Panasonic DMR-E80H Setup

[thebrookela]

I am new here . . . and getting to be an old broad . . . so I hope I'm in the right place.

I bought a DMR-E80H about 5 years ago and have just gotten around to setting it up. I own a seriously-old Magnavox 19" color TV that was called "cable ready" in the day - which means it has only one place to attach my cable, and none of those pretty colored plug in places.

I've connected the cable to the RF-In doohickey on the DVD Recorder, then used the 75 (Omega?) coaxial cable to connect the RF-Out to the one doohickey on the TV.

I am able to view TV using the DVD remote, but am having trouble setting the DVD itself because, even though I have put the TV on the appropriate channel (Ch. 4) and the DVD on the same, I can't raise the Setup Menu nohow. Because of this, I am not able to change the hour on the DVD clock or to record to the HDD or a disc, etc., etc.

I'm sure I've done something wrong, but the Manual was obviously originally written in Japanese, and the translator was on sake while he was doing the English translation (my apologies to anyone who takes offense).

Could someone please tell me I can't use this DVD with an old TV or, if I can, attempt to extract me from this silly coil? I'll be ever so grateful! Bright blessings to all!

[samijubal]

DVD recorders don't output through the RF out, they just pass through the incoming signal. You need an RF modulator.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10574433

They can be bought for less if you look around a little.

[thebrookela]

Thank you for your answer, samijubal! I've returned the complicated stuff the RadioShack guy said I needed and picked up a RF modulator, which I'll be installing this afternoon.

If I have any further problems (which I don't expect) I'll be back. And again, thank you so much for your help!

More bright blessings to all!

[handyguy]

There should be a manual for it online at Panasonic.com

[thebrookela]

Thanks, handyguy! I HAVE the manual . . . as I said in my first post, it must have been translated from the Japanese by a non-English speaker - in other words, I can't make heads or tails of it.

I think I'm down to the point now where I need an RF 75-ohm cable to connect the DVR to the TV. Can't do that yet on account of my SS check doesn't come until the first (I really hate living check to check!). But, if that doesn't work, you can be sure that I'll come back and ask for advice . . . again.

Thanks to everyone who has given advice. What a nice community you are!

[samijubal]

You need to connect the RCAs out of the recorder to the modulator and the modulator to the TV. There should have been a set of RCA cables that came with the recorder.

[thebrookela]

OK, I guess I didn't make myself clear, samijubal. I HAVE the RCA plugs (3 plugs, red-yellow-white, connected in the appropriate places, from DVR to RF Modulator). I am waiting to buy an RF 75-ohm cable to go from the RF Modulator to the very very very old TV. I said I was getting to be an old broad, not a stupid one (ha ha ha).

I don't expect to have any more problems with this set up. Thank you all, yet again!

Over and out!

[samijubal]

You should have got one of those cables with the recorder too.