The Insignia RCA to HDMI converter or analog to HDMI converter is a convenient way to connect old devices to a new HDMI TV. I’ve reviewed it before, and I like it. In this blog post, I’ll talk about things you can try if you have an Insignia RCA to HDMI converter not working.
Verify the model number
The first thing to do to troubleshoot an Insignia RCA to HDMI converter not working is to verify the model number. The model number is on a label on the underside of the unit.
Insignia markets two identical-looking devices but they do the opposite. Because they convert between analog and digital, each of them can only convert in one direction. The model you need is NS-HZ330, and the store SKU is 6134312. And the label on the underside reads “Analog to HDMI Converter.” The otherwise identical looking NS-HZ331 does the opposite, letting you connect a new game console to an old analog TV.
If you bought an NS-HZ331 by mistake, exchange it for an NS-HZ330. If you provide the store SKU to the sales associate, they’ll be able to help you verify you’re getting the right thing.
Make sure it’s powered on
Some video adapters don’t require any separate power. But the analog to digital conversion circuitry in the Insignia RCA to HDMI converter does. Make sure it’s plugged into wall power and receiving power. Look for a green power LED on the front of the unit, next to the HDMI output. No light means no power.
Check the inputs
RCA analog plugs and cables are color coded. If you mix up the red and white connectors, you’ll reverse the stereo sound channels. But the video and audio will still play. And mixing up the yellow connector with one of the others results in no video. On older devices with mono audio, the audio connector may be red or white. The video is almost always yellow. I checked every device I own, even going back to the early 1980s, and all of them used yellow for the video input or output.
If by some chance you have a device that isn’t color coded, look for legends on the plug indicating what each plug does. The video output plug goes to the yellow connector on your RCA cable. The audio output plug(s) go to the red and white connectors on your cable.
Also, if you’re using a VCR, make sure you’re connecting the output plugs on the VCR to the input plugs on the Insignia RCA to HDMI converter. This is another common cause of an Insignia RCA to HDMI converter not working.
If you don’t have a three-conductor RCA cable, you can use a 2-conductor cable, even one that uses the wrong colors. Just make sure you’re consistent if you do. The quality may degrade a bit since the video signal won’t be shielded, but it should work.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He has written professionally about computers since 1991, so he was writing about retro computers when they were still new. He has been working in IT professionally since 1994 and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He holds Security+ and CISSP certifications. Today he blogs five times a week, mostly about retro computers and retro gaming covering the time period from 1975 to 2000.