How to hook-up old portable analog TV to digital converter box?

[erasureing]

I came across an old Zenith portable television (model # BT044S) but the thing has no coaxial or RCA composite inputs. The only input that it has (for signal, I figure) is a single blue ringed A/V IN input.

I'm assuming there is some way possible to hook it up to a digital converter box but I'm just not sure what adapter(s) I may need to do so?

There is also an external antenna input on this same device. It already has a built-in telescoping antenna on it but I guess you could add an additional one for better reception. However, I've never seen one that connects via a 3.5mm connection that works for television reception, only radio.

To be honest, once you've introduced the digital converter box that I plan on using here, I would think it would be a moot point anyway as any antenna used would have to be plugged directly into the converter box itself and not the television. Nonetheless, for my own curiosity, I'd still like to know what kind of antenna could have been used in this case.

Thanks all.

 

[Alabalcho]

This unit uses custom cables for both audio/video in (the connector on the left), and for coax antennae (connector on the right). So, you have to options to connect the converter box:
- if it has RCA output (red/while/yellow), look for cable which will fit "A/V In". This is usually 3.5mm jack like on headphones, with extra ring on it to provide for video. Many point-and-shoot cameras have such a cable.
- if it has Coax output with setting for channel 3 / 4, you should find a connector which will fit into "Ext Ant" connector. I have no idea what would go there, unless you open the box and see what's inside.
- if your converter box has HDMI output only, you'll out of luck.

 

[kraelic]

https://www.amazon.com/Antenna-Adapter-Acoustic-Music-System/dp/B00ZXI2MJG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1529961202&sr=1-1&keywords=75+ohm+1%2F8

Above for the ext antenna on right. Your antenna connects to the digital box ant lead, the tv lead goes to the silver barrel and plugs into the min tv ext antenna. Tune the TV to 3 or 4, and use the digital box to change channels.

Takes a special A/V adapter, the TV is Black and White and that looks like a phono plug not a headphone jack

http://vintage-technics.ru/Eng-Sony_FD-40A.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1ondbGHjTM

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/zenith_bto44sbto_44.html

 

[erasureing]

I've never seen one of these type adapters before.

Probably due to the fact that there are not many devices that output monaural sound, I'm assuming. I've been trying to see if I can find one online without any luck so far. Coming across a lot of different adapters, just nothing like this one. Not sure if it is just a matter of the search terms I am using or if it's because this type of specialized adapter is no longer being manufactured? I'm hoping for the former but leaning more towards the latter.

Any of you happen to know of a reliable vendor who may happen to carry stock of something like this in their inventory? I doubt it but I thought no harm in asking.

I see Alabalcho's suggestion to use a camera's video cord. I just wasn't sure if the length of the input pin on this type of adapter cord would be the same length as the input head would be for the original adapter being called for here? I would rather have an RCA type head like the original adapter was but if I don't have a choice in the matter, I'll take what I can get to resolve this.

 

[kraelic]

Not finding that style adapter, was probably made just for that tv.
One would have to modify a stereo to phono adapter, take a small wire to wrap around the shield closest to the plastic to connect to the outer phono ring on the TV to test if the contacts are right before trying to find a slip ring to adapt it.

Looks like you could at least get the video in with a regular RCA cable

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hosa-Dual-RCA-Phono-Female-to-3-5mm-TRS-Stereo-Male-Mini-Plug-1-8-iPod-NEW/222089712322?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41375%26meid%3Dd14a756ce64648efb24cf06aa8ae440e%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D322186075216&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

Much easier to get the adapter for antenna and connect it with a short coax to the converter, this size of TV and black and white is not going to be high definition.

https://www.amazon.com/Female-Coaxial-Adapter-FM-Antenna/dp/B00BBYRDG8

 

[erasureing]

I found two similar ones as you linked to.

3.5mm Stereo Audio Male Plug to 2 RCA Female Jack Headphones Y Splitter Adapter:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-Stereo-Audio-Male-Plug-to-2-RCA-Female-Jack-Headphones-Y-Splitter-Adapter/262579844502?hash=item3d22fa7596:g:0VYAAOSwZVlXsof2

As far as the Y Splitter above is concerned. Even though it is designed to work with left and right audio, it should work just as well plugging in the yellow video plug and either the left (white) or right (red) plug into the other open slot, correct? In other words, it'll be able to transfer the video signal through without issue, right? I'm not versed well enough to know whether that is the case or not but I would assume it would work?

3.5mm 1/8" Mono Male plug to F-Type F Female jack Adapter Connector:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-1-8-Mono-Male-plug-to-F-Type-F-Female-jack-Adapter-Connector/202244841689?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

On the F-type connector, does the pin from the coaxial cable that would be connecting to the F-type adapter itself, does it stick far enough through the clear plastic gel inside the connector itself to actually make contact with something inside the F-type connector? I've never seen the inside of one of these F-type connectors to see what's exactly inside them. The inside of the F-type connector can't just be hollow, I would think? I would assume the wire in the coaxial cable that you would be connecting to the connector has to be making contact with something inside the adapter for it to work, right?

(edit)
I was contemplating picking up the following adapter instead of the splitter:

Magideal 3.5mm Jack Plug TO 3 RCA Male Stereo Audio Phone Speaker Adapter
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Magideal-3-5mm-Jack-Plug-TO-3-RCA-Male-Stereo-Audio-Phone-Speaker-Adapter/162769143936?hash=item25e5cc0880:g:eWAAAOSwLMlaR51b

It should work, right?

 

[kraelic]

It should, I think the red would be audio and the white would be video. However I do not know if the tip, ring, and shield will line up properly. The funky tv port may touch the shield and ring at the same time shorting out the video signal. You might try a thin strip of tape to isolate the shield a little from the inside of the port. You want a thin wire to wrap the base of the shield up closest to the body on the adapter, then secure or isolate the shield with a cut down piece of scotch tape. Then insert the adaptor and touch the other end of the wire to the outside of the phono on TV.

Yes inside the F connector is a small set of jaws that catch the center wire of a coax cable. The copper line connects to the tip and the screw of the coax makes the shield on the F connector.

That last item might be a little easier to work with, the yellow should be audio and the white and red may both be video if the TV connector touches both, and the shield is cut down enough to still get your ground wire wrapped. You might have to jump the cables around to decipher which is which.