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Thread: VCR recording with Digital Cable |
    
New member Username: Bluebaby101
Post Number: 4
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 01:19 pm: |
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I had
Basic cable
Cable ready tv ( no cable box hooked up)
DVD-VCR player
I used to be able to record one channel and watch another.
The other day I got
Digital Cable
and a cable box
with my dvd-vcr hooked up
Now I see that I can't watch one channel and record another with the digital cable.
I am going crazy. I am ready to get rid of this digital cable
Any ideas?
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Relevant Product Info
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Cable boy Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 06:22 pm: |
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You absolutley can. It's just a matter of how difficult it is. What you need to do probably print this. The cable that comes out of the wall you need to run to a 2 way splitter. then one end of the splitter goes to the IN on the back of the cable box. The cable then goes from the OUT on the calbe box to the IN on the VCR. The cable then goes From the OUT on the vcr to one end of an A/B Switch..... The other end of the splitter goes to the other end of the A/B switch. .... then the out on the A/B switch goes to the in on the back of the tv..... Yeah, I know. The only rule is that when you are recording you have to be watch ing channels 2-99. You cannot record one digital channel and watch another digital channel. TV and VCR stays on channel 3 all the time(unless you are in an area where they should always be on 4). |
New member Username: Tiggers_karen
Post Number: 1
Registered: Sep-05
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| Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 06:54 pm: |
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I have a TV, VCR,DVD and digital cable. everything works except I can"t record on the VCR. What am I doing wrong.PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!! |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 1599
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 11:27 pm: |
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Connect the box to the VCR with RCA cables and set the VCR to line. |
New member Username: Whacker
Post Number: 1
Registered: Oct-05
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| Posted on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 05:50 pm: |
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Perhaps Cable Boy or David Massey can take a shot at this question.
I have analog cable, and I'm doing fine.
My sister in Chicago used to have analog, now Comcast is forcing a change to all digital cable boxes, with the usual partial analog feed. Our habit in the past had been (due to both of us being TV addicts) to hang two VCRs off the analog cable line. In my case, without a cable box, I could do it by just connecting them in series in front of the TV (and probably as many as signal strength would allow). With my sister, we used to have one VCR before the cable box and one after, so that they could watch (and record) a cable-box-decoded-only channel while recording channels before the cable box that weren't or didn't need to be decoded.
Now with the digital cable box, the box is like a live network device (I'm supposing) that communicates back to the cable company, requiring bi-directional capabilities on the cable line. This was not the case with analog. What's happening is, you can still connect a VCR before the cable box and receive/record channels that are still run analog/unencoded, BUT this prohibits the digital cable box from communicating with the cable company (network), and within a few minutes, any digital channel you may have been watching downstream of the cable box turns into a "not authorized" black screen. If you hook things up with no interruption before the cable box, everything restores back. But at my sister's house, they want to be able to do as before.
Is there any way to maintain the digital cable box's bidirectional capability but still have a VCR upstream of the cable box? I realize you could have a split before the box into the first VCR, but we don't want to have to have a separate TV to monitor it through. Any suggestions welcome, and I am capable of building or devising hookups and circuitry that would route the signal as needed. Thanks! |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 1721
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - 06:40 pm: |
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Split the incoming cable to a VCR and the box, then connect the output of the box to the second VCR. For recording, RCAs are better than coax, but you'll need coax for watching TV with the VCR off. If the TV has RCA inputs, you can use them from one or both VCRs. If not use an A/B switch on the VCRs output. |
New member Username: Bmanflyer
Post Number: 1
Registered: Nov-05
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| Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 05:26 pm: |
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Ok I have a Samsung HLR 5067 tv and a samsung VCR/DVD combo. I just hooked up digital cable using a cable card no box can not get VCR to record any ideas |
New member Username: Waynef
Post Number: 2
Registered: Dec-05
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| Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 11:02 am: |
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Hi - unfortunately I only saw this thread after I posted my message this morning. I have a similar problem/reaction as Karen. But this morning, I played with it further and I think that you can record analog 2-99 on the VCR (and watch something else through the cable box) without using a splitter. I put the RF input from the cable into the VCR first, and then the VCR to the cable box and then the cable box to the TV. So, in 'VCR' mode on the VCR you can record from 2-99 and as long as the VCR-to-TV input is a line input, still watch digital channels (or I suppose analog too) through the cable box. If someone is an expert out there, would they confirm this?
HOWEVER, and referring back to one question in my new post, I would be appalled if there is no way to record from one digital while watching another (other than by renting the DVR box from the cable company which we don't want to do just yet). Is this really true? I thought that maybe I couldn't do it now because I had an old VCR/DVD unit and that if I invested in a newer one that maybe could receive that digital signal independently.
Please would someone comment again on this. Because if it can't be done, then that means that one needs to go to DVR to accomplish this?
Thanks for your help, |
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| Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 07:19 pm: |
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Hi,
I had Basic cable (no cable box hooked up) & I have a DVD-VCR player/recorder. I just got a cable box, now I can't copy anything. I tried and tried all different ways. Is there something else I need to be able to do this or is there something that might be set wrong?
Thanks,
toottoot |
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Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2020
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 12:21 pm: |
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Connect the box to the recorder with RCA cables and set the recorder to line. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 02:10 pm: |
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I have a sony tv, a sony dvd/vcr, an emerson vcr, (both vcr and dvd/vcr ability to record), and comcast digital cable box. I used to be able to rcord from tv or other vcr. Took out vcr player then was not able to record, when pushed record would eject. now trying to hitch up vcr again and do not know how to connect all. Have family videos that i need to copy and cannot. Please help. Don't remember how to run all the cables. thank you |
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| Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 08:22 am: |
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I have an SA4200 digital cable box and want to connect it to a Hi-Fi VCR & Stereo TV. When I had analog I used an A/B switch to record one program and watch another. Can I still use the A/B switch with the SA4200 and if so how do I hook it up? |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2148
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 12:18 pm: |
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You can't watch a digital channel while recording a digital channel. You can watch analog channels while recording a digital channel. Connect the box to the VCR with RCAs and set the VCR to line to record from the box. Split the incoming cable to the box and the VCR, use the VCR tuner to record analog channels. Connect coax from the VCR to the TV and you can watch analog channels while recording a digital channel. |
Unregistered guest |
| Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 09:33 pm: |
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Since buying a new TV almost a year ago - I've been searching for the answer on how to reconnect my new TV to my cable box and VCR so that I could record a dital channel while watching an analog channel. Then I ran across this forum-lo and behold I found my answer. Finally I can get all set up again. THANK YOU to all of you who took the time to answer these questions. You have been a God send.
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New member Username: Crazycelt59
Tampa,
Fl
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jul-06
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| Posted on Monday, July 03, 2006 - 10:33 am: |
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I want to thank all you video wizzes for your help. I followed all your directions on the "digital box, vcr/dvd, tv set up. I am thrilled to say I can watch one show and tape a second. I have two more questions. How can I set the timer to record shows on different channels? And, on the TV/VCRs without cable box (straight in from wall) will I still have problems recording because of the digital vs. analog system? |
New member Username: Titusm1
Baltimore,
Maryland
USA
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jul-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 06:39 pm: |
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Hi,
I just got Digital cable, I have a Samsung VCR, Trutech TV with DVD Combo, I tried hooking all three together with either Coax Cable or Stero Cables and all I receive on the TV is a Blue Screen, the VCR will play a tape and the TV will play a DVD but neither device will show a cable channel or sound. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Mike |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 2835
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 06:50 pm: |
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Connect the box to the VCR with RCAs and set the VCR to line. |
New member Username: Clueless101
Wenipeg,
Monitoba
Canada
Post Number: 1
Registered: Aug-06
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| Posted on Monday, August 07, 2006 - 12:14 am: |
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I have a magnovox tv/dvd combo and I have a digital cabel box!!! I have a vcr that I want to record with and I can't figure out how to hook it up. If I hook it straight to the tv (from the front) I can watch video's but cant record and I want to know how to hook it up from the back a digital cabel box and be able to record somthing!!! |
New member Username: Lrmonsters
Post Number: 1
Registered: Aug-06
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| Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 08:22 am: |
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I have digital cable. I just bought a trutech tv with dvd, and can't get the cable remote to work with it. There are no codes, and the search doesn't come up with any more. Any suggestions? |
New member Username: Yanksluver
Post Number: 1
Registered: Aug-06
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| Posted on Friday, August 25, 2006 - 09:45 pm: |
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I just had digital cable installed in my apartment. I have a Sony DVD/VCR combo. I want to be able to set the timer on the VCR to record when I am not home. However, right now I am only able to press record and tape the channel that is on. The timer recording doesn't work. I don't even care about taping the digital channels. Channels 2-99 or whatever is fine, but I just can't set the timer.
Is there anything that can be done to solve this problem? Thanks for any help! |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 3019
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 04:36 pm: |
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To record analog channels, split the incoming cable to the box and the combo, then autoprogram the channels on the combo. To record digital channels, connect the box to the combo with RCAs and set the recorder on line. |
New member Username: Phyl
Roseville,
MI
USA
Post Number: 4
Registered: Jul-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 05, 2006 - 11:04 pm: |
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I'm probably being redunant, but ... I have an old Philips TV with only one cable port, a DVD player, VCR, Digital Cable Box, RF Modulator & cable internet provider. Is it possible to use a splitter/AB Box to record something other than the channel on the cable box when I already have a splitter between wall & TV/computer ? Here's my current set up:
* Coaxial cable from the wall to a splitter
* Coaxial cable from splitter to the Cable Box 'IN FROM ANTENNA'
* Coaxial cable from splitter to computer
* Coaxial cable from the VCR 'IN FROM ANTENNA OR CABLE' to the Cable Box 'OUT TO TV/VCR'
* Coaxial cable from VCR 'TO TV' to RF modulator
* Coaxial cable from the TV to Modulator 'OUT TO TV'
* DVD Player to RF Modulator with the yellow, red & white composite cable
Thanks ! |
New member Username: Silentwaters
Post Number: 1
Registered: Sep-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 03:42 am: |
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hi all,
im new here.
question: I recently got a satelite box from dish. i wanted to record something coming on tv, but somehow i am not able to connect my vcr/dvd player with the tv and satelite. i can only watch one at a time, either tv or vcr video.
can anyone help?
thanks! |
New member Username: Hweber75
Post Number: 1
Registered: Sep-06
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| Posted on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 12:46 pm: |
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I have the following: TV, VCR, DVD Player, and now a Digital Cable Box. And of course I cannot record anything on the VCR now. Very frustrating. Can someone please tell me how I should connect all devices? Thank you in advance. |
New member Username: Rubyburns
Nashville,
TN
US
Post Number: 6
Registered: Oct-06
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| Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 02:26 pm: |
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>>>To record analog channels, split the incoming cable to the box and the combo, then autoprogram the channels on the combo. To record digital channels, connect the box to the combo with RCAs and set the recorder on line.<<<
I want to record analog channels with my VCR - wouldn't adding a splitter to the incoming cable line degrade the signal or interfere with any information being sent back to Comcast. Just installed DVR DCT3412/digital service and have HDTV with VCR/DVD combo. Can't record through VCR now.
Thanks - Ruby
p.s. could you explain why the tech put a cable from the cable box "RF out" to the "Ant. in" IF there was no chance of making recordings? |
New member Username: Barriebob
Post Number: 1
Registered: Dec-06
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| Posted on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 05:46 pm: |
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We just got comcast digital cable. Then we hooked up the VCR (RCA cables connecting to the cable box. Now when the VCR is on, the television picture jumps all around.
Also, I see references to "set VCR on line." How do you do that? |
New member Username: Drnojd
Mpls,
Mn
Post Number: 1
Registered: Dec-06
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| Posted on Saturday, December 23, 2006 - 03:35 am: |
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I just got a digital cable box and it took a lot of trial and error to figure out a setup that lets me record one channel & watch another and that also allows me to record digital channels (though you can't record one digital channel while watching another digital channel). I tried using an A/B switch and just couldn't get it to work like I wanted. Here's what did work (I apologize for the length of this but I thought it would be helpful to be very detailed):
The cable cord (coaxial cable) from the wall is attached to a splitter. (I use a three-way splitter because I have a regular VCR and a VCR/DVD combo hooked up to my TV). From the splitter, one cable is hooked up to the digital cable box, one is hooked up to the combo, and one is hooked up to the VCR. Since both VCRs are hooked up directly to the cable lines, they can each tune in and record all the analog channels (i.e., all the channels I had before getting digital cable).
On the digital cable box, I have a coaxial cable going from the box (attached to the antenna out jack) to the antenna in jack on my TV. Because of this connection, turning on channel 3 on the TV receives all the channels (analog & digital) from the box.
Also from the digital cable box, I have RCA lines (the red, white & yellow cords) going from the line out jacks on the box to the line in jacks on the combo. I then have RCA lines going from the line out jacks on the combo to the line in jacks on the back of my TV. (I have the other VCR attached to the second set of line in on jacks on the back of the TV, but it has no connection to the digital cable box and I can't watch or record digital channels on that VCR).
On the combo, I can watch and record digital channels by setting the VCR input to line setting, and by using the digital cable box to select the channel. Setting your VCR to the line setting just means that, instead of setting a channel to watch/record, you are setting the VCR to watch/record whatever is coming into the VCR (via the RCA cables) on the line in jacks on the back of the VCR. The method of setting the VCR to line varies depending on the VCR--& some older VCRs may not have a line feature. On my combo, the remote has an input select button that sets the VCR to line. Once it's set to line, I can push the record button & it records the channel that's set on the digital cable box. (In order to set the VCR timer to record from line on the combo, when setting the channel to record, I have to scroll down to channel 01 & then down one more and it sets line as the channel). On my other VCR, I have to enter the menu, go to an input selection menu, and choose A/V rear as my input. (In order to do a timer recording from line on that VCR, I have to push in 00 as my channel selection and it records from A/V rear). You may have to play around a bit with your VCR menus and/or remote buttons--or read your manual--to figure out how it works on your VCR. If you are watching or recording from the line setting on the VCR, you can't punch in a channel number on the VCR--if you do, you'll leave the line setting and go back to tuning in the channel through the cable coxial cord.
If I'm recording an analog channel on either or both VCRs, I can still go to channel 3 on my TV and watch any channel I can get on the digital cable box. If I'm recording a digital channel on my combo (by having it set to line), I can't change channels on the digital cable box, but I can still watch any analog channel through my other VCR.
I hope this is helpful. |
New member Username: Radkamp
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jan-07
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| Posted on Sunday, January 07, 2007 - 11:54 am: |
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My mom got digital cable hooked up yesterday to an older tv. She got her vcr hooked up to it too. Comcast hooked up a small digital box and said that she would have to use her vcr remote to set the timer to pre-record her shows she records. I can't get it to work. I can't get the screen to come up where she would even set the timer for the vcr. Does anyone know how I would do this? Do I have to get a splitter, and do I have to set the comcast remote to aux before I start using the vcr remote? Thanks? |
New member Username: Dbvirago
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jun-07
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| Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2007 - 03:15 pm: |
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I have a similar problem to many here. Trying to record one channel while watching another, or using timer programming. It seems all the anwers use a splitter to send analog signal to the vcr. This seems to work, but what happens when analog goes away?
Like others, I can't beleive there isn't a digital solution. We've been doing this for years, now 'new' technology makes it impossible? |
New member Username: Kraj
Post Number: 1
Registered: Sep-07
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| Posted on Friday, September 28, 2007 - 10:25 pm: |
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Hi all,
I have analog cable and just bought a DVD/VCR combo (Toshiba SD-V295KU). I finally unpacked it today to set it up and would like to be able to watch one channel while recording another. however the DVD/VCR doesn't have a coaxial cable input and I am at a lost as to what to do.... normally I would just go coax cable to VCR then VCR to TV (either coax or RCA) but I can't do that anymore!!! Help!!! |
New member Username: Drnojd
Mpls,
Mn
Post Number: 2
Registered: Dec-06
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| Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 12:47 am: |
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AJ: It sounds like you got a combo that doesn't have a tuner and there's no way to tune in the tv channels. Because all tv broadcasts are switching to digital broadcasting in 2009, manufacturers are required to make the newer machines either with a digital tuner or no tuner at all. The digital tuners are more expensive, and so a lot of the less expensive machines currently in stores don't have any tuner at all. The only way to record tv shows on such a machine is to attach something else with a tuner (e.g., a cable box or another vcr) to the line input jacks on the machine, and then use the other device to tune in the channels. (If you have an older vcr that still tunes in the channels but doesn't record so well, you might want to use that). It is still possible in some stores to get older models of some devices that still have the analog tuners, but they're getting harder and harder to find. |
New member Username: Eelkat
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 04:49 am: |
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Help? Memorex MVD4544 VCR will not record
We have our TV hooked up to Road Runner cable, and had recorded some shows into our cable box, planning to save them to a VCR at a later date, because our old VCR had stopped working. So, today I just bought a Memorex MVD4544 VCR-DVD combo. I hooked it up to the cable box via Road Runner cable's instructions, and than copied the recorded shows off the cable box to a blank VHS tape in the new VCR.
Two hours later it stopped recording, supposedly done, but when we played back the tape it was completly blank. We retried again with a differant tape, just in case there was a problem with the tape, but once again, nothing was recorded on the second tape either.
Next I figured, maybe there was a problem copying off the cable box, so we tried recording a "live" show off the TV instead. Still nothing.
Finally we hooked it up to a totally differant TV (one without the cable box), and tried recording a show off of that tv instead. Still nothing.
It plays prerecorded tapes beautifully. I checked to see if there was a playback problem, but it plays them fine. It just com[pletely refuses to record anything.
So my question is, has anyone else had this problem? Do you know how to fix it?
Because this is a brand new VCR, should I take it back to the store? If so, should I exchange it for another of the same item, or should I get my money back and buy a differant make/model? |
New member Username: Eelkat
Post Number: 2
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 05:21 am: |
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or... both tvs use only digital cable, cause we live in an area were you can't get channels otherwise, but only one tv has the box on it |
New member Username: Eelkat
Post Number: 3
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 05:29 am: |
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Connect the box to the VCR with RCAs and set the VCR to line.
I think I understand what you are saying here, however, what do you mean by "line"... what is the line?} |
Bronze Member Username: Ieee488
Post Number: 22
Registered: Dec-07
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 10:04 am: |
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Which channel are you recording the VCR on?
You have it set wrong if all you are getting is static.
The "line" are the RCA video/audio input sets for the VCR. |
New member Username: Eelkat
Post Number: 4
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 10:55 am: |
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Connect the box to the VCR with RCAs and set the VCR to line.
however that wouldn't work on the tv that doesn't have a cable box on it. |
New member Username: Eelkat
Post Number: 5
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 11:01 am: |
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Which channel are you recording the VCR on?
You have it set wrong if all you are getting is static.
not getting static... just a blank tape like nothing was recorded at all
when copying the shows already recorded onto the cable box there are no channels on cause we wasn't recording off the tv.
when the tv is on, it's turned to the channle we are trying to record
the vcr itself has no channle control |
Bronze Member Username: Ieee488
Post Number: 26
Registered: Dec-07
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 11:10 am: |
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The VCR has channel control. All VCRs have channel control.
You are not understanding what I am trying to say. |
New member Username: Eelkat
Post Number: 7
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 01:51 pm: |
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Connect the box to the VCR with RCAs and set the VCR to line.
The "line" are the RCA video/audio input sets for the VCR.
so if the "line" in that sentace is the VCR that means that sentace says:
you plug the cable box into the VCR and the VCR into the cable box, but each only has those 2 plugs, so where does the tv plug into
I'm confused |
New member Username: Eelkat
Post Number: 8
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 01:53 pm: |
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where do I find the channel control for the vcr? it just says play rec rw ff ejct ; I don't see a channel control anywhere |
New member Username: Eelkat
Post Number: 9
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 02:01 pm: |
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just looked in the owner manual and I can't find anything about channel control in that either
actualy it doesn't say much of anything in that at all, basicly its 12 pages of how to plug the cord into your tv and than set up the clock. doesn't really say anything else |
New member Username: Eelkat
Post Number: 10
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 02:25 pm: |
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okay... disregard my last couple of comments... I figured out what you ment, changed things aroung and tried again and it's recording fine now!
YIPPIE!
I guess I had it set up wrong.
Thanks for your help, I don't think I ever would have figured it out with out you guys' help
HUGGS ALL AROUND! |
Bronze Member Username: Ieee488
Post Number: 28
Registered: Dec-07
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| Posted on Saturday, January 26, 2008 - 03:18 pm: |
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New member Username: Old_timer_81
LYNN,
MA
USA
Post Number: 1
Registered: Mar-08
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| Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 01:06 pm: |
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I have hooked up a new VCR (memorex MVD4544) to my Sony KV-20FV10 TV.The basic input is from a Verizon FiOs TV (STB) set top box The VCR does not have coaxial connections so I had to connect the coaxial input line to the single coaxial connection on the TV.Initialy I could not record, but following directions from this forum I conected an additional set of RCA cables from the STB box to the the VCR. Now with the VCR set to AV1 I can record.Thank you very much.
NEXT PROBLEM!
I can find no way to program the VCR to record using a timer function.If I can't record the soaps for my wife while we are out I will be in big trouble.
Does the memorex MVD4544 have this capability. Is there another brand that will do timer recording. I hope someone can help} |
New member Username: Thebqe
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jun-08
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| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 06:12 pm: |
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Francis - don't know if you solved problem but here's my problem and two solutions:
I had to get a new cable box (Scientific Atlant Explorer 4200) in order to continue getting channels I used to get without the box. With the cable I get many more channels. For two weeks I couldn’t figure out how to use VCR with the new box. After several trial and error connections I found two (non-perfect) workable solutions - each with their pros/cons. I am using Hookup No. 1 for now
Hookup No. 1
If you hook up your existing incoming cable to the cable box, then from cable box to your VCR, and finally from VCR to your TV (all using coax cables) here’s what you must do to record programs on the VCR
.
First: you must ALWAYS set your VCR and TV to channel 3. Then access the VCR programming menu by turning off the cable box (if my cable box is on, it won’t allow me to see my VCR); press the TV/VCR button (on the VCR or it’s remote) to “VCR”. Then go to your VCR timer menu. Program in the dates and times for your desired programs, but always set it to record Channel 3. Your VCR can only record the channel that the cable box is set to.
So then how do I get the cable box to change to the channels I want when I’m asleep or away from home? A very good question - my cable box (and I suspect your cable box also) has 8 “VCR” timers available in its Settings Menu. I discovered that these “timers” will make the cable box switch to the channel you designate on the date and time that you program in the cable box. So, program a timer to switch to the desired channel to coincide with each of the timers you set on your VCR. It’s double work to program a cable box and a VCR to record your programs but it works for me. The big drawback is that you cannot watch a different channel than the one you are recording. Right now for me, that’s not much of a drawback because everything’s on reruns and I have no conflicts. If conflicts are a problem, you should try Hookup 2, which has different disadvantages.
Hookup No. 2
Incoming coax cable goes to VCR first, then cable box, then TV set.
The VCR will tape different programs as before (independent of what the cable box is showing). The drawback (for me) is there are stations that can only be picked up by the cable box so my VCR cannot record them. My workaround if there are two shows that interest me at the same time - is to watch the show that only the cable box can receive and record the one that the VCR can receive. At least I can then watch and record two different programs.
There must be a way that I can insert an A-B switch or splitter and get the best of both hookups but I haven’t gotten there yet. |
