Comcast digital television customers are provided a digital cable box that transmits a digital cable signal to their televisions. Digital cable boxes have several outputs that allow you to connect the box to a variety of televisions, in both standard and high definition. If you are no longer using your Dell computer monitor, consider turning it into a television using an external television tuner box and external speakers. The box converts the signal from the cable box to a VGA or DVI signal, which allows it to be displayed on the Dell monitor. Once setup, you can watch regular television using the monitor, saving you from having to purchase a television.
Step 1
Purchase an external television tuner. Although both digital and analog tuners are available on the market, analog tuners frequently cause interference with digital cable boxes.
Step 2
Connect the cable box to the external television tuner using either component, S-Video or HDMI cables. When connecting the cables, be sure the match the color of the cable to the color of the jack on both the cable box output and the external television tuner input.
Step 3
Connect the monitor to the external television tuner using either a VGA or DVI cable, depending on the inputs of the monitor and the outputs of the external television tuner.
Step 4
Plug the external speaker's audio cable into the audio output on the rear of the external television tuner.
Step 5
Turn on all devices, including the monitor. Press the "Source" button on the monitor until the cable box signal is displayed on the screen.
References
- CNET: How To Turn Your Monitor Into a TV
- Dell: D1901N User Manual