Hooking Up Satellite DVR, VCR, and a DVD Recorder

[nikki]

Hello Jonathan, everyone,

I did read the above threads on hooking up. However I'm still having trouble. First let me say thanks! for being here. In the past I could read directions & hook up all this stuff but somewhere I quit doing it & now I'm barely able to read the directions.

I have a Sanyo tv with only 1 place to plug in the cable. The rest of the equipment, i.e. dvd player/recorder (pioneer), dish cable box, panasonic vcr have lots of plugs. A couple of years ago I had the cable & vcr connected. Then I had the dvd connected but it was strange because the only way it worked was to use an RF modulator & change 3 of the plugs when you wanted to watch tv then switch them over when watching/recording dvd's. My assistant had hooked that configuration up so I'm not sure but I think the plug change thing had to do with being able to hear which one was playing. ????? I dunno for sure. Oh, yes, when she left I couldn't get the tv to come up & emailed her & asked her what to do. She said change 3 of the plugs & tv would be back. (We had been recording Boston Legal. =-)

I hope all this helps you to know what I need to do to get all to work & hopefully without having to switch the plugs because it's difficult to get behind the heavy cabinet all the equipment is in.

Also just an FYI thing I have the Radio Shack RF mod... & recently picked up a "2 device AV S-Video Switcher" by Acoustic Research. Someone at Best Buy had said that this might solve the problem. As you can see, it didn't solve it yet. I also have 3 or more S cables.

After trying every (pretty sure all were tried!) combination of plugging in all the equipment without the RF mod... nothing worked as hoped.

Can you help me with this? I'm thinking that you can! Anyway, I will definitely appreciate any help you can offer.

yt
nikki

[Jonathan Kramer]

Hi Nikki! Welcome to CableTV.com.

Let's make this easy (easier)...

Please list the following so I can give me a more complete answer:

VCR Make, Model:

DVD Make, Model:

TV Make, Model:

Dish Converter Make, Model:

What else Make, Model:

With that information I can sketch out a solution for you!

Best,

Jonathan

Originally Posted by nikki

Hello Jonathan, everyone,

I did read the above threads on hooking up. However I'm still having trouble. First let me say thanks! for being here. In the past I could read directions & hook up all this stuff but somewhere I quit doing it & now I'm barely able to read the directions.

I have a Sanyo tv with only 1 place to plug in the cable. The rest of the equipment, i.e. dvd player/recorder (pioneer), dish cable box, panasonic vcr have lots of plugs. A couple of years ago I had the cable & vcr connected. Then I had the dvd connected but it was strange because the only way it worked was to use an RF modulator & change 3 of the plugs when you wanted to watch tv then switch them over when watching/recording dvd's. My assistant had hooked that configuration up so I'm not sure but I think the plug change thing had to do with being able to hear which one was playing. ????? I dunno for sure. Oh, yes, when she left I couldn't get the tv to come up & emailed her & asked her what to do. She said change 3 of the plugs & tv would be back. (We had been recording Boston Legal. =-)

I hope all this helps you to know what I need to do to get all to work & hopefully without having to switch the plugs because it's difficult to get behind the heavy cabinet all the equipment is in.

Also just an FYI thing I have the Radio Shack RF mod... & recently picked up a "2 device AV S-Video Switcher" by Acoustic Research. Someone at Best Buy had said that this might solve the problem. As you can see, it didn't solve it yet. I also have 3 or more S cables.

After trying every (pretty sure all were tried!) combination of plugging in all the equipment without the RF mod... nothing worked as hoped.

Can you help me with this? I'm thinking that you can! Anyway, I will definitely appreciate any help you can offer.

yt
nikki

[nikki]

Hey there,

I wanted to check this before I have to go to family dinner & give you what info I can for now. When I get back I'll try to locate the books on all.....I couldn't find the manual that came with the tv just yet but it is older. I bought it in 2000 or 2001 (Sanyo).

Here is some of the info for you.

VCR-Panasonic PV8455s

The Dish DVR -doesn't have a number on it but it does say DVR & mpeg2 & dolbly on the front of it.

The DVD is Pioneer DVR 220 & on the front of the DVD it has a place for an S cable & 3 other plugs... yellow white & red, also says "dts" & dolby & VCRplus+

I hope this helps. I'll check back in after dinner. Oh, & perhaps I should mention that I have a splitter connected to this tv so that I can have a tv in my office. I work from home so it really helps me keep working.
thanks
nikki

[nikki]

I still cannot find the tv book but wanted to check in anyway.

[Jonathan Kramer]

Originally Posted by nikki

I still cannot find the tv book but wanted to check in anyway.

Hi Nikki:

With the information you've provided, I was able to look at the manuals for the various items of equipment and design a reasonable hook-up.

The design attached to this posting permits you to record your satellite feed to the VCR and/or the DVD, and to play back a DVD while recording a satellite program to from your satellite DVR. I also use the audio and video cables to supplement the RF connections. I also show an antenna input to the DVR so you can record a DVD of over-the-air or cable TV if you have those available.

Finally, using an inexpensive Radio Shack A/B/C switch (about $16.00) you can connect one more device such as a game box, while still recording from the satellite.

Is mine the best connection scheme? Hard to say, but it should get you [almost] there! If you need more help, just ask!

Best of luck...

Jonathan Kramer

[nikki]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Kramer

Hi Nikki:

With the information you've provided, I was able to look at the manuals for the various items of equipment and design a reasonable hook-up.

The design attached to this posting permits you to record your satellite feed to the VCR and/or the DVD, and to play back a DVD while recording a satellite program to from your satellite DVR. I also use the audio and video cables to suppliment the RF connections. I also show an antenna input to the DVR so you can record a DVD of over-the-air or cable TV if you have those available.

Finally, using an inexpensive Radio Shack A/B/C switch (about $16.00) you can connect one more device such as a game box, while still recording from the satellite.

Is mine the best connection scheme? Hard to say, but it should get you [amost] there! If you need more help, just ask!

Best of luck...

Jonathan Kramer

Amazing Jonathan! That is definitely a great piece of work. Very nicely done. Thank you very much. I can hardly wait till Radio Shack opens so that I can get the switch & set about putting this all together. The way you've explained all this I actually understand it. Woo hoo!

Re: the antenna/cable converter I do have an antenna but the wire to it is tied up nicely & dangling at the edge of the roof. The cable converter? hmmm not sure about that one. The only thing coming in is the dish cable but that is not a problem, right? LOL

My question is this, once all is set up then what do I need to do with the remotes & boxes? Do I just turn all the boxes & switch on then find the dish book & program everything to go thru the Dish remote? I've had the Dish book in the last 2 weeks so I'm sure I can find it. I think my brother may have laid it somewhere when he was trying to help me.

I've worked so late tonight but hopefully I can get up & try this before going to install a tile floor at my sister's. I just know this is going to be so cool.

many thanks to you !
nikki

[Jonathan Kramer]

Originally Posted by nikki

Amazing Jonathan! That is definitely a great piece of work. Very nicely done. Thank you very much. I can hardly wait till Radio Shack opens so that I can get the switch & set about putting this all together. The way you've explained all this I actually understand it. Woo hoo!

Re: the antenna/cable converter I do have an antenna but the wire to it is tied up nicely & dangling at the edge of the roof. The cable converter? hmmm not sure about that one. The only thing coming in is the dish cable but that is not a problem, right? LOL

Cute! Okay, maybe I was projecting a bit.

My question is this, once all is set up then what do I need to do with the remotes & boxes? Do I just turn all the boxes & switch on then find the dish book & program everything to go thru the Dish remote? I've had the Dish book in the last 2 weeks so I'm sure I can find it. I think my brother may have laid it somewhere when he was trying to help me.

Nikki, the hook-up I gave you was designed for maximum flexibility. You'll leave all of the devices turned on, and by experimenting you find that in most cases, using the LINE/VIDEO selection, rather than the coaxial cable input will give you the best quality.

As for the remotes, the key remote will be the Satellite DVR remote for basic channel selection and TV control. The VCR remote will rarely be used. The DVDR remote will be used less often than the Satellite DVR remote, but more often than the VCR.

It's like any new toy (or, in this case, a reconfigured toy)...you'll play with it a while to figure out how it works, and what works best. For example, you might reverse the locations of the DVDR and the VCR so that the VCR is the last device directly feeding the TV. There might be some advantages to that if you wanted to record a DVD to video tape. Now that you have a good visual idea of the interconnections, you have the freedom to play around!

Finally, if Radio Shack doesn't have the A/B/C switch in stock, you can always use an A/B switch omitting the game box input.

Smiles,

j

I've worked so late tonight but hopefully I can get up & try this before going to install a tile floor at my sister's. I just know this is going to be so cool.

many thanks to you !
nikki

[nikki]

Ah, the joys of living in a small town. Radio Shack didn't have the 15-1218 switch. They did have one called a 4-way Stereo A/V Selector #15-1983. It's not an RF modulator tho. I'll have to pick one up when I go to see my brother. I didn't think to ask Radio Shack to order me one. Think I'll do that now as they are open until 8:00.

be back soon!

nikki

[nikki]

Jonathan, I forgot to ask you about the Line/Video or the coaxial selection or preference. Where/how do I do that? Also, I am going to set it up with the A/B switch for now. Glad you mentioned that.

[Jonathan Kramer]

Originally Posted by nikki

Jonathan, I forgot to ask you about the Line/Video or the coaxial selection or preference. Where/how do I do that? Also, I am going to set it up with the A/B switch for now. Glad you mentioned that.

Nikki:

Usually you'll want to use the LINE (or VIDEO) input. As for selecting it there'll be an option on the SETUP menu of the VCR and the DVDR.

Since your TV only has an RF input you won't have the option to go LINE to the TV. The next time you by a TV, consider one with LINE and/or S inputs. It makes a difference.

J