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Thread: Can't Record Cable TV with VCR DVD Combo |
    
New member Username: Heatshrinktube
Post Number: 1
Registered: Nov-07
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| Posted on Friday, November 23, 2007 - 01:35 pm: |
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We can’t record TV shows to VCR from Time Warner basic cable (no box, just a cable from the wall) since we changed to one of the newer dvd/vcr combo units. Had no problem before when the old VCR had R6 Coax "in from ant" and "out to TV". These newer VCR/dvd combo units don't have the coax connections. Do we need a combo unit with a tuner? Do we need a splitter? We want to keep it simple like it was before if it's possible.
I've read allot of the forums but can't find a straight answer if we need a combo unit with a tuner or not. How about the splitter, do we need that?
On top of that, Panasonic web-site has a note: "will not record paid programs, only free programming" referring to a unit with tuner so I'm not even sure if getting a combo unit with tuner will solve the problem. |
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Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 3622
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Friday, November 23, 2007 - 02:37 pm: |
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You either need a VCR with a tuner or a cable box. They quit putting tuners in cheapo combos because they have to have ATSC tuners now. If you are wanting to record premium movie channels you may have problems with some movies and not with others. Last I knew Starz still wasn't using copy protection. |
New member Username: Heatshrinktube
Post Number: 2
Registered: Nov-07
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| Posted on Friday, November 23, 2007 - 06:13 pm: |
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Thank you Dave,
This takes away most all of the confusion and it appears you have helped many others as well on VCR recording issues.
Oh, Your answering is helping at least three additional families here in Maine having the same problem as us. I volunteered to help figure it out.
We now know we need either a recorder with an ATSC tuner or have a cable/satellite box.
Now we have another dilemma:
The VCR DVD combo we want to buy is PANASONIC DMR-EZ37VK, the add say's ATSC but ownwers manual on Panasonic web-site says "Television system:
TV system: NTSC system". I don't know enough about this to figure it out.
Another dilemma is that the cheapo dvd/vcr combos people bought two years ago with the RF(coax) in/out are still working fine.
The new cheapo units don't have the tuner but the older cheapo ones did; is that it?
There must be millions of people with this problem. We have been recording for years with no problem until now.
Barry |
Gold Member Username: Samijubal
Post Number: 3625
Registered: Jul-04
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| Posted on Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 01:40 am: |
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By FCC mandate all new recorders either have to have ATSC tuners or no tuner at all as the day of analog OTA broadcasts coming to an end draws near, February 17 2009 if I remember correctly.
If you're looking at current model Panasonic DVD recorders, they should all have an ATSC tuner if they have a tuner. It's VCR/DVD player combos that don't have a tuner in the VCR anymore. No one is going to pay what it would cost for an ATSC tuner for a VCR these days. DVD recorders have so much better PQ I don't know why anyone would want to record with a VCR anymore anyway. |
New member Username: Glmmkm
Eden Prairie,
MN
USA
Post Number: 1
Registered: Dec-07
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| Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 09:04 am: |
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In other words the VCR/Dvd Combo units cannot record on the VCR and use the programing feature of the VCR. This is false advertizing! My Sony manual states and shows how to program in recording of programs.
Waht about using a Rf modulator box for the Coax. connection to the cable and then to the TV. The boxes have Video/Audio out to the VCR input line. If You could get a switchable box to playback DVD's and VCR's separately would the box give the VCR a signal to record from? Not sure what else to try.
Any help greatfully appriciated.
Glen |
New member Username: Pjboo
Houson,
Texas
USA
Post Number: 1
Registered: Jul-08
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| Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 10:20 pm: |
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Have the same issue described here.
Is it possible to buy/build the old type receiver for input from the cable to the VCR/DVD?
Alternately, can the old VCR (that has a tuner still working) be an intermidiarly to the new VCR/DVD (placed between the cable line and the combo unit)? Or the receiver scavenged to accomplish this?
Have 3 old VCRs with good tuners but dead VCR (tape eaters) and, if this is possible, I'm regretting ditching the last 3 that died. |
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