DPhotoluv2

HTNut

How is the VCR and DVD connected to it right now? Is there a RF/Coax input on the back of the TV?

1inxs

DPhotoluv2, Welcome to the DTVUSA Forum. I don't know of a DVD player with coaxial cable outputs. You will need to purchase an RF modulator and an A/B switch before we can get this system connected and working. I would recommend you instead, spend $30.00 on a second hand TV which includes the correct connections. A TV that includes the component, composite and coaxial connections will also include the internal switch needed to switch between DVD and VCR. If you decide to purchase the RF modulator and A/B switch, post back here and we'll walk you through the connections.

Piggie

The amplified antenna would go to the RF coax connector on the rear of the converter box labeled Antenna. Then a coax jumper from the converter box to the TV's antenna coax input. Then you have your setup for Over the Air Digital TV.

As 1inxs says if you don't have composite inputs on the TV, you can buy a RF modulator for each of them converting the composite to coax and tune to Channel 3 or 4 on the TV. This will also take a coax switch so you can choose between sources.

Another possibility would be this set up if your VCR has an antenna or cable TV input via coax port.

1) Antenna into converter box via it's coax to the Ant coax port.
2) Coax jumper from Convert box to TV coax port to the Antenna or cable in of the VCR.
3) Coax jumper from the VCR coax output to the TV antenna or cable coax input.
4) Then put the DVD into the VCR's composite inputs.

To watch the converter box OTA stations, on some VCRs you can just turn them off and it will pass the signal to the TV tuned to Channel 3 or 4 (depends how you set the convert box). Some VCR's have to be left on to pass a signal from cable to the TV.

To record the same thing you are watching, put the VCR on channel 3 or 4 and record off the converter box, and you can watch by putting the TV on channel 3 or 4 as well. You can't record another channel unless you have a second converter box and out of the scope of this current explanation.

To watch the DVD put the VCR into Line input mode and it should then send the DVD signal to your TV on channel 3 or 4.

To watch VCR tapes do it as always by playing the tape and putting the TV on ch 3 or 4.

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The more I understand, the less I know.

1inxs

Due to the copy protection built into a VCR, this won't send a clean viewable signal to the TV. You need to send the DVD signal through an RF converter in order for it to be viewable.

Piggie

Mine must be pretty old. I have put TV games, DirecTV receivers and DVD's into VCRs to use them as an RF modulator. The only problem I ever had was with commercial VCR tapes not wanting to track and put out good enough sync tips (NTSC) for a TV to lock.

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The more I understand, the less I know.

HTNut

Yeah, I think the law was passed in 1996 Digital Millennium Copyright Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Piggie

Ok, so how does this work. And yes my VCR is older than that, I have rebuilt it 3 times.

So how does these new nanny state VCRs work? You record a show but can't play it back? lol? You can't record anything that comes in the composite jacks, they are just there for looks?

Seriously this makes little sense.

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The more I understand, the less I know.

1inxs

I beleive it all goes back to MPAA lawsuits. As long as The VCR, DVD and PC manufacturers make a reasonable attempt at deterring piracy, The MPAA won't file costly lawsuits against the manufacturing companies. Manufacturers know there are work arounds to copy VHF and DVD media. It just makes it harder for the consumer.

CptlA

Yeah, I did a quick search just now on how to get around the copyright stuff on VCRs, and there are a lot of sites that have work arounds for it. It's even easier if you're ripping a DVD to PC, but hey, I'm not saying that I ever did it, or am condoning it.