Problem Setting Up Magnavox mdr535h/f7 hdd/dvd recorder

[Houndoggy]

I have set up my recorder with coax in from my OTA antenna connected, coax out to the HD TV connected as well as HDMI out to the TV. The TV is a 55" Vizio.

When I turn it on using the recorder remote, I get one of the channels (3, 8, L1,L2,L3). I cannot seem to get the setup screen to appear. There is no "Video/Input" button on the Vizio remote, so, using the TV remote I have gone to "settings", but the input "Initial setup" does not appear on the list.

Is there a solution?

[usually_quiet]

I have set up my recorder with coax in from my OTA antenna connected, coax out to the HD TV connected as well as HDMI out to the TV. The TV is a 55" Vizio.

When I turn it on using the recorder remote, I get one of the channels (3, 8, L1,L2,L3). I cannot seem to get the setup screen to appear. There is no "Video/Input" button on the Vizio remote, so, using the TV remote I have gone to "settings", but the input "Initial setup" does not appear on the list.

Is there a solution?

"Initial Input" refers to a menu screen that the Magnavox produces, not one of the items on the TV's list of available connections. You have to cycle through the TV's HDMI connections until you see the Magnavox's "Initial Input" Screen on the TV. What is the model number of the TV? I have yet to see an flat screen TV that did not have a button on the remote that would make input selection easier.

[johns0]

Look for a input or source button,it may be just a arrow angled up or down.look in your tv manual to see the input selection button.

[Houndoggy]

My Vizio model is E550VL

[johns0]

On your remote control at the bottom left is the input button,press that to select your hdmi ports.

[Houndoggy]

I first turned on the recorder, using its remote. Chan 3 shows on the display after it loads.

Then I pressed the "input" button on the Visio remote (lower left corner button).

However what then comes up on the TV screen is the following:

TV
AV
COMP
HDMI 1
HDMI 2
HDMI Side
RGB

That's it. There is no "Initial Setup" phrase or anything close to it that appears.

The HDMI cable from the recorder is connected to the HDMI1 port.

[usually_quiet]

I first turned on the recorder, using its remote. Chan 3 shows on the display after it loads.

Then I pressed the "input" button on the Visio remote (lower left corner button).

However what then comes up on the TV screen is the following:

TV
AV
COMP
HDMI 1
HDMI 2
HDMI Side
RGB

That's it. There is no "Initial Setup" phrase or anything close to it that appears.

The HDMI cable from the recorder is connected to the HDMI1 port.

What do you see if you select HDMI1 from the list?

[johns0]

There's not supposed to be any initial setup phrase unless you select hdmi 1 and press ok to switch to it.

[Houndoggy]

First I turn on the recorder (Ch 3 is on the display), using the recorder remote.

Next I turn on the TV using the TV remote.

I then press the "Input" bottom on the lower left corner of the TV remote.

Once I've scrolled from "TV" down to HDMI 1, I highlight it, at which point the screen turns a pale grey colour. After a couple of seconds "1080p" appears in the upper right corner of the screen, and shortly thereafter disappears, leaving the pale grey screen.

Nothing further happens, even if again I press "OK". The pale grey screen remains.

[johns0]

Sounds like you have an issue with the recorder,is there another tv you can test it on?

[Houndoggy]

Unfortunately not. Tomorrow I'll speak with a neighbor, and see if I can try the recorder on their TV.

Interestingly, if I press "Play" I'm able to watch a movie i recorded a year ago.

[johns0]

Try doing a reset on the recorder since it already setup and skips the setup part.

[Houndoggy]

That's the answer, i think, but nowhere in the manual have I found info on how to do a rest or even a factory rest. Suggestions?

[usually_quiet]

Try unplugging the power cord. Leave it unplugged for 2.5 HOURS, then plug it back in, with the power button on machine depressed.

[johns0]

There should be a menu/setup button on your recorder where you can change the settings.

[usually_quiet]

There should be a menu/setup button on your recorder where you can change the settings.

The Magnavox remote control has such a button, labeled "Menu". Someone who knows what to do can certainly set up the recorder using the Menu button to access all the things that need to be configured before using the recorder. Maybe the initial set up instructions will provide the necessary clues.

I went through the manual page by page, but saw no factory reset type function among the many settings that can be accessed through the recorder's main menu. That is why I suggested unplugging it.

[Houndoggy]

Fellas, I finally solved it, and you were the inspiration to keep going.

By coincidence last night I happened to be reading the manual again, and found the answer on page 117 under troubleshooting.

Where the symptom identified as "setup menu cannot be called up", it explained that "..Setup menus cannot be called up during DVD recording ..".

I needed to press the STOP button on the recorder remote first, then press the MENU button on the remote. It worked!

I've now done the initial setup and channel scan.

The recorder now operates through HDMI 1. However if I turn off the recorder I then simply, using the Visio remote, go into the MENU ... INPUTS ... and highlight TV.

Thanks again for your help.

Cheers