Trouble Hooking Up My DVD Recorder

[robdawg70]

I hope this is the right forum to post this in. Someone out there must have had this problem before. I have searched the forum and came up with nothing.

I can't figure out how to hook up my DVD-Recorder. I Have tried some different things, but nothing seems to work. Here is the stuff I have:

Sharp TV (with Video/Audio Inputs in the front of the TV)
Old Signature 2000 VCR
Panasonic SA-HT650 DVD Home Theater (which is connect to my TV input)
Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2100 Digital Cable Box
Panasonic DMR-E80H

The back of my cable box has the following connections: A little box with Cable Input, From VCR & From TV. All of those connections are used. It also has these unused connections: Cable Out, Audio/Video Out, S-Video Out.

My DVD Recorder has these connections from the back: [2] Audio, Video, S Video Inputs and [2] Audio, Video, S-Video Outputs. It also has an RF In and an RF Out.

I have tried to provide as much information as possible. I have tried different connections but nothing seems to work. Please help me. Thanks!

[Capmaster]

This will be better off in the DVD Recorder forum ...

[carter2004]

If your tv is older you may need additional equipment. If this is the case go to Radio Shack and talk with them. Or check the recorders website for possible info.

This is a link to several types of hookups for the ILO, I would think it would be a similar hookup for most tv systems. I have a surround sound system and I have everthing hooked up to the receiver. The only thing hooked up to the tv is the component video. I hope this helps.

Review this link:
http://www.ilohelp.com/service.htm

[BetaMaster]

Being the proud owner of a multimedia computer, 3 VCRs, a compact stereo and a digital cable PVR, I feel your pain. Adding to that pain is my 1988 TV has only a single RF input.

My guess is that you are trying to chain together your video components with the cable from the wall leading into one of your recorders, passing through to the next, then the next, and finally hooking up the TV. You may have the yellow composite cables doing the same thing, running from your cable box to the VCR to the DVD recorder to the TV input.

I've invested in a splitter, which allows me to run 4 RF cables off my wall outlet. Because of the needs of your cable box, you will probably will need a satellite quality splitter, which are more expensive. You will need one output for each of your cable box, VCR, and DVD Recorder, but I would avoid running an RF cable directly to the TV. The downside is that you do get some signal loss from the splitter. This will run you about $40 for the splitter and RF cables.

You might also want to invest in a video/audio switch (I can't use one because my TV doesn't have video/audio inputs). The yellow, red & white cables running out of your box, VCR and DVD are plugged into separate inputs in this box, and a separate set is run from the switch to the TV inputs. The box allows you to choose the input. These run from about $50 to $200 depending on the bells & whistles.

The nice part of this set-up is that it allows all three recorders to record independently. If you chain them together, the recording box has to be set to the input of the source you want to use.

Note that many of the outputs and inputs on digital cable boxes and PVRs don't work (they are controlled by firmware), so make sure that you're using the right ones.

Here is my set up, step by step

4 way cable splitter, hooked to digital box, multimedia computer and 2 Super VHS VCRs. (My Beta is only used for playback now, and isn't hooked up to my TV anymore)

Digital box hooked up by composite cables to 1st SVHS rear inputs.

Multimedia computer hooked up by composite cables to 1st SHVS front inputs.

RF out on 1st SVHS and digital cable box attached to 2-way RF switch.

1st SVHS tuned to AuxL1 for digital cable box, to AuxF1 for multimedia computer, and to any other channel to watch it independently.

If I'm feeling ambitious, I can use the cables from one of my other VCRs by taking out the front inputs used for the computer and substituting the inputs for one of the others.

[robdawg70]

Thanks for the help guys! I'll try my options out and let you guys know. Right now I am leaning toward the audio/video splitter.

[handyguy]

"I have tried different connections but nothing seems to work. "

What happens? What recorder is this? A dvd recorder/player has to be directly connected to the tv a/v/svideo/component jacks.

[robdawg70]

I have my home theater hooked up to my television Audio/Video jacks.

What I meant was everytime I try a new connection, nothing shows up on the tv. I can't get the menu to display or anything else.

[handyguy]

Weird. It should work directly connected to the tv. You can work forwards from there.

[Matt_]

robdawg70:

How are things going so far with your setup ?
I was reading the manual and I'd be glad to try and help, esp. since I have a set of equipment almost identical to what you have and I'm very happy with what I came up with for my stuff.
The equipment: Sony TV, sony vcr, "classic cable" service from Cox and a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000 cable box, Cyberhome 500 DVD player, and a JVC M10 DVD recorder.
Including what is on the front and back of your tv, how many tv inputs do you have ? Is there an antenna-in/coaxial input on the tv ?

[ann coates]

edited because I sorted my hookup problem..