DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Can a CRT TV be made SMART TV ?

33 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/can-a-crt-tv-be-made-smart-tv.164316/

esumitkumar
esumitkumar Original post #1
Oct 5, 2012 at 8:09 PM
Hi

I have Panasonic 21" CRT TV.It has no HDMI port

21RX20C | Panasonic

I have saw many gadgets which convert TV to smart TV but all use HDMI port

Is there any gadget that can connect to ordinary Component Video(DVD)In x 1, Video/Audio In x 3, Video/Audio Out x1, Headphone Jack x1

Thanks
Sumit
aroraanant
Oct 7, 2012 at 9:46 AM
I don't think it is possible.
Sam22
Sam22 #3
Oct 7, 2012 at 1:50 PM
CRT in themselves are smart TV so I don't find the need to convert them into a smart TV.
esumitkumar
Oct 7, 2012 at 7:33 PM
^ LOL..it means this is not possible ?
esumitkumar
Oct 11, 2012 at 12:00 PM
just read that an AKAI can do it

Smart Box
doomgiver
Oct 11, 2012 at 2:53 PM
what is smart? a box that can play content..... just get a media player and convert a "dumb" box to a "smart" one.

go buy a boxee or something.
esumitkumar
Oct 11, 2012 at 2:58 PM
boxee ? I need to play youtube on my TV thru my wifi connection ? boxee can do it ? price in India ?
doomgiver
Oct 11, 2012 at 4:27 PM
the latest digit has a media centre shootout, no? or maybe it was chip or some other magazine.
google for home media centre.

they can play/rip/convert files, access the net, and even stream files.

or just use a computer with a tv tuner card.
esumitkumar
Oct 11, 2012 at 4:30 PM
computer with TV tuner is not need..laptop is 15.6" and TV is 21"..so I want to watch old/missed serials on youtube on TV
RCuber
RCuber #10
Oct 11, 2012 at 4:39 PM
@Sumit whats your budget??

there are n Number of devices with various price points which can be used to make a TV "Smart" . but more of them will either be having only HDMI or the ones with RCA connection may a little expensive. you can but which ever suites you and if the device has only HDMI output then you can buy a HDMI to Component/RCA converter.

I have a this Playon!HD2 :: AC Ryan | Defining Digital Entertainment I think I had paid 8.5K about a year ago. it has all the connections required for various current and previous generation TV's.
esumitkumar
Oct 11, 2012 at 4:43 PM
hmm..akai's coming for 6590..better to take that or buy LED :D
RCuber
RCuber #12
Oct 11, 2012 at 5:11 PM
My vote for LED TV.. :)

PS: YGPM..
desai_amogh
Oct 11, 2012 at 7:20 PM
buy something like a raspberry Pi with a hdmi to vga converter and a wifi adapter
RCuber
RCuber #14
Oct 11, 2012 at 7:38 PM
^^Raspberry Pi already has RCA output out of the box :p
reniarahim1
Oct 11, 2012 at 8:32 PM
Get a media player like WD live or any android media player
Lalit Kishore
Oct 19, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Amkette has also offered a media streaming device, called Evo TV - and it will apparently work with the CRT TV as well - so you can try that. For turning your existing Tv into a Smart TV - this is an affordable way - costs less than 10K. Of course, you will need a capable broadband connection, so add another 1500-200 to your monthly budget. Thought on its website, EvoTV claims to have better Smart features than current incumbents such as LG Smart TV, but it does not appear that way.
ashutosh_jain
Dec 18, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Don't throw good money after bad bro; better buy a new TV. Lots of attractive EMI options available for TVs of all brands be it Sony, Panasonic or Samsung. Buying a setbox will give you only partial smart TV experinece in my opinion.
webgenius
webgenius #18
Dec 18, 2012 at 1:17 PM
+1 to that. Why stick with CRT TV when you can buy a LED or semi-LED at affordable prices now?
LGWRSherlock
Dec 18, 2012 at 2:16 PM
+1 to that. Why stick with CRT TV when you can buy a LED or semi-LED at affordable prices now?

Semi-LED? This is the first time I'm hearing about this! :p In any case, I completely agree with webgenius and ashutosh_jain. You can buy a Smart LED TV for a very affordable price now, so there's no point in "investing" in your old CRT by "upgrading" it with a STB. The far better option is to use the funds you would spend on the STB and put it towards purchasing a new TV.

LG WRman Sherlock, out!
webgenius
webgenius #20
Dec 18, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Semi-LED? This is the first time I'm hearing about this! :p In any case, I completely agree with webgenius and ashutosh_jain. You can buy a Smart LED TV for a very affordable price now, so there's no point in "investing" in your old CRT by "upgrading" it with a STB. The far better option is to use the funds you would spend on the STB and put it towards purchasing a new TV.

LG WRman Sherlock, out!
"Semi-LED" is the term I heard from a LG/Samsung showroom guy last weekend. The guy told that it is one grade below LED (Not sure what exactly he meant).
anirbandd
anirbandd #21
Dec 19, 2012 at 8:38 AM
led tv aint LED man. its just the back light that is led. the thing is LCD. even correct definitionw ill be TFT.
there is ongoing research on miniaturisation of leds so that it can be incorporated as indivijual elements for viewing from short distances.

a true led display will be found at mall/stadiums/e-display boards,the large displays... those things use leds to generate the images. since you view from a large distance, the eye cannot perceive the difference in the distance b/w individual leds.

so all these LED/semi LED, they are just marketing gimmick.
Jitendra Singh
Dec 19, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Hi

I have Panasonic 21" CRT TV.It has no HDMI port

21RX20C | Panasonic

I have saw many gadgets which convert TV to smart TV but all use HDMI port

Is there any gadget that can connect to ordinary Component Video(DVD)In x 1, Video/Audio In x 3, Video/Audio Out x1, Headphone Jack x1

Thanks
Sumit

Even if you keep the budgetary issues aside, my question is why get yourself entangled in all this hassle? Use your laptop/PC for viewing online content and plan for a LED Smart TV if you're really into it. A 32" model would easily come within 30-35K these days..
anirbandd
anirbandd #23
Dec 19, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Even if you keep the budgetary issues aside, my question is why get yourself entangled in all this hassle? Use your laptop/PC for viewing online content and plan for a LED Smart TV if you're really into it. A 32" model would easily come within 30-35K these days..

i would do it just for the fun of it. the guy is trying to learn something. JUGAAD is the term that comes to mind. Also DIY. :)
help him on the topic he has questioned.

and talking about budgetary issues, i'd say that jugaad thing would cost him a lot less than a LED smart tv.
LGWRSherlock
Dec 19, 2012 at 3:19 PM
i would do it just for the fun of it. the guy is trying to learn something. JUGAAD is the term that comes to mind. Also DIY. :)
help him on the topic he has questioned.

and talking about budgetary issues, i'd say that jugaad thing would cost him a lot less than a LED smart tv.

True, jugaad may actually cost him a lot less than buying a whole new TV. However, at the same time, there is no way of telling how long this "upgrade" will last and keep him satisfied. It's kind of like putting NO2 into a Volkswagon Buggy that's been driven for 20 years. Yea, the car will probably run faster during the time you turn on the NO2, but the car is still the same old Buggy when you're not using the NO2. Given that CRT technology is extremely old, might as well jump onto the LED bandwagon now! Next year, the 2012 line up TVs will be much cheaper. In addition, the 2011 line-up will most likely be sold off completely.

LG WRman Sherlock, out!
anirbandd
anirbandd #25
Dec 19, 2012 at 9:04 PM
say... what will be the price of the biggest non-smart led[actually lcd-tft] and a smart tv of the same screen size?? any brand.. what about LG??

what i wanted to say was this: *www.thinkdigit.com/forum/tvs-monitors/164279-why-television-failed-become-smart.html#post1805278
LGWRSherlock
Dec 20, 2012 at 12:23 PM
say... what will be the price of the biggest non-smart led[actually lcd-tft] and a smart tv of the same screen size?? any brand.. what about LG??

what i wanted to say was this: *www.thinkdigit.com/forum/tvs-monitors/164279-why-television-failed-become-smart.html#post1805278

This is actually quite a difficult question to answer given that there are "dumb" TVs, Smart TVs, and Smart 3D TVs, and there are multiple tiers and screen sizes for each. However, to give you an idea of the difference in price, the MRP for the 42LS4600 is 65,000 Rs. while the MRP for the 42LS5700 is 70,000 Rs.. The LS4600 is a "dumb" TV, while the LS5700 is a Smart TV. Neither have 3D capabilities. So for the extra smart features, I would say that it really doesn't add too much extra cost to your budget!

LG WRman Sherlock, out!
anirbandd
anirbandd #27
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:33 PM
hmm.. i'd still go for a HTPC, which can easily be assembled within 13-15k. :p a LOT more smarter.
club_pranay
Dec 23, 2012 at 11:07 PM
Just buy apple TV($99). I am not sure how much it costs in India but the device quality is beautiful and works perfectly.
anirbandd
anirbandd #29
Dec 24, 2012 at 9:26 AM
you do understand that being in india, apple tv is NOT a viable option?? :deadbored:
LGWRSherlock
Dec 24, 2012 at 3:55 PM
Just buy apple TV($99). I am not sure how much it costs in India but the device quality is beautiful and works perfectly.

True, you could just buy an HTPC to make your TV "smart". But I would definitely not recommend this for a simple CRT TV. Trying to play HD content on SD resolution seems like... blasphemy. If you wish to add an HTPC, make sure you have the proper TV to work with it!

LG WRman Sherlock, out!
anirbandd
anirbandd #31
Dec 24, 2012 at 11:08 PM
nobody in their right state of mind would ass HTPC to a CRT. it was just a point in argument. i hope OP doesnt add an HTPC to a CRT TV. :p
desai_amogh
Dec 25, 2012 at 12:55 AM
Coming back to converting the CRT to a smart TV. CRT TV itself can not be converted to a Smart TV. however you can add an external 'smart device' to view its content on your CRT. Now Im sure u already know this.

Now coming to the Jugad part.. You currently have few options to achieve this.
1. STBs (smart/ HD media box) - cost > 5k
2. Raspberry Pi < 3k
3. HTPC around 13k
LGWRSherlock
Dec 26, 2012 at 12:30 PM
nobody in their right state of mind would ass HTPC to a CRT. it was just a point in argument. i hope OP doesnt add an HTPC to a CRT TV. :p

I really hope he doesn't either! But that reminds me of some people I know who play their PS3 games on a CRT TV. Sure, I guess it's playable, but WHY OH WHY! The graphical glory achieved by the PS3 should be fully appreciated on a 1080p (or at the very least 720p) display! If you can afford to buy a PS3 with games, you certainly have enough to upgrade your TV to at least HD ready.

LG WRman Sherlock, out!