Using a monitor as a TV - help

[travcm]

Hi,

I do not own a TV and have not actually had cable television service for several years. However, my service provider, Comcast, shipped me an XFINITY cable box because it was actually cheaper to combo cable and internet than just pay for internet by itself.

So I decided to try to use cable with a spare monitor.

The monitor is a Samsung E2420. It doesn't have an HDMI port, so I used an HDMI to DVI (single link - exact one shown here: http://www.svideo.com/6140036501g.html) adapter to connect it to the cable box. The box in turn is connected to the wall via coax cable. Both cable box and monitor are, of course, plugged in to a power source.

The monitor displays: "Not Optimum Mode / Recommended Mode 1680x1050 60hz" when the cable box is turned on. The monitor's menu isn't accessible. It I press the source button it will briefly say "Analog" and return to the "Not Optimum Mode.." message.

I'm unfamiliar with this process, so figured I would ask here. Is there something that I'm missing? Is this the wrong adapter to use? Or is the monitor simply incompatible with this type of use? Experts please advise. Thanks in advance.

Note: The monitor functions fine when connected to a PC, however this is only connected to a cable box.

 

[kanewolf]

The native resolution for that monitor isn't going to be supported by the Comcast box. Additionally, the Comcast box may not allow HD content at all since your monitor doesn't support HDCP (copy protection) with the DVI port. You need an HDMI monitor to get optimum performance.

 

[travcm]

The native resolution for that monitor isn't going to be supported by the Comcast box. Additionally, the Comcast box may not allow HD content at all since your monitor doesn't support HDCP (copy protection) with the DVI port. You need an HDMI monitor to get optimum performance.

Is there an easy way to get this monitor to work or should I abandon the idea? I'm fine with any performance at all - doesn't have to be optimum.

 

[kanewolf]

The native resolution for that monitor isn't going to be supported by the Comcast box. Additionally, the Comcast box may not allow HD content at all since your monitor doesn't support HDCP (copy protection) with the DVI port. You need an HDMI monitor to get optimum performance.

Is there an easy way to get this monitor to work or should I abandon the idea? I'm fine with any performance at all - doesn't have to be optimum.

If you have any monitor with HDMI, try connecting it to the box and then manually set the resolution to 720p on the box. Then try it with this monitor.