart cable which allows you to watch or record a tape from your VCR to your DVD Recorder

To Use
- To watch your DVD Recorder, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To watch a tape from your VCR, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control and set the DVD recorder to line 3 using the input select button
- To record from your VCR, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder’s instruction manual on how to record

4. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, DVD

SCART CABLE
RF CABLE

Connections
1. RF cable (aerial) which sends the signal to your DVD Recorder
2. RF cable supplies analogue signal to the TV
3. Scart cable allows you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Recorder or DVD player
4. Scart cable allows DVDs to be played or recorded to the DVD Recorder (Only DVDs created on the DVD recorder without CPRM can be copied in this way)

To Use
- To watch your DVD Recorder, press the input select button on your TV remote control to select AV2
- To watch a DVD from your DVD player, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control and set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button
- To record from your DVD Player, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record. (Only DVDs created on the DVD Recorder without CPRM can be copied in this way)

5. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, SURROUND SYSTEM

SCART CABLE
RF CABLE
Coaxial Cable
OPTICAL CABLE
VIDEO PHONO CABLE
AUDIO PHONO CABLE

Connections
1. RF Lead (aerial) from external aerial to feed the signal to your DVD Recorder
2. RF Lead (aerial) to feed the analogue signal from your set top box to your TV
3. Scart cable allows you to watch DVDs Played on your DVD Recorder
4. Scart or Video phono cable (depending on your model of Surround System) carry video from the Surround system to the TV
5. Optical or Coaxial cable to carry the 5.1 audio from your DVD Recorder to your Surround System
6. Audio phono cable to carry your TVs sound to the Surround System

To Use
- To watch your DVD Recorder, select AV2 on your TV by using the input select button on your TV remote
- To watch video from your Surround System, select AV1 on your TV by using the input select button on your TV remote
- To listen to the audio from your DVD Recorder or TV through the Surround Systems speakers press the function button on your remote until the relevant input is selected (e.g. to listen to the TV in the diagram above you would press Function until Video 1 was displayed)

6. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, DVD, VIDEO RECORDER

SCART CABLE
RF CABLE

Connections
1. RF cable (aerial) which feeds the analogue signal to your VCR
2. RF cable which feeds the signal to your DVD Recorder
3. RF cable to feed the analogue signal to your TV
4. Scart cable to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Recorder
5. Scart cable to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Player
6. Scart cable to allow you to watch and record from your VCR

To Use
- To watch DVDs played on your DVD recorder, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To watch DVDs played on your DVD player, select AV1 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To watch a tape from your VCR, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control and set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button
- To record from your VCR, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record.

7. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, SET TOP BOX, VIDEO RECORDER

SCART CABLE
RF CABLE

Connections
1. RF (aerial) connection which carries the signal to your set top box
2. RF cable to supply your VCR with an analogue signal
3. RF cable to supply your DVD recorder With a signal
4. RF cable to allow your TV to receive an analogue signal
5. Scart cable to allow you to view DVD's played on your DVD Recorder
6. Scart cable to allow you to record to your DVD Recorder from your set top box
7. Scart cable to allow you to watch tapes from your VCR

To Use
- To watch DVDs played on your DVD recorder, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To watch tapes played on your VCR, select AV1 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To watch your set top box, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control and set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button
- To record from your set top box, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record

8. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, DVD, SET TOP BOX

Scart Cable
RF Cable

Connections
1. RF lead (aerial) from external aerial to feed the signal to your set top box
2. RF lead to carry the signal from your set top box to your DVD Recorder
3. RF lead to feed the analogue signal to your TV
4. Scart connection to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Recorder
5. Scart connection to allow you to watch or record your set top box
6. Scart connection to allow you to watch your DVD’s played on your DVD player

9. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, VIDEO RECORDER, SURROUND SYSTEM

Scart Cable
RF Cable
Coaxial Cable
Optical Cable
Video Phono Cable
Audio Phono Cable

Connections
1. RF cable to feed aerial signal from aerial to your VCR
2. RF cable to carry the analogue signal from your VCR to your DVD Recorder
3. RF cable to feed the aerial signal from DVD Recorder to your TV
4. Scart cable to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD recorder
5. Scart cable which allows you watch or record tapes from your VCR
6. Scart or Video phono cable (depending on your model of Surround System) carry video from the Surround System to the TV
7. Optical or Coaxial cable to carry the 5.1 audio from your DVD Recorder to your Surround System
8. Audio phono cable to carry your TVs sound to the Surround System

10. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, SET TOP BOX, SURROUND SYSTEM

Scart Cable
RF Cable
Coaxial Cable
Optical Cable
Video Phono Cable
Audio Phono Cable

Connections
1. RF lead (aerial) from external aerial to feed the digital and analogue signal to your set top box
2. RF lead to carry the analogue signal from your set top box to your DVD Recorder
3. RF lead to feed the analogue signal from your DRD Recorder to your set top box
4. Scart connection to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Recorder
5. Scart connection to allow you to watch and record from your set top box
6. Scart or Video phono cable (depending on your model of Surround System) carry video from the Surround System to the TV
7. Optical or Coaxial cable to carry the 5.1 audio from your DVD Recorder to your Surround System
8 Audio phono cable to carry your TVs sound to the Surround System

11. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, DVD, VIDEO RECORDER, SET TOP BOX

Scart Cable
RF Cable

Connections
1. RF lead (aerial) from external aerial to feed the digital and analogue signal to your set top box
2. RF lead to feed the analogue signal from your set top box to your VCR
3. RF lead to feed the analogue signal from your VCR to your DVD recorder
4. RF lead to carry the signal to the TV
5. Scart connection to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Recorder
6. Scart connection to allow the set top box to be watched or recorded
7. Scart connection to allow you to watch and record tapes from your VCR
8. Scart connection to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD player

To Use
- To watch DVDs played on your DVD recorder, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To watch a tape from your VCR, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control then set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button and finally switch off the set top box
- To record from your VCR, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, switch off the set top box, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record
- To watch your set top box, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control, set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button
- To record from your set top box to the DVD recorder, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 and follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record
- To record from your set top box to the VCR, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 then set the VCR to Line 1 using the input select button on the remote finally follow the instructions in your VCR's instruction manual on how to record
- To watch DVDs played on your DVD player, select AV1 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control

12. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, VIDEO RECORDER, SET TOP BOX, SURROUND SYSTEM

Scart Cable
RF Cable
Coaxial Cable
Optical Cable
Video Phono Cable
Audio Phono Cable

Connections
1. RF cable (aerial cable) to allow your set top box to receive both analogue and digital channels
2. RF cable to allow to analogue signal to be received by your VCR
3. RF cable to carry the signal from your VCR to your DVD Recorder
4. RF cable to allow the analogue signal to be received by your TV
5. Scart connection to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Recorder
6. Scart connection to allow you to watch or record from your set top box
7. Scart connection to allow you to watch or record from the VCR
8. Scart or Video phono cable (depending on your model of Surround System) carry video from the Surround System to the TV
9. Optical or Coaxial cable to carry the 5.1 audio from your DVD Recorder to your Surround System
10. Audio phono cable to carry your TVs sound to the Surround System

To Use
- To watch DVDs played on your DVD recorder, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To watch your set top box, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control and set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button
- To record from your set top box to your DVD Recorder, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record
- To watch a tape from your VCR, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control then set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button finally switch off the set top box
- To record from your VCR, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control then switch select Line 3 then switch of the set top box and follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record
- To record from your set top box to your VCR select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control then set the DVD Recorder to line 3 using the input select button and set the VCR to line 1 using the input select button on its remote finally follow the instructions in your VCR's instruction manual on how to record
- To watch video from your Surround System, select AV1 on your TV by using the input select button on your TV remote
- To listen to the audio from your DVD Recorder or TV through the Surround Systems speakers press the function button on your remote until the relevant input is selected (e.g. to listen to the TV in the diagram above you would press Function until Video 1 was displayed)

13. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, SET TOP BOX, SET TOP BOX (FOR RECORDING ONE CHANNEL WHILE WATCHING ANOTHER)

Scart Cable
RF Cable

Connections
1. RF (aerial) cable which supplies the signal to your fist set top box
2. RF cable which supplies the signal to your second set top box
3. RF cable which carries the signal to the DVD Recorder
4. RF cable which carries the signal to your TV
5. Scart cable which allows you to watch DVD's played on your DVD Recorder
6. Scart cable which allows you to record from your set top box
7. Scart cable which allows you to watch your set top box

14. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, SET TOP BOX, SET TOP BOX, VIDEO RECORDER

Scart Cable
RF Cable

Connections
1. RF cable (aerial) which sends the analogue and digital signal to your first set top box
2. RF cable which feeds the signal to your second set top box
3. RF cable to feed the signal to your VCR
4. RF cable to feed the signal from your VCR to your DVD Recorder
5 RF cable which carries the signal to the TV
6 Scart cable that allows you to watch your DVD's from your DVD Recorder
7. Scart cable which allows you to watch and record (to the DVD Recorder) the set top box
8. Scart cable to allow you to watch tapes form your VCR
9. Scart cable that allows you to record from your set top box to your VCR

To Use
- To watch DVDs played on your DVD recorder, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To watch tapes played on your VCR, select AV1 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To record from your set top box to your DVD recorder, using the input select on your DVD Recorder's remote control, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record
- To record from your set top box to your VCR, using the input select on your VCR's remote control, select Line 2/3 then follow the instructions in your VCR’s instruction manual on how to record

15. TELEVISION, DVD RECORDER, SET TOP BOX, SET TOP BOX, SURROUND SYSTEM

Scart Cable
RF Cable
Coaxial Cable
Optical Cable
Video Phono Cable
Audio Phono Cable

Connections
1. RF lead (aerial) from external aerial to feed the digital and analogue signal to your first set top box
2. RF lead (aerial) to feed the signal from your first set top box to your second set top box
3. RF lead to feed the analogue signal from your satellite box to VCR
4. RF lead to feed the signal to the DVD Recorder
5. RF lead to carry the signal to the TV
6. Scart connection to allow you to watch DVDs played on your DVD Recorder
7. Scart or Video phono cable (depending on your model of Surround System) carry video from the Surround System to the TV
8. Scart to three phono to allow you to watch your set top box through your Surround System
9. Optical or Coaxial cable to carry the 5.1 audio from your DVD Recorder to your Surround System
10. Audio phono cable to carry your TVs sound to the Surround System

To Use
- To watch DVDs played on your DVD recorder, select AV2 on your TV using the input select button on your TV remote control
- To record from your set top box, using the input select on your DVD Recorde's remote control, select Line 3 then follow the instructions in your DVD Recorder's instruction manual on how to record
- To watch video from your Surround System, select AV1 on your TV by using the input select button on your TV remote
- To listen to the audio from your DVD Recorder or TV through the Surround Systems speakers press the function button on your remote until the relevant input is selected (e.g. to listen to the TV in the diagram above you would press Function until Video 1 was displayed)
- To watch your set top box and listen to the sound through the Surround Systems speakers select AV1 on your TV by using the input select button on your TV remote then press the function button on your Surround System’s remote until the relevant input is selected (e.g. to listen to the set top box in the diagram above you would press Function until SAT was displayed)