HDMI Splitter and HDMI-to-Coax Adapter

[Jakes42]

My TV service was upgraded from coax reception to Wi-Fi ,   consisting of a G3100 router, a Video Media Server and Fios TV+ devices connected to 2 TVs with HDMI cables.

I want to connect a third TV which is a 35-year old analog set that has coax input.  My plan is to use 1) an HDMI splitter off one of the digital TVs and 2) an HDMI-to-Coax adapter which would be connected to the analog set with a F-type coax cable.

There are various devices available on Amazon, but I want to make sure they have the correct specification for normal reception on the analog TV, realizing that the picture will not have HD quality.  I was told by Verizon Tech Support that the splitter should support HDMI 2.0 or higher, preferably 2.1 to be compatible with the  Fios TV+ device output.  Should the HDMI/Coax adapter and the HDMI cable between it and the splitter also have that specification?

And what about the splitter and adapter supporting HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection)?   Verizon Tech Support made no comment about that.  I understand that this would be important for streaming content which we don't use now, but may in the future.

I'm not trying to short-circuit Verizon Tech Support's advice, but it always helps to get a "second opinion".   Advice will be helpful and appreciated.  Many thanks.

[clem21 · Accepted solution]

The advice you got was spot on. You have to split one of the HDMI feeds to a TV, which means an HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 approved splitter-distribution amplifier. That should take care of the HDCP fears you have.as most of those are HDCP 2.0 certified. The HDMI to coax converter is a toss up, If you can get one that is HDCP 2.0 certified go for it. If only HDCP 1.4 is available, make sure you can return it if it doesn't work. 

[Jakes42]

Thanks so much for your kind reply and confirmation as well the additional advice..  The 35-year old analog set I mentioned is a 31" Hitachi console in a beautifully finished solid oak cabinet with hi-fi speakers (woofers and tweeters) on either side of the screen.  It was Hitachi's flagship model when we bought it in 1990.  It has a 600 raster scan CRT (vice the standard 400 rasters) for a relatively sharp image.  Before Verizon "forced" the upgrade to Wi-Fi ,  I simply used a coax splitter with 2.5 MoCA spec  to run a coax cable from the STB hooked to the small TV in the kitchen to the Hitachi in the living room.  We do out regular viewing on a 55" Sony in the basement, so the Hitachi would mainly be used by my wife while folding laundry in the living room, and when she'd "assign" me that task, I'd  tune the STB to a music channel and enjoy  great sound coming from  those fabulous speakers.  When  Verizon went to Wi-Fi it would have been a pity to let a beautiful, old reliable TV sit idle, so the only way to replicate that scenario is by the hook-ups I asked about.  Well.. I'm off to the races and I thank you very much again for your helpful reply.

Oh, by the way, when we had coax, and you wanted closed caption, you simply toggled the cc button on the remote.  Can't do that with the Fios TV+ remote.  You literally have to go through 7 steps on the remote to get to c.c. and the same thing in reverse, with no sound.  Wow, what an improvement, eh?

[clem21]

Or you could also use this to connect to the TV:

https://www.verizon.com/home/accessories/hdmi-composite-adapter

Or a HDMI to composite converter that has 4K HDMI pass-through.

[Jakes42]

Thanks for suggesting this option; never came across it on the Verizon web site.  However, I already have the analog TV coax cable running along the floor which I would connect/disconnect  with coax running from the kitchen TV coax splitter whenever we wanted to use the analog set.

The analog set does have RCA R-Y-W inputs, but I'd have to replace the coax from the analog set with a M/F RCA cable which would be quite a chore having to move the heavy floor console for access..., or add an RCA-to-Coax adapter which adds another device to the signal path.  Verizon doesn't seem to offer an HDMI/Coax adapter - strange!

So.. I'll stick with selecting a HDMI/Coax adapter from the various offerings on Amazon even though they're more expensive.  None of them indicate the HDCP 2.0 spec as you advised - all 1.4 instead.  I'll do some more research.  Many thanks again for your help.  Regards..

[clem21]

Try the 1.4 options and if they don't work, since it's Amazon, you can return them free.

[Jakes42]

The HDMI/Coax Adapter I got from Amazon works great.  The picture is narrower, but I can live with that.  The audio  from the Music Channel coming from the console's twin hi-fi speakers is outstanding.  The adapter indicates HDMI version 1.3, same for HDCP, but no affect  on picture and sound.  Again, thanks very much for your guidance and be well.

[clem21]

Check for some kind of setting on the adapter. It may have aspect ratio controls built in.