Hello, I just joined the forum and had some questions about this vintage RCA AB121W TV I bought recently. I'm from the US and in 2009 almost all analogue TV broadcasts were shut down so I can't get any stations to tune in. I read it should work with an analogue to digital converter, but when I looked these up they require a coaxial connection. On the back of the TV are vertical and horizonal hold knobs and contrast but no outputs at all. I was able to get CB radio chat or some radio station when randomly turning the dials but the display only ever gave out snow.

I've seen similar models with people saying they are working, so I'd like to know what I'd need to do to be able to test the TV. If I have to get a converter, how will I attach it with only knobs on the casing? The antenna is built into the TV.

Lastly, what are the top (u-13) and bottom knobs for? I haven't used a vintage TV before so I am not familar with how to tune them into a station.

I have photos of it on my listing here : http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Portable-1970s-RCA-Model-AB121W-10-Screen-TV-/191662531218...

Thanks in advance for any help.

See the two terminals at the back top left, that's your external antenna connection. It is designed for 300 ohm ribbon cable. You can get a balun to convert it to normal 75 ohm coax.

The two knobs at front are channel selectors. The top will be VHF channels. For UHF you put the knob in the U position, then rotate the lower knob to tune the channel.

Having UHF will open up options for set top boxes, converters and VCRs.

Ben

Alright, so I would need to get a ribbon cable to connect it to a balun converter. I presume either of these converters should work :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/40097395600...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/29151248630...

After I get the converter and attach it to the terminals mentioned should the built in TV antenna then be able to pick up stations since coaxial transmits a digital signal?

Those are for security video uses, what you want is one of these:

Ok, so I attach those two prongs to the terminals on the back of the TV, but where would the antenna prong that is currently attached to one of the terminals on the back of the TV be moved to? Would I keep it where it is and just connect one of the tranformer's prongs on top of it? Lastly I'd plug a coaxial cable into the other end of the transformer and then into the wall. Or, would I plug one end into the transformer, the other into a cable box or converter, and then a separate coaxial cable from the cable box or converter to the wall?

I found this different style matching transformer laying around if I could get it to work just as well as the other : http://www.ebay.es/itm/F-Type-FM-Connector-300-to-75-Ohm-Antenna-Matching-Transformer-Adapter-Adaptador-/351211452213?hash=item51c5d57735

Disconnect the set's rod antenna (the spade lug that's under one of the screw terminals), and then connect the balun to those screw terminals. The rod antenna connects to nothing now. Connect an F connector cable to the balun and to a cable converter or such box. Tune the set to channel 3 or 4, depending on which channel the box outputs on. If your cable company still has analogue channels, you could connect the set to it, though most cable systems have quit doing analogue channels nowadays.