Conecting cable box, dvd recorder and tv

[keano]

I am scratching my head over this and I really hope youc an provide some guidelines. I just can not get the set up in my house so that the DVD recorder gets better input but an old RF signal.



I have a Panasonic ES 25 DVD recorder. I also have a 42 inch Philips LCD tv.

The TV has the following conections.
3 Componenet/composite IN
1 HDMI In
S video IN
RF In



The Panasonic ES 25 has the following conections
HDMI OUT
Component OUT
Composite IN
S video IN/OUT
RF IN/OUT
Digital Audio Out

The cable box has
DVI OUT
COmponenet OUT
Composite OUT
RF OUT

------------------------------

From this, I have the DVI to HDMI from the cable box to my TV, and using the audio from the composite to the composite on the TV.

But, to the DVD recorder I only have the option of an RF in from the cable box. I can not use the composite from the cable box because I have that used for the DVI to HDMI conection to my TV.



With RF in, the picture look plain crap when recording. Any idea how to better conect this? Are most of the recorders with so much limited Inputs? I do nto see many with composite IN
How do you guys have yours set up

[Seeker47]

Due to the equipment lineup that I have (somewhat different in two separate rooms), the best signal carriage option I have is S-Video. This is better than composite by a wide margin, but reportedly not up to the level of component, or HDMI. In one room, I use a Sima SVS-4 switcher (using its S-Video Ins / Outs) with an older TV, because I have multiple devices feeding the TV, which only has one S-Video input, and that one is an either / or deal. Using it blanks out the regular composite a/v inputs. The other room has an even older TV -- one that has more inputs, but no S-Video In. In both rooms, I'm using Motorola cable boxes from the cable co., and each box has a secondary S-Video Out, plus secondary audio Outs. I use these to feed the DVRs. That way, I can at least record the best looking signal for this setup. In the living room, the signal stays on S-Video, from the DVR on into the switcher, and then into the TV. In the other room, the benefit won't be realized on that tv (which really should be replaced), but I can always burn to DVD and watch it on the better equipment setup.

I hope this gives you some additinal ideas, but if your HDMI vs. S-Video are "exclusive use" inputs (as my S-Video IN to tv is in the living room), then I guess your options will be more limited.

[The_Knife]

I am scratching my head over this and I really hope youc an provide some guidelines. I just can not get the set up in my house so that the DVD recorder gets better input but an old RF signal. ....{snip} ... But, to the DVD recorder I only have the option of an RF in from the cable box. I can not use the composite from the cable box because I have that used for the DVI to HDMI conection to my TV.

When you say you can't use the composite out from the cable box, I think you mean that you can't because you're already using the audio jacks to go to your TV. The actual composite video jack (yellow) is free to be used. If I've understood this correctly then you have an easy solution and one that I'm presently using. You buy a set (2) of audio splitter adapters, aka Y cables, (Radio Shack has them) for about $5 each. Each has a male end that plugs into your cable box audio output and 2 female ends. They're about 4" long. You plug your TV audio cables into 1 set of the female outputs and another set of audio cables (for the DVD recorder) into the remaining female pair. You are now running the audio outputs to both the DVD and TV, in parallel, so the impedance seen by the cable box is halved. Since the impedance is "high" anyway, the cable box has no problem with this. Nothing gets hurt nor any signal degraded. This is only true for the audio outputs, not true for the composite video output(s). Just be sure you get the proper sex for the Y adapters (they come in both styles). Remember you want to turn each audio jack output (R & L) into 2 audio jack outputs (2Rs & 2Ls).

Note that because all outputs are coming from the cable box you can tune only 1 channel and record and/or watch this channel at that same time. You can't record 1 channel and simultaneously watch another. To do that you'll need to split the cable prior to the box and run the other end into either the DVD or TV.

[keano]

The KNife, you genious, you. Ok, so I see what you mean and I guess that might work. Didn't thought of spliting the audio, thinking it will be a signal degredation, but I guess it wouldn't.

I was saying that I can not use the composite audio, since I use that to suplement the audio for the DVi to HDMI connection.

Your idea will surely help. WOW! thanks. That way I may even use the S-video video, since the main problem was audio.