Roku sticks, boxes, and Smart TVs are excellent alternatives to Google’s Chromecast, Amazon’s Fire Stick, and more. They are usually a cheaper alternative full of excellent features. In the age of Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, most people including me are giving up their cable TV subscriptions. However, what about those who don’t want to? Show Fortunately, both Roku TVs and Roku streaming sticks or boxes can be used with cable as long as your TV has the right input ports. Depending on your Cable box, you may need a TV with more than one HDMI port, AV-IN ports, or a coaxial port. Let’s dig deeper and figure out how you can use your Roku TV with cable. Roku TV with Cable and Compatibility IssuesAs mentioned above, your cable box can be used with Roku TV as long as you have the right ports. Both the input and output ports on your television and the cable box need to match. Most modern TVs and Smart TVs with in-built Roku have all the necessary ports you may need. For instance, they have USB ports, multiple HDMI ports, AV-IN ports, and even a Coaxial port. Check the left or right side of your TV to check the ports. Some TVs also have it at the back. If you have all those ports, you can connect to any cable box and use it with the Roku TV. After you check for the ports on your TV, check the ports on the cables box. If it’s a really old device, you’ll need AV ports. Modern TVs don’t usually come with those ports. In that case, you’ll need an adapter. It’s best if you have a coaxial port or HDMI port on both the cable box and your TV. It’s also important to remember that Roku sticks and boxes don’t come with these ports. Those devices usually have a USB port, a power input, an HDMI port, and in some cases an Ethernet port. So it all depends on the ports on the TV. Once the cable box is connected you can switch between the Roku TV and cable TV. Roku TV with Cable via HDMIIf you have a newer cable box or satellite receiver it will have an HDMI port. Connect the HDMI port on the cable box to one of the HDMI ports on the TV with an HDMI cable. After that, you need to switch between the HDMI inputs to access the cable or Roku TV. I also have a Chromecast and I usually use this method to switch between satellite TV, Roku TV, and Chromecast. Here’s what you need to do:
On the other hand, if you have a Smart TV from TCL, Hisense, or Westinghouse Electronics that comes with an in-built Roku TV, the process is a bit different:
I also have an old TV that serves as a monitor for my kid’s PC. However, it only has one HDMI port. That’s why I had to equip that TV with an HDMI splitter. This allows my kid to connect both his PC and a Roku Stick to the TV and switch between them with ease. You can do the same if you have an old TV with only one HDMI port. The splitter allows you to increase the HDMI ports on the TV and connect both a Roku TV and a cable box. Roku TV with Cable via Coaxial portAnother way of connecting cable boxes and satellite receivers is with the Coaxial port. Here’s how you use it:
Roku TV with Cable via AV-IN portsMost TVs, cable boxes, and satellite receivers don’t have this option anymore. However, if you have a very old cable box this may be your only option. If your TV doesn’t have these ports and you still want to use your cable box, you’ll need to get an HDMI to AV adapter. Plug the HDMI port of the adapter into the TV and connect the AV-IN ports with the cable box. The adapter converts analog composite input to digital HDMI 1080p or 720p output. Here’s how you connect your cable box with the TV via AV-In ports:
ConclusionAs long as you have the right ports you can easily use your cable box with your RokuTV. The compatibility mostly depends on the ports at the back of your TV. If you don’t have the right ports you can also get adapters to make things work. That’s why I have multiple review units of Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, my cable box, and more plugged into the TV. Simply switching the input source lets you use all the devices you want. I hope you’re able to do the same after reading this article. Why is my cable not working on my Roku TV?Make sure your Roku player or TV is connected to the internet. If you're using WiFi, try using a wired connection instead. Disconnect and reconnect your HDMI cable. Unplug your Roku device from the wall outlet, then wait at least 30 seconds before plugging it back in.
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