How to Decode a Converter Box

Closed captioning provides text readouts for what is being said on a television program. A non-digital TV cannot view closed captioning because it is incompatible with the digital TV signal coming from the digital TV antenna. To decode closed captioning and play it on the TV, you must use a digital converter box to convert the digital signal into one that the TV can recognize There are a number of digital converter boxes available from electronic and computer stores--all operating in a similar manner to convert the digital signal into one that the non-digital TV can accept. The closed captioning feature can then be activated through the digital converter box.

• 1

  Place the digital converter box next to the standard-definition (SD) TV. Plug the power cord of the digital converter box into a wall socket for power. Screw the coaxial cable coming from the digital TV antenna into the coax input on the digital converter box.

• 2

  Connect one end of an S-Video cable into the S-Video output on the digital converter box. Connect the other end to an S-Video input on the TV.

• 3

  Connect the red and white RCA plugs at one end of an audio cable into the red and white RCA audio outputs on the digital converter box. Connect the red and white RCA plugs at the other end of the audio cable into the red and white RCA audio inputs on the TV.

• 4

  Turn the TV on with its remote. Press the "Menu" button. Select the 'Video input" setting. Select the "S-Video" input. Press the "Menu" button.

• 5

  Turn the digital converter box on with its remote. Press the "Source" button on the remote until an LED dot illuminates the "Ant" or "Coax in" text on the box.

• 6

  Press the "Menu" button. Select "Settings," "Advanced." Select "Closed Captions." Check the "708" check box on the screen. Press "Menu" to exit the settings.