jvc hr-j787am question

[ftjvc]

I have the above mentioned vcr (bought about 10-15 years ago but never opened until recently) but cannot find a tv channel to get into the vcr set up screen. I have always used channel 3 to operate my vcr but going from channels 2 thru 22 I get nothing but snow. I have an older console tv with direct tv service.

[hech54]

TV/VCR buttons on the remote?

[ftjvc]

When I press the vcr remote power button the time disappears on the front of the vcr and numerical buttons show there when pressed but any other buttons on the remote do nothing when pressed. It's like the vcr remote is a dummy remote.

[hech54]

Disconnect every other "input" to your television except the VCR.

[ftjvc]

The vcr and tv are actually at my parents place and they live 30 minutes away. Am I doing anything else after disconnecting the other inputs? I'm open to any other tips that I can try if this one doesn't work out to save myself some trips back and forth.

[tmelo38]

How did you connect the VCR to the TV?
Was it through Antenna input or RCA inputs?

1 - Antenna IN to VCR antenna's input and OUT from VCR's antenna's OUTPUT to TV antennas' INPUT (this is the way to select either Ch3 or 4 on the TV).

2 - RCA OUTPUT from VCR to TV's RCA INPUT (Yellow, White and Red).

In step 1, If you're getting Digital Broadcasting the VCR won't pick up any channels since it has an Analog Tuner. If you want to record any programs, that is.

[ftjvc]

So this is their setup: The tv is always set to channel 3. They have a converter box that when off, they get only local channels. When powered on, they get only Direct TV channels but they must also turn on the Direct TV box. There is a cable in the vcr ANT IN and it is going to the Direct TV box (they want to be able to record Direct TV shows) and the VCR OUT cable running to the TV ANT/CABLE. They have a set of yellow, white and red inputs that go from the converter box to their tv. I put these from the vcr to the tv but nothing seemed to change picture-wise. If I understand correctly, step 1 (if it would get anything at all) would only allow them to tape local channels only. I can't seem to get anything at all from the vcr. It's as if it is not even connected to anything.

[tmelo38]

Try it this way:

Connect the DirectTV wall cable to the INPUT of the DirectTV box, OUT from the DirectTV box to the ANTENNA INPUT of VCR, OUT from the VCR to the antenna INPUT of the TV, keeping both VCR and TV in the same channel (3 or 4). Not sure if this will work but give it a shot.

Last time I made one of these connections was about 100 years ago

[ftjvc]

I made sure everything was hooked up the way you suggested and that the VCR and TV were both on 3. At first all we got was snow but found that if the TV channel is set to 60 they can get their local and DirectTV channels through the VCR and record them. As long as it works, I'm not questioning the channel 60 part. My father and I thank you for all your brainstorming.

[tmelo38]

Glad you got it working.