Lack of coax input on Onkyo 608

[firehazard51]

I bought an Onkyo 608 receiver and a Panasonic 50" G25 plasma TV over the Summer and have been loving it with my Polk audio setup. Well I've moved back to school to finish my degree and I've run into a problem. My dorm has free cable through a coax cable but my receiver doesn't have that input and my TV doesn't seem to have and audio output strangely enough . But I kinda prefer to send video feed directly to my receiver anyways. So is there a converter for such a thing? I've looked on monoprice.com and can't seem to find something that will work. Also I'm concerned that I might loss my HD channels that I do get, if I do a conversion. Any suggestion on fixing my problem? Thanks.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by firehazard51

I bought an Onkyo 608 receiver and a Panasonic 50" G25 plasma TV over the Summer and have been loving it with my Polk audio setup. Well I've moved back to school to finish my degree and I've run into a problem. My dorm has free cable through a coax cable but my receiver doesn't have that input and my TV doesn't seem to have and audio output strangely enough . But I kinda prefer to send video feed directly to my receiver anyways. So is there a converter for such a thing? I've looked on monoprice.com and can't seem to find something that will work. Also I'm concerned that I might loss my HD channels that I do get, if I do a conversion. Any suggestion on fixing my problem? Thanks.

I am not sure of what your asking (unless i'm reading what you wrote incorrectly) I looked up your tv, mind you, the complete model number of your tv is not listed by you. if your panny is the VIERA-TC P50G25 then it has an optical audio out port on it so you would be able to send digital audio to your 608 which has 2 optical inputs so you can get whatever audio options are available up to 5.1 DD from your cable company. I don't know of any receivers that have a built in TV tuner (you mentioned your receiver doesn't have that input and you referenced the coax cable) can you please re-phrase your question, i want to help but i'm not sure either your making sense in what you have asked or i'm not reading it correctly (and i've read it a bunch of times before making this reply)

also, does your cable company not offer an HD cable box with HDMI, this would really solve your problems!

here to help...

[browndk26]

I don't think any AVR's can accept a cable signal via coax. My Panasonic TV has an optical out for audio so I would think yours should too. Connect the coax direct to the TV and optical out to the AVR.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

What you really need is an RF input on your TV. Modern TV's don't have RF inputs. To the best of my knowledge, receivers never had cable TV RF input.

The solution is very simple. Go to Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, or Best Buy and buy an RF Modulator. They are between $10 to $20, depending on the number of input/outputs. Philips is probably the largest manufacturer of RF modulators.

After you have purchased the little gadget, connect an RG6 coaxial cable with F connectors from the wall to the modulator. Most cheaper RF modulators may only have 3 RCA outputs, one yellow for video and two for audio audio. Some of the more expensive modulators may also have a separate S-Video output. S-Video gives you better quality picture than RCA composite video. Anyway connect the RCA or S-Video cable from the modulator to the back of your TV. As far as the audio is concerned, you can connect the two audio cables directly to the TV and listen to the programs through the TV's speakers. If you want to hear the sound from your external speakers, you can connect the two audio cables to the back of the receiver instead of the TV.

Remeber that the RF modulator has to be plugged into the wall outlet.

his tv has a built in ATSC digital tuner and an optical audio out port, he can get whatever audio the cable company and network tv offers up to 5.1 with an optical cable from his TV to his receiver, that's why i'm not sure what he is asking for?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

his tv has a built in ATSC digital tuner and an optical audio out port, he can get whatever audio the cable company and network tv offers up to 5.1 with an optical cable from his TV to his receiver, that's why i'm not sure what he is asking for?

The impression I got from his post is that there is only a cable/satellite TV outlet on the wall that is active and he wants to tap into it. I am beginning to think that he probably needs a cable/satellite box and proper authorization to be able to connect it to his TV. There may be a monthly fee that he has to pay to the cable/satellite company or to the school.

Please ignore my post about RF modulators.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

The impression I got from his post is that there is only a cable/satellite TV outlet on the wall that is active and he wants to tap into it. I am beginning to think that he probably needs a cable/satellite box and proper authorization to be able to connect it to his TV. There may be a monthly fee that he has to pay to the cable/satellite company or to the school.

Please ignore my post about RF modulators.

yeah, see, that's why i asked the OP to articulate his needs a little better. most colleges do give free cable tv in dorm rooms as long as you have a cable ready tv your in business (not all colleges do that but lots do)

i also mentioned about a cable box but if what you are thinking is correct just to see if it's active for cable ready/no box needed he should buy a coax cable and connect it to his tv tuner to see if the tv tunes in any channels and take it from there. but, just look at what he titled the thread!

we want to help you but you have to respond to some of the posted comments so we know what direction to go.

[Big Daddy]

firehazard51,

After reading your post several times, I believe I finally understand your problem. This is my second attempt to answer your question. I hope I am correct this time.

Originally Posted by firehazard51

My dorm has free cable through a coax cable but my receiver doesn't have that input and my TV doesn't seem to have any audio output strangely enough .

According to Panasonic, your TV has a Digital Audio Output. I assume this audio output is the RCA digital coaxial output or an optical output. You can use that output to send audio to the receiver with a cable. Almost all receivers have Digital Coaxial Inputs in addition to Optical inputs.

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-e...702#tabsection

But I kinda prefer to send video feed directly to my receiver anyways. So is there a converter for such a thing? I've looked on monoprice.com and can't seem to find something that will work. Also I'm concerned that I might loss my HD channels that I do get, if I do a conversion. Any suggestion on fixing my problem? Thanks.

You really cannot connect the cable feed (audio or video) directly to your Onkyo A/V receiver. The cable feed from the wall is raw and requires a digital cable TV box to decode it. In order to be able to do that, you need to get such a box from the cable company. The box can decode the signals and send the picture and sound to your receiver, but your TV already has the ability to do the job of the box. I assume you change the channels by using the TV's remote control.

You really don't need any adapters. Just connect the cable company's wall outlet to the back of your TV with an appropriate cable and then connect the digital audio output on the back of the TV to the receiver with a digital caxial cable with RCA connectors or an optical cable.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by firehazard51

I bought an Onkyo 608 receiver and a Panasonic 50" G25 plasma TV over the Summer and have been loving it with my Polk audio setup. Well I've moved back to school to finish my degree and I've run into a problem. My dorm has free cable through a coax cable but my receiver doesn't have that input and my TV doesn't seem to have and audio output strangely enough . But I kinda prefer to send video feed directly to my receiver anyways. So is there a converter for such a thing? I've looked on monoprice.com and can't seem to find something that will work. Also I'm concerned that I might loss my HD channels that I do get, if I do a conversion. Any suggestion on fixing my problem? Thanks.

You just need a convertor box with a Video Coaxial input and a digital HDMI output. I'm sure there must be some around.
But like Big Daddy already mentioned, you might have to get a subscription to unlock it with the company's own convertor box.

* Your Panny TV must have a video coaxial input; try it out and see what you get from it.
> As for the Audio, simply follow Big Daddy's instruction from just above (Optical Out from your TV to Optical In to your Onkyo receiver).

[solarrdadd]

gee, i've been saying that all along, almost from the beginning too. you guys are muscling in on my action!

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

gee, i've been saying that all along, almost from the beginning too. you guys are muscling in on my action!

Hey, we're here to help you out too you know!

* Besides, when you post you don't seem to be absolutely certain; we are! ...................................... jk