Frequently Asked Questions
Gateway 42-Inch Plasma Television      Show Part Numbers

Q: What video and audio connections are available for the Plasma TV?

A: This document provides information and instructions for video and audio connections. Refer to the connection instructions following the table for more information.

The four types of standard video connections described in the following table give you four levels of video quality. Optimize your viewing experience by using the best connection available for your connected component. For example, if your DVD player supports a component video connection, connect the DVD player to your Plasma TV using component video instead of composite video or S-Video.

Quality Cable and Connector Connection Description
Best Component connection Component - The video signal is split into three signals, two color and one black and white, giving you the best picture. Use component video to take advantage of the superior picture found in such signal sources as HDTV and progressive DVD.
Better S-video connection S-Video - The video signal is split into two signals, black and white and color, giving you a better quality picture than composite or coaxial (RF). For example, text displayed on-screen using this connection is noticeably sharper than composite or coaxial (RF).
Good Composite connection Composite - The video signal is carried through a single "pin". This connection method is the one that is most commonly found on components.
Basic Coaxial connection Coaxial (RF) - The video and audio signals are both carried in one cable. The three connection types listed above only handle video, requiring separate connections for sound. Coaxial is the only way to connect an antenna to the Plasma TV.

Connecting a DVD Player

  • Connect a DVD player using component video:

    1. Connect the green-colored Y jack on the back of the DVD player to the green-colored Y1 jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. Connect the red-colored P R or C R jack on the back of the DVD player to the red-colored P R 1/C R 1 jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    3. Connect the blue-colored P B or C B jack on the back of the DVD player to the blue-colored P B 1/C B 1 jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    4. Connect the red (R) and white (L) audio jacks on the back of the DVD player to the R and L audio-in jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.

  • Connect a DVD player using S-Video:

    1. Connect the S-Video jack on the back of the DVD player to the S-VIDEO jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. Connect the red (R) and white (L) audio jacks on the back of the DVD player to the R and L audio-in jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.

  • Connect a DVD player using composite video:

    1. Connect the yellow video jack on the back of the DVD player to the yellow VIDEO 1 jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. Connect the red (R) and white (L) audio jacks on the back of the DVD player to the R and L audio-in jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.

Connecting an HDTV Decoder Set-Top Box

  • Connect an HDTV decoder set-top box using component video:

    1. Connect the green Y jack on the back of the HDTV set-top box to the green Y2 jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. Connect the red P R or C R jack on the back of the HDTV set-top box to the red P R 2/C R 2 jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    3. Connect the blue P B or C B jack on the back of the HDTV set-top box to the blue P B 2/C B 2 jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    4. Connect the red (R) and white (L) audio jacks on the back of the HDTV set-top box to the R and L audio-in jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.

  • Connect an HDTV decoder set-top box using RGB video:

    1. Connect the 15-pin D-Sub RGB jack on the back of the HDTV set-top box to the RGB-IN jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. Connect the red (R) and white (L) audio-out jacks on the back of the HDTV set-top box to the R and L audio-in jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.

    Note: After you connect the HDTV set-top box to the RGB input jack on the Plasma TV, you may need to adjust various Plasma TV picture settings to correctly match the output from the HDTV set-top box. See "Adjusting for RGB or DVI Video".

Connecting a VCR or Video Camera

  • Connect a VCR or video camera using S-Video:

    1. Connect the S-Video jack on the back of the VCR or video camera to the S-VIDEO jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. Connect the red (R) and white (L) audio jacks on the back of the VCR or video camera to the R and L audio-in jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.

  • Connect a VCR or video camera using composite video:

    1. Connect the yellow video jack on the back of the VCR or video camera to the yellow VIDEO 1 jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. Connect the red (R) and white (L) audio jacks on the back of the VCR or video camera to the R and L audio-in jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.

  • Connect a VCR using coaxial (RF) audio and video:

    1. Connect the "output to TV" (RF out or Antenna out) jack on the back of the VCR to the ANT jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. If you have an off-air antenna or cable box, connect the off-air antenna or cable TV cable to the ANT connector on the back of the VCR.

      Note: If an outdoor antenna or cable system is connected to the Plasma TV, make sure that the antenna or cable system is correctly grounded. For more information, see "Television Antenna Connectors Protection" for systems fitted with TV/cable TV tuner cards.

Connecting Off-Air TV or Cable TV

  • To connect off-air TV or cable TV using coaxial (RF) audio and video:

    1. Connect the coaxial (RF) connector from the antenna or cable box to the ANT connector on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. If you have connected a VCR to the ANT connector on the back of the Plasma TV, connect the off-air TV or cable TV cable to the ANT connector on the back of the VCR.

      Note: If an outdoor antenna or cable system is connected to the Plasma TV, make sure that the antenna or cable system is correctly grounded. For more information, see "Television Antenna Connectors Protection" for systems fitted with TV/cable TV tuner cards.

Connecting External Audio Devices

  • Connect external amplified speakers:

    You can connect the Plasma TV to a set of external, amplified speakers using the AUDIO OUT jacks located on the back of the Plasma TV. If the external speakers have remote turn-on/off capability, connect the external speaker switch.

    1. Connect the red (R) and white (L) audio jacks on the back of the speakers to the AUDIO OUT jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. If the external amplified speakers accept remote turn-on/off signals, connect the external speaker switch. Not all external amplified speakers can accept remote turn-on/off signals.

  • Connect an external receiver or amplifier:

    You can connect an external amplifier to the Plasma TV. The Plasma TV is equipped with a external speaker switch that can automatically send a remote turn-on/off signal to an external receiver or amplifier.

    1. Connect the red (R) and white (L) audio jacks on the back of your external amplifier or receiver to the AUDIO OUT jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. If your external amplifier or receiver accepts remote turn-on/off signals, connect the external speaker switch. Not all external amplifiers or receivers can accept remote turn-on/off signals.

  • Connect a subwoofer:

    The Plasma TV has built-in speakers. You can enhance the bass response of the Plasma TV's sound by connecting an external, amplified subwoofer.

    1. Connect the audio jack on the back of the subwoofer to the SUBWOOFER jack on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. If the subwoofer accepts remote turn-on/off signals, connect the external speaker switch. Not all subwoofers can accept remote turn-on/off signals.

Connecting a Computer

  • Connect a computer using DVI video:

    1. Connect the DVI connector on the computer to the DVI-In connector on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. Connect the Audio Out jack on the computer to the DVI Audio In jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.

  • Connect the computer using RGB video:

    1. Connect the 15-pin D-Sub RGB connector on the computer to the RGB-IN connector on the back of the Plasma TV.
    2. Connect the Audio Out jack on the computer to the RGB Audio In jacks on the back of the Plasma TV.

Connecting an External Monitor

An RGB loop-out, labeled RGB Out, allows you to connect another RGB monitor. The RGB loop-out displays the same signal as the RGB In video input source.

  • Connect an external monitor:

    1. Connect the RGB connector on the monitor to the RGB Out connector on the back of the Plasma TV.

      Note:The maximum physical display resolution of the external monitor is 640 × 480 dots when the aspect ratio is set to 4:3, and 852 × 480 dots when the ratio is set to 16:9. If the computer's display resolution exceeds these maximums, the external monitor eliminates the extra dots resulting in loss of detail and picture clarity.