Roku setup

[BrooklynBabe]

Hi Everyone:

I just received my Roku Express, but I've discovered right away that there's a problem which I hope has a solution.

The TV I want to connect it to is a pretty old RCA 13-inch one with only 1 place in the back to connect directly to cable (the end of the cable has the round metal end with the little "needle thing" in the center and you just put it into the opening on the back of the TV and turn the screw end until it's tightened)  Obviously, all the wires/cables that came with my Roku all have USB type ports at the ends so I am at a complete loss as to how I can connect them to this TV if at all.  I did read that you can connect a Roku to an old TV which is why I got it, but where do I go from here?

So I hope somewhere here in the community can give me step-by-step instructions as to what to do or if there's another cable connector I have to get to solve this problem that would be really AWESOME!

Thanks, in advance, and I look forward to a reply.

Warm Regards,

Brooklyn Babe

[DBDukes]

@BrooklynBabe 

The cable connection is an F-connector. Roku doesn't support it, as you've discovered.

Those ports on the back of the Roku are HDMI.

You'd need an adapter to convert HDMI to F-connector. That may even require a couple of adapters: HDMI to composite, and an RF adapter for the composite.

I'm not certain how much that would run. You'd also lose HD, as that's an SD TV. And, it will letterbox the menus, as Roku expects to output as 16:9 and the TV is 4:3. With it being 13-inch, it'll be problematic seeing the screen clearly.

It may even be worthwhile replacing the TV with a similar size, though much smaller than 19-inch is rare.

[atc98092]

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@BrooklynBabe wrote:

  I did read that you can connect a Roku to an old TV which is why I got it, but where do I go from here?

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That was not accurate information. Roku hasn't offered a player with analog outputs for several years. The last model that had that support was the Express+ 3910. As @DBDukes mentioned, the connector you are looking at is an F connector for the over the air TV antenna. If your TV supports connecting an external player, there will be three connectors visible: red, white and yellow. Red and white are the audio connections while the yellow is video. If your TV has such connectors, then if you can find an Express+ 3910 (be aware there are newer versions of the Express+ that don't have these connectors) you could connect it. 

HDMI converters are available, but they seem to be hit or miss about working with Roku players. But if your TV doesn't have those three connectors I mentioned above, then that isn't an option for you.