Need to connect Sky HD box to LCD TV but HDMI port on tv is bust

BusinessStudent

We have a Sony KDL-20S2020 LCD tv. It is over 4 years old and only has one HDMI port. The HDMI port has for some reason never worked - (it feels very very loose)

(http://www.sony.co.uk/product/tv-51-20-lcd/kdl-20s2020)

We need to connect our Sky HD box to the this television. Is there any adapter you can get ie HDMI to phono or RCA (or whatever those coloured ports on the back of the tv are called?)

I know we could always use a scart lead but we want to watch programmes in HD.

Many thanks

steve1980

Does it not have a scart connector?

BusinessStudent

steve1980 wrote: »

Does it not have a scart connector?

Hi. Yeah but I want to watch in HD?
Cheers

callistris

Looking at the specs of your TV you only have the one digital input being the HDMI.
As its only a 20" model tbh connecting via rgb scart will still show a very good picture:)
I have a 19" tv in my bedroom with a freesat+ HD box connected with hdmi and the picture looks good. I tried the scart cable and tbh I can't notice a difference in picture quality as the screen is so small.
But this may depend on how far away you plan to sit from the screen!

To appreciate HD you may want to think about getting a bigger screen at some point:)

almillar

Check the back of your SkyHD box. Didn't some of them have component connections? They don't any more. Component is a red, green and blue phono for the picture, plus the red and white phono for the sound. There's no point trying to convert HDMI, it's digital with copy protection, if you start spending money on trying to do this, you might as well just spend £200 on a 32 inch TV!

InsideInsurance

Only the first Sky HD boxes had Component and they dropped them in a later revision.

You also need to check what resolution your TV will accept over Component (don't mistake Component with Composite), some accept 720p some only accept SD.

If it does accept HD over Component you can buy a convertor for about £60 like http://www.hdcable.co.uk/hdmi-to-component-converter.html and keep a reasonable quality.

If it doesnt accept HD over Component then I would question if the expense is worth it and if you'd not just be better off sticking with RGB SCART which is only marginally worse a picture and saves a second audio cable etc

almillar

I mean I'm all for moneysaving and all, but this poster is paying at least £240 per year to Sky (guessing they have at least the standard subscription, put that up to £360 if they have the £10.25 HD pack too) and they're watching it on an ancient broken TV - £360 would buy you a massive jump in viewing quality... and if you're any distance away from that 20" screen, cancel your HD subsciption and save that money towards a TV...

spud17

almillar wrote: »

I mean I'm all for moneysaving and all, but this poster is paying at least £240 per year to Sky (guessing they have at least the standard subscription, put that up to £360 if they have the £10.25 HD pack too) and they're watching it on an ancient broken TV - £360 would buy you a massive jump in viewing quality... and if you're any distance away from that 20" screen, cancel your HD subsciption and save that money towards a TV...

A bit ironic considering that the OPs name is BusinessStudent.

BusinessStudent

almillar wrote: »

I mean I'm all for moneysaving and all, but this poster is paying at least £240 per year to Sky (guessing they have at least the standard subscription, put that up to £360 if they have the £10.25 HD pack too) and they're watching it on an ancient broken TV - £360 would buy you a massive jump in viewing quality... and if you're any distance away from that 20" screen, cancel your HD subsciption and save that money towards a TV...

I dont pay Sky a penny. The box is ex subscription. We previously had it connected to a large HD lcd tv.

mcfisco

BusinessStudent wrote: »

I dont pay Sky a penny. The box is ex subscription. We previously had it connected to a large HD lcd tv.

There you go - you don't need a HD compatible TV

almillar

Ah good stuff, that'd be a waste of money. OK the ONLY way to get HD out of a SkyHD is either the HDMI, and you've got a broken HDMI on your TV, or as I said above if the box is old enough, it might have a component out (and hopefully your TV has component in). Component is 3 phonos - red green and blue, then you add in sound, generally stereo phono (red and white) or preferably optical digital.
And yes mcfisco, you do need an HD compatible TV as you'll be wanting to watch BBC1HD and BBCHD for example.