Watch cable on a display

[SyntaxSocialist]

I purchased a ViewSonic CDE3201LED a while back expecting to only ever use it as a monitor connected to my PC. But I've recenewly moved in with a roommate who pays for basic cable. My VS monitor would be way better in the living room than his dinky little TV, except for the fact that it doesn't have a tuner, and therefore also doesn't have a co-ax connection.

So what are my options here? What can I use to watch cable on my VS monitor? I've seen suggestions of using a VCR (hard to come by these days), and I see things like the items below online. Would any of them be what I need? I'm hoping to not have to spend more than $40 on a solution to this problem (I can always hit up garage sales once I know what it is that I'm looking for).

1. http/m.newegg.ca/Product/index?itemnumber=9SIA6NW2B22...

2. http/m.newegg.ca/Product/index?itemnumber=15-260-023

 

[yumri]

a cable box should do it and depending on where you are the price varies saddly so i cannot really give you a accurate price of one but it will have to be from your cable provider as some are you buy the unit while others are you rent the unit for as long as you have their cable service.
This should turn it from a coaxal connection into a range of more morden connections ussualy a HDMI and composite connections are on the cable boxes for outputs.

 

[SyntaxSocialist]

a cable box should do it and depending on where you are the price varies saddly so i cannot really give you a accurate price of one but it will have to be from your cable provider as some are you buy the unit while others are you rent the unit for as long as you have their cable service.
This should turn it from a coaxal connection into a range of more morden connections ussualy a HDMI and composite connections are on the cable boxes for outputs.

Sorry it has taken me SO long to respond. I've finally had a chance to look into this issue, jump through the hoops to find out who provides the the basic cable service to my building, determine that getting a cable box from that company will put me out about $150 over 12 months (no thank you!) and then do some additional research into other possible alternatives.

From what I can tell, I have two options:

1. Find a VCR (or maybe even an early vintage DVD player) on craigslist to convert my analog cable signal into RCA/composite AV output and change cable channels through the VCR/DVD player, sacrificing channel 3 or 4,

OR

2. Buy this: http/www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3573144&CatId=4641

Am I on the right track here now? From everything I'm reading, and the greater understanding that I think I've gained since delving deeper into this, either of these should be a viable solution. But I would love to have that hunch validated.

 

[yumri]

for your #1 not really as no VCRs had a HDMI output and i am pretty sure that your monitor does not have a compasite input for video same with the vintage DVD player. With an adapter to it yes you could.
for your #2 you will have to validate that with your cable company to make sure that box will work with their signals and if it does then yeah that will be a much cheaper option to get.