Cable TV Connection

Truman Cable TV Setup

Learn what equipment you need and instructions for how to connect your television to receive campus cable TV services.

To receive the channels above 13, you'll need:

• A cable-ready television with manual, and/or a cable-ready VCR
• Coaxial cable (coax) to reach from your device to the cable outlet
• An additional coax, if you're connecting a VCR

To connect a cable-ready television.

1. Plug your television into an electric outlet.
2. Connect one end of the coax to the cable connector on the wall plate.
3. Connect the other end to the coax connector on the back of the television, marked input. You may need to screw on the connector to secure the connection.
4. Turn on the television and set it to CABLE or CATV mode. Some televisions do this automatically through an onscreen programming menu.
   1. Go to the TV menu
   2. Choose Cable/CATV
   3. Do Auto Search / Auto Program
5. Check the channel lineup to see what channels are available.
6. See your television's owners manual for directions on programming available channels.
7. NOTE: If you don't see channels above 30-36 please check your TV menu for an "off air/broadcast" mode. This will need to be disabled for you to find all channels. 

Connect a cable-ready VCR to a cable-ready television.

1. Plug the VCR into an electrical outlet.
2. Connect one end of coax to the coax connector on the wall plate.
3. Connect the other end to the coax connector on the VCR marked "input."
4. Connect one end of a second coax to the output connector on the VCR/ DVD.
5. Connect the other end to the coax/ VHF connector marked "input" on the back of the television.
6. Check that all screw-on connections are completely secure.
7. Turn on the television, and make sure it and the VCR are set to the proper CABLE or CATV modes (according to the manufacturer's instructions).
8. Permanently tune the television to channel 3 or 4 to use the VCR for channel selection.
9. Check the channel lineup to see what channels are available.

Connect a cable-ready VCR to a television that is not cable-ready.

1. Plug the VCR into an electrical outlet.
2. Connect one end of a coax to the coax connector on the wall plate.
3. Connect the other end to the coax connector on the VCR marked "input."
4. Connect a second coax to the output connector on the VCR.
5. Connect the other end to the coax connector on the back of the television marked "input."
   1. Note: An older television may require a matching transformer (adapter) to mate the coax connector to the VHF connector on the back of the television.
6. Check that all screw-on connections are completely secure.
7. Turn on the television, and permanently tune it to Channel 3 or 4 to use the VCR for channel selection.
8. Check the channel lineup to see what channels are available.