VCRs, TVs, cable mouse, cable box problems

(sorry if this is the second time you see this. I had a power outage as I was posting and don’t know if the first message went out or not)

For financial reasons, I am not in a position to upgrade to the latest technology, like DVRs, HD TV and the like, and my current setups will have to last a while longer.

So here is a problem I am having.

I have two Sony SLV-81 VCRs hooked up to two Motorola DCT 2000 cable boxes (and two analog TVs). I wanted to be able to record one channel while watching another, so I downloaded some instructions from a Time Warner website which called for using an A-B switch, and then bought a couple of cable mouse units (IR blasters) from Sony. Together, I have been able to do this – watch one, record another, and also with the cable mouse, change channels automatically to whatever I programmed into the VCR timer.

Suddenly, this does not work anymore. The cable box is overriding the cable mouse’s instructions and not changing channels. I tested this out.

Last channel used, say, channel 4. Timer goes on, selects channel 11, then within a second or two, snaps it back to channel 4. I know the cable box has the ability to allow changes, but the cable company has disabled this feature.

Does anyone know how to remedy this situation?

Thanks for your help -- Judy