How do you turn a computer monitor into a TV ??

[USMCPMEL]

I know it has nothing to do with calibration however since we are all somewhat tech dweebies I figured someone would know? I see good deals on 19 inch monitors all the time and was just curious if this could be done? Of sourse I want to do it without the internet connection or computer. I want a way to straight connect to cable.

[Thraxas]

Bare minimum you're going to need an external tuner to make it function as a television. If you're going the digital cable route, you'll need a digital cable converter and either a DVI or a HDMI cable. The cable type will depend on the specific monitor and converter. HDMI and DVI being the ones most commonly used. If you go the analog route, you'll need an analog tuner and a way make a digital connection to the monitor. One easy (but expensive) way is put a A/V receiver with HDMI pass through between the two. The receiver will convert the analog to digital and pass the signal to the monitor by way of the a HDMI cable. There's probably an easier (cheaper) way, but I can't think of any other components off the top of my head at the moment.

Before you try any of this, make sure you have some speakers for sound, too! 

[docbyers]

Years ago at Ramstein I used the tuner in a Sony Betamax hooked up to a monitor from a Commodore 128.  Worked great!

Here we are years later, and I believe the same concept still works.  Cable connection to a VCR; video output to the monitor.  Auto program the VCR channels, and use the VCR remote to select whatever channel you want to watch.  Like Thraxas says, you have to have the right cabling between the tuner (VCR) and the monitor depending on what the outputs of the VCR are and the inputs to the monitor.

...and like Thraxas said, you have to take care of the audio.  If the monitor has built-in speakers, a cable from the VCR audio out to the monitor audio in will take care of that.

[Hoopty]

and without any scaling, the resolution is gonna be pretty bad...

I did have a monitor once that did have an RCA input for video, but most do not.

[dallanta]

all I ever wanted was a wall size tv with computer hookups for internet porn, is that too much to ask?