The Roku 3 is a really interesting device. It connects to your TV and the Internet and allows you to watch streaming digital videos on your television.
It is the top of the line Roku model, and is one of the best options available among the set-top-box category of products. But, unlike the other less-expensive Roku models, it does not include any options to connect to your TV other than an HDMI port.
This can be a bit of a problem if you are trying to connect it to an older television that doesn’t have HDMI as a connection option. This will lead you to ask the question “Can I connect a Roku 3 to my TV that does not have an HDMI port?”
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The short answer is yes, but it’s not going to be easy or cheap.
Before going any further, the ideal solution to this problem if you already have the Roku 3 in your possession, is to return the Roku 3 and exchange it for one of the models that is compatible with your TV.
The Roku 1 on Amazon was part of the newest wave of Roku products, and it includes the yellow, red and white RCA outputs that will allow it to connect to most older televisions. You won’t be able to stream in HD with those cables, however, as they are only capable of streaming video in 480p.
Another option would be to get a new TV that has an HDMI input, or to connect the Roku to a different TV in your home which already has an HDMI port. Obviously a TV is a big purchase and might not make sense simply to get a device to work, but TV prices have been coming down a lot lately, and a flat screen TV from Amazon might be more affordable than you think.
But if either of those options is not one that you want to pursue, then there is one specific device that will allow you to convert from an HDMI signal to component or RCA. This device is called the HD Fury 2, and you can buy it from a few select retailers, or directly from the company that manufactures it. This is a device that is prone to knockoffs, however, so it’s always a good idea to check the reviews on a product page to make sure that you are getting the real item.
The biggest problem when you are trying to convert from HDMI to a different output is something called HDCP compliance. A lot of HD content on the Roku, such as that coming from Netflix, will not display if it is being sent through a cable or converter box that isn’t HDCP compliant.
Some people have had success getting this converter from Amazon to work with the Roku 3, while others claim that they have problems with HDCP compliance as well. It might be worth taking a risk with this device if you don’t want to spend the money on the HD Fury 2, or if you don’t want to buy a different Roku model.
Now that you know how to connect a Roku 3 to a TV without an HDMI cable, you will be able to stream content to televisions that don’t have that type of connection available.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.