Can't copy to VCR with 8000HD

[hyena269]

Hi, my friend has a Scientific Atlanta 8000HD DVR, and we tried for 2 hours yesterday to get it to copy recordings to a VCR tape to no avail.

The DVR has the ports on the back labeled "archive to VCR", yet apparently they don't work. When the programs we want to copy are selected in the DVR's menu, there is no "copy to vcr" option. Does the unit need the firmware upgraded or something?

Its very frustrating because after scouring the net for answers, it seems like this is an old problem that should have been fixed by now. She just got this box 6 months ago from Time Warner. There is a LOT of content stored on the DVR that we really need to get off there somehow, and right now it looks like its going to be stuck there forever! Can anyone help? Is there ANY way we can get these shows off? Obviously quality isn't an issue.

[Abbadon]

Does the unit has Composite video out ?, using a composite cable you could just plug it to this jack and the other end to your VCR, if you have picture in your TV you can hit the record button.

If you have S-Video out, the same applies to a TV Tuner card in your computer, that way you could record directly to your hard disk and then burn a DVD !!

[hyena269]

It has 2 sets of composite ports, and one set is even labeled "archive to VCR", yet when its hooked up, there is no signal going to the VCR -- its just a black screen.

[Abbadon]

Play the video stored in the unit, the signal must feed the VCR that way.

[hyena269]

That's what we did. The program we wanted to record was playing -- it was showing up on the TV screen like normal. The line-in on the VCR was connected to those "archive to VCR" ports, but the VCR just recorded a black screen with no sound.

After searching online through various forums (lots of posts from 2004) it seems that it is a firmware issue with the DVR, but it seems like this problem should have been corrected a while ago? I've called Time Warner and no one can give me a straight answer. The person I talked to just now basically told me that there's no way I'll ever be able to copy these shows over and that I have to just keep them on there forever.

[RowMan]

Is the VCR set to the proper input? Also, is the VCR connected properly to the TV so that you can monitor the actual recording?

Set up should be...

DVR ---> VCR ---> TV

...and you should be watching the signal on the YV coming from the VCR only.

Pretty basic, but because DVRs and VCRs are usually connected to TVs in different ways, a lot of people tend to get this part wrong.

[hyena269]

Yes, everything was connected properly. We did it "blind" the first time, having the TV display the DVR input rather than the VCR output -- so we could see the DVR menu on the TV to select the program we were trying to copy. Then when we played the tape, we saw it didn't work.

Then the second time we had the TV display the VCR signal and that's when we realized that it wasn't working. All we got was a black screen with no sound.

[FulciLives]

This is not rocket science.

Your DVR box has TWO sets of outputs. It seems that you have discovered that only ONE set works. This is the set connected to the TV.

SO ... disconnect that working set from the TV and plug it into the VCR then plug the VCR into the TV.

Problem solved.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[FulciLives]

You can also buy a video distribution amplifier. This is a device that usually has one set of A/V inputs (sometimes more than one) with multiple outputs (usually 3 or more).

So you take the one working output of the DVR and connect it to the distribution amplifier which then splits that into multiple outputs. One goes to the TV and one goes to the VCR or DVD recorder or a 2nd TV etc.

Some distribution amplifiers handle both composite and S-Video ... some only handle component video ... usually they don't cover all three. The trick is to find one that has the options that you will need and that fits into your budget. These things can actually get very pricey but at the same time you should be able to find something at or under $100 as well.

I looked at the Radio Shack website and they have a model that may work for you. Of course there are other places you could look as well such as B&H Photo & Video which is a well respected mail order outfit that carries a variety of consumer, prosumer and professional video equipment.

Try doing a search for "video distribution" or "distribution amp" or "video distributer" etc.

Radio Shack has the GM-4C which features component and composite video and although it doesn't say 100% it appears that if you input component you can output component and composite. That sounds really kewl to me (assuming it can do this which it does appear to do knock on wood) because you can use the component out of the cable box and then use a component out from the GM-4C to the TV on the one output but then on the other output use the composite out for the VCR. The price is not bad either for such a unit.

Another option would be the TV One AVT-4818 from B&H Photo & Video. This unit does composite and S-Video and if you feed it S-Video you can output S-Video or composite video. So you would use S-Video from the cable box to the unit then use S-Video and/or composite for the TV/VCR etc.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
It is possible with the GM-4C that if you input component you can only output component but my guess is that it will allow composite output with component input. However the Radio Shack website is not clear on that issue.

[hyena269]

Thanks for the great info, John! It looks like the GM-4C is what I need. Since only the component outputs on the DVR work, hopefully it will be able to input that and output composite. I will try it out!

[FulciLives]

Thanks for the great info, John! It looks like the GM-4C is what I need. Since only the component outputs on the DVR work, hopefully it will be able to input that and output composite. I will try it out!

Like I said the GM-4C offers component and composite inputs. So generally speaking such a unit tends to send the signal out all outputs i.e., input component and output via component AND/OR composite.

However sometimes such devices keep the video inputs separate. In other words if you input component then the composite outputs may not work and if you input composite the component outputs may not work.

Unfortunately it just doesn't say on the RADIO SHACK website but the unit is priced nice so if it doesn't work the way we both hope and expect it to then at least RADIO SHACK has a good return policy (at least that has been my experience).

Good Luck !!!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman