Hookup TV, VCR, DVD, CABLE.

[tech-not]

I used your guide--I think it was called hookup8.pdf--to connect my DVD, VCR, CABLE, & TV using A/B switch and RF Modulator, but it doesn't work. All I get is snow (with faint cable programming in the background). Switching to B does let you use the DVD player, but that doesn't solve the CABLE, of course. The RF MOD I got at Radio Shack came with a diagram, which mirrors yours. What could be wrong? Please help.

[Jonathan Kramer]

Pamela:

Check the Radio Shack modulator to see if its set to channel 3 or channel 4. Since there's no over-the-air channel 3 in your area, the modulator should be set to output on channel 3. Your TV set should always be on channel 3.

Try hooking up the output of DVDr to the input of the modulator and the ouput of the modulator directly to the TV set. If this works, you know that both the DVDr and modulator work. It could be that the A/B switch is bad, or that you've hooked-up the switch backwards. It's usually the MIDDLE connector on the A/B switch that connects to your TV set.

In any case, it doesn't sound like a big problem...just one that will take a few minutes to troubleshoot. If you're still having a problem, send me a PRIVATE MESSAGE and I'll be happy to talk you through the process.

Jonathan

I used your guide--I think it was called hookup8.pdf--to connect my DVD, VCR, CABLE, & TV using A/B switch and RF Modulator, but it doesn't work. All I get is snow (with faint cable programming in the background). Switching to B does let you use the DVD player, but that doesn't solve the CABLE, of course. The RF MOD I got at Radio Shack came with a diagram, which mirrors yours. What could be wrong? Please help.

[tech-not]

Thanks to Jonathan Kramer's friendly, helpful expertise, I resolved the problem. He walked me through the whole thing over the phone. The correct coaxial connections normally would be CABLE OUTput to VCR INput, then VCR OUTput to the A Terminal of the A/B Switch, the B Terminal of the A/B Switch going to the "TO TV" Terminal of the RF MODULATOR, the center-positioned "TV" Terminal of the A/B Switch going straight to the TV, and the RCA LEFT and RIGHT Audio cables and single VIDEO cable (all 3 next to each other) connecting the DVD player to the RF MODULATOR. This setup allows for watching CABLE and VCR using the A Switch, while pressing the B Switch only allows DVD viewing.

This didn't work initially because my VCR's OUTput terminal was broken from inside the VCR, causing a weak, snowy signal. We had to eliminate the VCR altogether (until I can fix it) and route the CABLE OUTput directly to the A Terminal of the A/B Switch. Now everything works great, and Jonathan says the VCR should not be too expensive to repair. I hope this helps others out there struggling in a similar way. Thanks again to Jonathan for such great (and FREE!) live technical help. This is a valuable, important website.

Michael in South San Francisco

[Jonathan Kramer]

Thanks to Jonathan Kramer's friendly, helpful expertise, I resolved the problem. He walked me through the whole thing over the phone. The correct coaxial connections normally would be CABLE OUTput to VCR INput, then VCR OUTput to the A Terminal of the A/B Switch, the B Terminal of the A/B Switch going to the "TO TV" Terminal of the RF MODULATOR, the center-positioned "TV" Terminal of the A/B Switch going straight to the TV, and the RCA LEFT and RIGHT Audio cables and single VIDEO cable (all 3 next to each other) connecting the DVD player to the RF MODULATOR. This setup allows for watching CABLE and VCR using the A Switch, while pressing the B Switch only allows DVD viewing.

This didn't work initially because my VCR's OUTput terminal was broken from inside the VCR, causing a weak, snowy signal. We had to eliminate the VCR altogether (until I can fix it) and route the CABLE OUTput directly to the A Terminal of the A/B Switch. Now everything works great, and Jonathan says the VCR should not be too expensive to repair. I hope this helps others out there struggling in a similar way. Thanks again to Jonathan for such great (and FREE!) live technical help. This is a valuable, important website.

Michael in South San Francisco

Michael, it was my pleasure to help out.

For everyone else out in CableTV.com-land let, me explain in a bit more detail what caused the problem that Michael and Pamela experienced.

Some older VCRs have RF output connectors that can work loose over time. When this happens, and you try to disconnect the coaxial cable attached to that connector, it will simply spin-and-spin until the small wire at the back of the connector breaks off. You won't see the broken wire, but you'll know it because you won't be able to remove the coax cable, and your pictures will be very snowy.

I've attached a diagram of Michael and Pamela's set up, and a note showing the location of the broken connector. You'll see why his DVDs would play quite nicely, but his VCR and Cable pictures were, as we say in the business, "KA-KA".

If this happens to your VCR, the repair is fairly simple. It's to open the VCR, tighten the backing nut, and re-solder the broken wire to the output connectors, then to close everything back up.

DISCLAIMER: I stronly recommend that you DO NOT try to do this repair yourself, but rather that you have a TV repair shop tackle the work. The repair, while not difficult (or expense) requires that you to open the VCR case. Unless you know what you're doing, you could do more damage to the VCR. Worse, yet, is that you could hurt yourself by an electrical shock. As Martha Stuart might say, "It's NOT a good thing!"

=j=

[nikki]

Michael nice points you've mentioned & you are so right about this being an important site. Jonathan makes it all seem so much easier doesn't he? We are very lucky to have found him. We spend so much money on our equipment yet it's rare to find anyone at any of the equipment companies to help.

Of course those working support lines for companies don't have the knowledge that Jonathan does either. If they did have the knowledge then one must wonder if they would help us as Jonathan does with patience & kindness? It's not been my experience so I kinda doubt it. I think that Jonathan sets a record in support.
Thus,
Here's to Jonathan! <nikki tips her crangrape juice glass toward her monitor>