Watch one channel, Record Another

[NYWino]

I do not have digital cable, and my VCR finally died. I am looking for a DVD Recorder that I can watch one channel while taping another - much like the VCR did. I have read that this is impossible for digital cable without all sorts of special features, but I am looking for information on basic cable and any recommendations for recorders that are not outrageous in price.

Thanks!!

[yoda313]

Well try looking for ones that have dual tuners in them. I don't have digital cable only analog so I don't have experience in that.


The other way is that at least my dvd recorder has an rf pass through. THat allows the cable to go to the dvd recorder and then up to the tv. You can record on the recorder and watch the tv without the dvd recorder. Again I can't comment on digital cable specifically but in principal this should work the same way.

But like I said try searching for models that support dual tuners and that should get you started.

[NYWino]

Right, like I said, I DO NOT have digital cable.

So should I still be looking for dual tuners? I don't really know much about DVD recorders. What is this RF pass you speak of? I probably know what you mean, but don't yet know the vocabulary.

Thanks

[yoda313]

If you have analog cable than it should work just fine. The passthrough means it goes to both without having to have either one dedicated. It will work just like a vcr. You set your timer on the dvd recorder, put the blank disc in, turn it off and will do its thing. Than during the recording you watch whatever you want on the tv because the signal is still being fed to the tv with the passthrough.

[NYWino]

Okay, I've been inquiring cause I'm shopping for a present. So as long as I can run the cable into the dvd and then that and the 3 colored cords down to the TV, all should work?

The reason I'm concerned is because my own set up won't seem to do this. I have the regular cable also...but in order to run the DVD recorder I got at x-mas, I have to run the connected cable line and the 3colored lines into an adapter...and then run a cable line down to the TV. My TV doesn't have plugins for the 3 colored wires...

Any suggestions? Thus far when I try to record something with the adapter set up, I can't surf channels while recording something else. I have a feeling the only solution is a New TV...

[yoda313]

I use an rca to rf adapter. My tv doesn't have the video input jacks. I currently don't use the dvd recorder for recording since I got my tv but I still use if to for playback.

The adapter lets you plug in the audio/video jacks into it then you output to an rf jack and send that to your tv. Is that what you might need?

[NYWino]

I currently run the cable and the video/audio jacks into the adapter. Then I run a cable line from the adapter to the tv.

With that setup, I can play DVDs, and I can Record Shows...but I can't record one show while watching another.

I have an SV2000 dvd recorded with analogue tuner, but I don't know if that can't do it, or if its the setup, or if I need a TV that I can connect to directly to make it work. I'm kind of frustrated at it.

[olyteddy]

Split the cable TV signal. Send one to the TV. Send the other to the PVR. Connect the PVR (for playback) to the TV using A/V cables (S-video, RCA, whichever the TV has as 'video' inputs).

[NYWino]

I'm not sure I can do that. My cable is split between my modem and my "tv" It currently goes into the PVR and then into the adapter, then down to the TV.

My TV does Not have inputs..which is why I have the adapter.

....thoughts?

[mstone321]

How about...

Continue to use your RF modulator to view the output of the recorder but add in a A/B co-ax switch. Connect one input "A" of the switch to the output of the modulator, connect "B" to the pass-through RF jack on the back of the DVD recorder and connect the oput of the switch to the TV. You can switch back and forth between the recorder output and cable broadcasts.

[NYWino]

Not quite sure I follow where this would connect...

If I have it all set up and want to watch just tv, i would have it switched to A...if I wanted to record, would I have to switch it to B? and if i was recording, would I be able to watch another channel...

Or, would I only have to switch it to B to watch the DVD recorder, but be able to record while on A...

[mstone321]

You can record in either A or B position of the coax switch. If you want to watch something else on broacast cable while recording, put switch in position B. You must put the switch in position A to watch something off of the recorder.

The key point is that there is a splitter inside the recorder. The signal is routed to the internal tuner of the recorder and (merely as a convenience) to the RF out jack. Recorders differ from VCRs in that there is no RF modulator built-in. If you keep the above in mind and look at the picture, all should become clear.

switch.bmp

[NYWino]

Thanks for the help, all! I replaced my RF with a different switcher and now all is well. I appreciate the info on how this stuff works. thanks.