Please find information on connecting your Digital Receiver to a HDTV below. Select a topic below for additional information on connecting your HDTV to your Charter Digital Receiver.
The HD Receiver Ports
The back panel of the HD digital receiver has a number of different ports for connecting the HD digital receiver to the wall, your TV and other devices. The HD Digital Receiver you received may vary in port layout and labeling. The diagram below describes the most common ports used.
Refer the numbered ports in the text below
1. Cable In/ RF: Connects to the coaxial cable from the cable wall outlet.
2. Cable Out: Connects to a non HD TV or a digital TV.
3. YPbPr: Connects the digital receiver to the component video input (YPbPr) on the HDTV. (Green, blue, red connectors)
4. Digital SPDIF Audio Out: Connects an RCA cable to the digital audio input on a surround sound receiver.
5. Audio Out: Connects RCA cables (left and right) to audio inputs or to a TV with stereo outputs.
6. Optical SPDIF Audio Output: Connects an optical cable to send a digital audio signal to a surround sound receiver or other digital audio device. (optional)
7. S-Video Out: Connects the S-Video cable to your TV or VCR. (optional)
8. HDMI: Connects an HDMI or DVI cable to the HDMI/DVI port on an HDTV
9. AC Outlet : Supplies AC power to another device such as a TV. (optional)
10. AC IN: Connects the power cord for the HD receiver to the wall outlet.
Connecting HD Receiver to HDTV and VCR
This configuration will allow you to watch both high-definition and standard definition video on your HDTV as well as record and play standard-definition video through your VCR. For this configuration, your VCR may need to be turned on.
Step 1: Connect the coax cable between the cable wall outlet and the CABLE IN/RF port on the HD digital receiver.
Step 3: Connect the HDMI cable between the HDMI port on the HD digital receiver and the HDMI port on the HDTV *If your HDTV supports a 2nd HDMI connection, and your DVD player has an HDMI connection, then use a 2nd HDMI cable to connect the two devices (cable not supplied by Charter).
Step 3: Connect RCA audio (red and white) cables between the AUDIO OUT R (red)/ AUDIO OUT L (white) ports on the DVD player with the AUDIO IN R (red)/AUDIO IN L (white) ports on the HDTV. Then connect the RCA video cable (yellow) between the VIDEO OUT (yellow) port on the DVD player and the VIDEO IN port on the HDTV
Step 4: Plug in and turn on your devices. Select the input source on your HDTV that corresponds with the ports you used on the back of the HDTV.
Step 5: Activate HD Receiver; refer to instructions on Activating HD Receiver.
Activating HD Receiver
After you have installed your hardware, call Charter Communications to activate your newly self-installed HD Digital Receiver!
Step 1. Call 1-888-438-2427
Step 2. Enter or verify your home phone number if prompted.
Step 3. Main Menu - press 3 for Technical assistance.
Step 4. Option Menu - press 1 to reset your cable TV converter box.
Step 5. Listen to Converter Refresh message.
Step 6. Exit Menu.
The converter refresh should be complete within a few minutes. The completion process depends on the number of requests to reset a convert box. In rare cases where a large number of reset requests are being processed, the completion time may take up to 30 minutes.
* Please note, you must enter the phone number that is listed on your account for these directions to work. If you do not know that information, please follow steps 1-3 and you will be transferred to an agent that can assist you in activating yourself installed HD Digital Receiver.
Setting Picture Format and Size
Please refer to your TV manual to set picture format and size.
Picture formats / Picture sizes
| Standard Screen HDTV’s |
Wide Screen HDTV’s |
480p or 480i standard in full screen
 |
480p or 480i standard in full screen /pillar box display
 |
720p or 1080i wide in letterbox format
 |
720p or 1080i wide in full screen
 |
Using Component Cables
(note: Cables sold separately)
This is a common configuration for HDTV’s. Use this configuration with the component cables (red, blue, green) provided in your Charter Install Kit
Step 1: Connect the coax cable between the cable wall outlet and the CABLE IN/RF port on the HD digital receiver.
Step 2: Locate the component cable (Y, Pb, Pr) ports on the HDTV and the component cable (Y, Pb, Pr) ports on the HD digital receiver.(Y=green, Pb=blue, Pr=red). Connect the provided component cable (red, blue green) to the Y, Pb, Pr OUT ports on the HD digital receiver and the corresponding IN ports on the HDTV.
Step 3: Connect the RCA composite cables (red and white between the AUDIO OUT R (red)/AUDIO OUT L (white)ports on the HD digital receiver with the AUDIO IN R (red)/AUDIO IN L (white) ports on the HDTV.
Step 4: Plug in and turn on your devices. Select the input source on your HDTV that you used. See Setting Picture Format and Size to program your HD picture settings.
Step 5: Activate HD Receiver; refer to instructions on Activating HD Receiver.
Using a DVI Cable
(note: DVI cable sold separately)
You will use this configuration if you already have a DVI connector for your HDTV. (Not all HDTV’s have this connection option.)
Step 1: Connect the coax cable between the cable wall outlet and the CABLE IN/RF port on the HD digital receiver.
Step 2: Connect the DVI cable between the DVI port on the HD digital receiver and the DVI/HDCP IN port on the HDTV.
Step 3: Connect the RCA composite cables (red, white) between the AUDIO OUT R (red)/AUDIO OUT L (white) ports on the HD digital receiver with the AUDIO IN R (red)/AUDIO IN L (white) ports on the HDTV.
Step 4: Plug in and turn on your devices. Select the DVI input source on your HDTV. See Setting Picture Format and Size to program your HD picture settings.
Step 5: Activate HD Receiver; refer to instructions on Activating HD Receiver
Using a HDMI Cable
Follow the simple instructions below to connect your HD digital receiver to your HDTV using the HDMI cable. The HDMI cable carries both digital audio and high-definition digital video signal. (Not all HDTV’s and not all Charter Digital Receivers have this connection type available).
Step 1: Connect the coax cable between the cable wall outlet and the CABLE IN port on the HD digital receiver.
Step 2: Connect the HDMI cable between the HDMI port on the HD digital receiver and the HDMI port on the HDTV.
Step 3: Plug in and turn on your devices. Select the HDMI input source on your HDTV. See Setting Picture Format and Size to program your HD picture settings.
Step 4: Activate HD Receiver; refer to instructions on Activating HD Receiver.
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