Connecting a new DVR

[markf]

Our DVD player was going bad so we got a Samsung twin tray DVD player/recorder. I figured I'd copy some of the many tv shows, movies, etc. I recorded on video tape. My previous configuation was this- cable from wall jack to splitter, then one cable went to the back of the Sharp TV and the other went to the Comcast Digital cable box, then RCA cables went from cable box to the Sony VCR to the Sharp TV and a RCA audio cable went from the TV to the Awai surround sound reciever. The old DVD player was hooked to another input on the TV. But, now I have the RCA cables from the VCR going to the Samsung DVR, and a digital optical audio (toslink) cable connected from the DVR to the Aiwa surround sound and a s-video cable from the DVR to the TV. Everything else is the same as before. But, when I switch to basic cable to watch TV while recording something from the Digital cable box, there is no audio through the surround sound, even though the TV is still hooked to the Aiwa reciever. What am I doing wrong? Is there a really good A/V hookup for all the components I have so I can record a TV show with the VCR, or with the DVR, or copy a tape with the DVR, or watch a DVD, or watch TV either with the cable box (for a premium channel), or with basic cable? Mark.

[cablewithaview]

I've had something like that happen to me concerning the audio. I still haven't taken the time to go back and figure something different. If I hook mine to the audio out for the DVI and component side, I get that sound only from that source. I can't switch to RCA or cable input and get sound, but if I change my output up, I now can get my cable and RCA outputs to work through the stereo but not the DVI/component side. :confused:

Anyhow
:Welcome2CableTV:

[markf]

Hi!. Great site. I've read many posts on here, but haven't found much that relates to my particular problem. Anyway, tech support was of little help. I was told that maybe I was asking too much of my setup, and I was asked if I really needed to record things to tape (such as when two good shows were on at the same time), and record videotapes to DVD, too. Yes, that's what I got a DVR for. I called Comcast, but I don't have a Comcast DVR so they didn't help much. For many years, I've been able to watch a basic cable channel (we now get 80+) while I taped something from the cable box (we now get hundreds of digital cable channels, including HBO and Showtime). Sometimes I would tape something I wanted to keep, I have a good many tapes of such things. But, usually, I use the VCR for time-shifting, recording things to watch later and using the same tape over and over. At another messageboard, someone tried to get me interested in Tivo. I'm not interested. Still, it's so frustrating thinking that there must be an answer to my problem somewhere, but not being able to find it. Mark.

[markf]

I have the Comcast digital cable box connected to my Sony VCR and that's connected to my new Samsung DVD recorder. From there a digital optical audio cable (toslink) connects to my Aiwa surround sound reciever and a s-video cable goes to the s-video port at the back of the Sharp TV. For basic cable, RCA audio cables run from the back of the Sharp TV to the audio inputs an the Aiwa surround sound reciever. The toslink port and the audio in jacks are the only inputs on the Aiwa. There are outputs for the 5 speakers and the subwoofer. When I switch the TV to input 1, I can get audio from the cable box/VCR/DVD recorder through the toslink. But, when I try to watch basic cable while recording something, I get no audio. That seems quite strange. I can no longer watch (or, rather, listen to) one channel while recording another channel. I have been unable to find an answer anywhere. I can't believe I have a one-of-a-kind problem. Switching from input 1 to basic cable should switch the audio source going to the Aiwa receiver, and I should get audio from basic cable but I don't. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Mark.

[markf]

Comcast Digital Cable Box, Sony SLV-N700 VCR, Samsung DVD-TR520 twin tray DVD player/recorder, Aiwa NSX-DS55 Compact Disc Home Theater Stereo System, and a Sharp 3SU-S600 Stereo Color TV with PIP. There should be a way to switch between audio sources- the DVD via the toslink port on the Aiwa and the TV via the rear audio jacks on the Aiwa. Any help whatsoever, even a link to another messageboard, anything, would be appreciiated oh, so, much.

[markf]

I was contacted by techman73 with information on my problem. He has the same Aiwa system that I have and he explained how to switch between analog and digital. Anyway, I redid all my cabling and such and found that two RCA cables were plugged in wrong, as well. I'm not sure if techman73 is someone on this forum or from another site, but thanks, anyway. Mark.

[cablewithaview]

Not here that I know of. :confused:

Glad you got your issue resolved.

[genie]

Hi. I am new to this forum, even though I've read here a few times. (Great forum, by the way.) And I have a problem. Bear with me, please and any help is graciously appreciated.

I have a Digital Cable box, and have tried to copy the Sopranos to VHS, for later viewing, but the audio was very muted, with humming in the background. I thought there was something wrong with the VCR, (even though non-digital channels record with good stereo sound) so I recently bought a panasonic DMR-E15S-dvd recorder/player and finally after much hair-pulling, trial and error, I got it hooked up so I could view it on my mitsubishi projection wide screen, which has two antennas, a loop antenna, three A/V inputs, tuner output, a monitor output and hook ups for surround and subwoofer speakers.

I don't use the surround sound and sub speaker hookups on the TV however, because, I also have a Yamaha Receiver with multiple a/v hookups for two vcrs, a dvd player, cd player, and satalite or cable box, etc. This is hooked to a separate speaker system.

Since I had two DVD players hooked to this receiver, and only one input, I used a 3 way digital switch by (plugging it into the DVD input), and running the two DVD players through it. I had two VCRs hooked up directly through the receiver, till one quit working and in it's place, I figured I'd hook up the DVR; But after many failed attemps, it wouldn't work. I could get sound, but no picture. (note on the booklet, video is not transferred through a RF cable.) Finally, I hooked the video to the third input on my TV and now with a bit of inconvenience, and switching inputs when I want to use the DVR, I got it done. But after all this, the sound on digital channels is still bad. It was not my VCR. ARGGGGGG!!

My main problem seems to be the DIGITAL SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA CABLE BOX. It has a digital coaxal output, AND analog audio outputs. How do I hook the analog sound to my components so I can tape, or record analog sound when the program is in digital format, and not get the buzzing, or humming noises? Anyone have any suggestions? I still have a couple of thoughts, but I could use some input. (no pun intended).

If you stuck with this long explanation, I commend you. Thanks.

[genie]

I was contacted by techman73 with information on my problem. He has the same Aiwa system that I have and he explained how to switch between analog and digital. Anyway, I redid all my cabling and such and found that two RCA cables were plugged in wrong, as well. I'm not sure if techman73 is someone on this forum or from another site, but thanks, anyway. Mark.

Mark,

When you are watching a show in digital sound, and record it (in analog sound,) do you have a hum or muted sound as I described earlier?

[genie]

I'm just bumping this, hoping for a reply to my earlier question on this thread:

My main problem seems to be the DIGITAL SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA CABLE BOX. It has a digital coaxal output, AND analog audio outputs. How do I hook the analog sound to my components so I can tape, or record analog sound when the program is in digital format, and not get the buzzing, or humming noises? Anyone have any suggestions? I still have a couple of thoughts, but I could use some input. (no pun intended).