I threw that description into a search engine and ended up looking at a big box on Amazon with 4 buttons, 3 knobs, and a sliding switch. And it only had a 3.8 star average review. As such, I'm guessing there are many ways for things to go wrong.
Even some of the 5-star reviews say that the instructions are poor and don't really match the device so it takes a while to get it working. They might be worth reading. For example one of them says regarding channel selection: "Note 03 is different than 3" which is not very intuitive. Another review says to make sure to switch it to NTSC, and another review says it is NTSC-only so perhaps they received different boxes or maybe that's another sign of how poor the instructions are.
Did you really need such a complicated box? For example, TVs in 1987 usually had composite inputs so you avoid all the confusion with modulators and channels.
The answer is, unfortunately, yes.
It's old equipment, yes, but still functions and I don't want to just throw it away. I'm just hoping for more functionality by adding the Roku Express.
Therefore the box I chose, it met all my needs.
Since this doesn't seem to do the job I need it to do, I have looked at another, HDMI to RF, no composite that has a slightly higher rating. I'll have to replace the DVD player but that costs less than an new TV and stand.
If I have to replace the TV, I'll replace the Roku Express box as well and just buy either an Amazon Prime or Roku ready TV. It might simplify things, but it's a lot more expensive.
And there is only ONE set of composite inputs? That seems fairly unusual even for 1987 (or maybe low-end or portable). Of course, there are switch boxes you can get too - just another option. By the way, you might also check if the TV and DVD player have S-video connectors. Those were common back then and might give you another input.
By the way, I wouldn't throw stuff like that away either, but I would look for e-cycling in your area. Where I live the e-cycling locations are Goodwill/thrift stores. I think if they think they can sell it, then they do, otherwise they send it off for recycling.
No composites for the TV, only for the DVD player. TV has no S connectors - really it only has the coax and antenna connectors (like for rabbit ears we used to use).
The DVD/VCR player has an in/out coax, 3 sets of composites and an S connector (which does no good when the TV can't work with it that way).
I'll consider other options once I've run out of the ones I'm trying. Thank you for not being dismissive.
You can sometimes find some freebie TVs on Craigslist that won't be the latest models but will be newer and more capable of what you have and won't cost much other than going to pick them up. Check your area locally and see what you can find.
My Uncle used to use those converters with an old TV and they don't work as smoothly as you would hope, in addition to the other problems mentioned above with digital broadcasts.
