Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - hooking up entertainment center....lost and need help PLEASE!!

First of all, I've tried and tried to figure out this problem by myself, and I've finally concluded that I need some input before I lose my mind.

I'm trying to connect what I would consider what should be a fairly simple configuration. I have the following devices:
DirecTV DVR box - has 2 audio and video output connections, an S-Video, RF Out, RF In connection.

Emerson DVD/VCR player- has component video connections, VCR Audio In and Video In, DVD/VCR Audio and Video out, a separate Audio out (red and white) connections for DVD only, a coaxial connection, Antenna In, Antenna Out, and DVD S-Video In and Out

JVC TV- Input 1 with Audio and Video (Red,White, Yellow) connection, plus an S-Video on Input 1, Input 2= Audio only (Red,White)
Additional connections are Audio-out, component video, and coax.

Currently, I can watch DVD movies just fine, but with the VCR all I get is audio. I've tried multiple combinations of connections and if I get the video working it takes something else down. The manuals are not helpful, they don't give me examples of my equipment.

Currently, I have my incoming satellite connections into the DVR unit. The DVR has an Audio and Video output 1 & 2. On the DirecTV DVR, I have standard AV cables (red,white,yellow) from Audio and Video output 1 to Input 1 on the back of my TV. That gives me my satellite channels on Input 1 and that works fine. I also have a set of Component Video Cables going from my TV to my VCR/DVD player. For DVD audio, I have the yellow cable from another set of AV cables going from the audio out to the Audio In on the back of the TV. When I switch the input on my TV's remote to component video, I get the DVD video and sound just fine, provided I have the VCR/DVD player set to "dvd". When I set it to "vcr" I can hear the audio from the vcr, but can't get video. I get my VCR sound from the following connection: Audio In on the VCR to Audio Output 2 on the DirectTV DVR box using the Red and white connections, I also have the video connected, but its obviously not working or I wouldn't be here.
The only other connections I have are the RF In on the DVR goes to the Antenna Out on the VCR/DVD player.

what in the world am I missing here? I have a 3 year old who can't watch any of his VCR tapes because Dad can't get it working. I feel bad for him because I've tried fixing it several times, but now I'm just frustrated beyond belief. Can anyone offer any insight? (If I'm lacking cables, I can get them, by the way)

The vcr won't play video thru the component cables. You need to hook up the rf coax for that.

could you please elaborate on what I need to connect from where to where? currently there is an connection from the RF In on the Directv box to the Antenna Out on the VCR/DVD player. There is an unused coaxial connector on the VCR/DVD player, and there is an unused coax connector on the TV. Do I need to connect these via coax cable to give me my VCR picture?

I am assuming that you are only trying to watch VHS tapes in the VCR and not record TV (since you have a DVR).


Since the DirecTV is working, lets leave that alone.

1. Disconnect all cables (both ends) going to/from the DVD/VCR.

2. Connect the component video cable (red, green, blue) from the component output on the DVD to the component input on the TV. (FOR DVD ONLY)

3. Connect the coaxial audio cable (usually orange) from the Digital Audio Out on the DVD to the coaxial audio input on the TV. (You can also use the red/white audio cables). (FOR DVD ONLY)

4. Connect a set of Red/White/Yellow cables from the audio/video out on the VCR to the Red/White/Yellow input on the TV. (VCR ONLY)

That should work.

I doubt there is a digital audio connection on the tv, but there could be one. Digital audio is usually used to hook up a receiver to get surround sound.

Leave the satellite and DVD connections alone. Just connect an rf coax from the vcr to the tv. This assumes you can switch the tv to select the various inputs.

I agree with both these posters.

Depending on your television model, you may only have 1 RF (coaxial) terminal, if so, you keep this one for the DirectTV box. This is not completewly necessary if you have component cababilities (red, blue, yellow connectors on TV). It's just a pain to have to swap the source of the TV to watch normal TV.

In other words, keep your RF (coax) cable going from Direct TV to your television along with the component cables if so equiped.

Run RCA type cables (red, white, yellow) from the OUT plugs of your VCR to the IN plugs of your television. You will have to select the source on your TV to watch the VCR.

There are multipleways to hook these up. I currently have my VCR hooked up to my receiver, and from there to the TV, but it's up to you.

I have all my component cables (DVD and DRV) going directly into back up TV.

"Connect a set of Red/White/Yellow cables from the audio/video out on the VCR to the Red/White/Yellow input on the TV. (VCR ONLY)"
I only have one set of Red/White/Yellow connectors on the back of the TV (labeled input 1) and that connects to the DVR giving me my satellite signal and audio.
"In other words, keep your RF (coax) cable going from Direct TV to your television along with the component cables if so equiped."
The only coax connection I have is the RF In on the DVR which goes to the Antenna Out on the VCR/DVD player. I have no coax going to the TV.

My TV has only one coax connector. It has no digital audio connection. It has a standard Red,white,yellow connection called input 1. There is an S-Video connection right beside it also labeled input 1. If I try and use that S-video and hook it to the VCR, I get the VCR to play video, but I lose my main satellite signal. I'm assuming I can't use the S-Video connector on input 1 if I'm using the standard AV connections?

I know I'm close, just can't figure out what I'm missing. If you read my original post, I state every connection each device offers, if that helps. Appreciate all your help. You'll make a 3 year old boy very happy if I can get this figured out.

You must have an old TV. If you only have 1 RCA input on it and no component hook ups.


TO ADD:
Those input 2 on your TV(red/white) are for audio OUT, meaning that audio from the TV goes to the receiver. You should really have nothing attached to them.

IF your TV does not have component cable abilities, you might as well get rid of the component cables from the DVD and DVR since you cannot actually view the signal the way it should be viewed.

I think you made a mistake in your original post. You said your TV has 1 coax connector, 1 set of Red/White/Yellow RCA plugs stating input 1, and a input 2 which has a red/white RCA (audio out).

You then stated you had COMPONENT cables hooked up to the TV. Did you mean RCA? There is a HUGE difference.

RCA = Red/White/Yellow = Red/White = audio yellow=video
COMPONENT = RED/BLUE/GREEN =video only. Audio is digital

Yikes, I'm confusing myself here.

Give me a few minutes.... Sorry for all the posts.


Connect the red/white/yellow RCA cables from the VCR/DVD output to the televisions input 1.

red and white are audio, and yellow is the video.

Have coax going from DVR to the television, nothing else.

"I'm assuming I can't use the S-Video connector on input 1 if I'm using the standard AV connections?"
--- Correct.

"If you read my original post, I state every connection each device offers, if that helps."
--- It doesn't really help since it wasn't accurate. You mentioned under the JVC TV that it has input 1, input 2, component, coax.... which you later said it doesn't have component.


Do what HotinOKC says:

"Connect the red/white/yellow RCA cables from the DVD/VCR output to the televisions input 1."
--- But make sure you are connecting the cables to the DVD/VCR output, not just the DVD output or VCR output.


Next time if you include model numbers of all the devices, it will be much easier.

sorry guys if I'm adding to the confusion. My TV does have component cables, and that is what is connected directly to the DVD/VCR. It was my understanding that these cables are only concerned with the DVD, which is working fine.

My TV is only a couple of years old. I'll either get the model #'s when I get home from work, or better yet, I'm going to try and diagram it or get the back of the units with a digital camera and put it up on a website.

I really appreciate all your efforts!

Model #'s should be fine. I can look online and get the diagram of the backs of the devices.

ok, here is the model info:

TV = JVC AV-32F475
DVD/VCR - = Emerson EWR20V4
Directv DVR is a D10-200

Ok, I'll bite. I have a fairly similar setup.

Try this:
Cable source to RF input on your Direct TV DVR
RF out from Direct TV DVR to RF in on DVD/VCR
RF out on DVD/VCR to RF in on TV

These should work for both the VCR playback and generic signal passing directly from satellite receiver to the TV, as the VCR will pass the RF even if turned off.

Next: since you have at least two other AV inputs on the TV use the S-video for the DVD playback, and the second set of AV inputs for the DVR. That _should_ make all of your components work with only a bit of input shuffle via the remotes.

MrRonFL's suggestion should work.

Here is a more detailed explanation (I also changed his S-Video connection to component video, since you said you had component video cables already)"

1. Connect the RF Coax cable from the wall to the DVR "satellite input".
2. Connect a RF coax cable from the DVR "out to tv" to the RF coax "ANT IN" on the DVD/VCR.
3. Connect a RF coax cable from the DVD/VCR "ANT OUT" to the RF coax input on the TV.
4. Connect the component video cables (red/green/blue) from the DVD "component video output" to the component video input on the TV, input 1.
5. Connect the RCA audio cable (red/white) from the DVD "Audio Out" to the rca audio input on the TV, input 1.
6. Connect the RCA audio/video cables (red/white/yellow) from the DVR RCA output to the RCA audio/video input on the back of the TV, input 2.

To watch TV, turn the TV to input 2.
To watch DVD, turn the TV to input 1.
To watch VCR, turn the TV to channel 3.

I hope I typed that correctly.

Let us know if it works.

The sattllite and DVD were working just fine. All he needs is to hook up the VCR. DirecTv will give the best picture using s-video instead of the yellow rca, but either will work much better than coax.

To watch the vcr, simply use the rf coax from the vcr to the tv. VCR tapes don't provide much better video than available thru rf coax.

Lets keep this simple and provide the best possible picture from each source, using the options available.

I agree. Easiest solution is to just take a RF coax cable from the VCR output to the TV input.

I was starting from scratch just to make sure everything is setup correctly, because he seemed to have a few things mixed up.


"I get my VCR sound from the following connection: Audio In on the VCR to Audio Output 2 on the DirectTV DVR box using the Red and white connections,"

"The only coax connection I have is the RF In on the DVR which goes to the Antenna Out on the VCR/DVD player."

Great News! Running the coax from the VCR to the TV worked! Would have sworn I tried it a half dozen times but I must have had something else out of whack at the time. For some odd reason, I can get DVD video when I hit the DVD button on the remote, but when I hit the VCR button it toggles me back to video. That is strange because when I toggle through my inputs using the input button on the remote, video 1 is the satellite. Video 2 is the dvd in black and white, next input is called "video component" and thats where I get my color DVD. Next input is video 3 with nothing on it. Next input just comes up with a "03" in the corner of a blue window, it is this input that gives me both VCR and DVD video once I power on the unit and hit play on either source. doesn't seem like the standard setup, but if it works I'm good with it.
Thank you to all of you for contributing suggestions. My son will be thrilled when he wakes up in the morning and realizes he doesn't have to watch his VCR movies back in our bedroom on a 20 year old 19 inch TV anymore.

This forum is gold! goodnite everyone.

BTW, if anyone wants to take a stab at why my setup is giving me what I described above, have at it. I know some of you like to figure out stuff like that. don't blame ya if you don't, though!

I had a similar TV awhile back.

It seems like your TV works like this:

Video 1 - RCA cables
Video 2 - RCA cables
Component Video - Component cables
Video 3 - RCA cables on front of TV
03 (TV tuner) - RF coaxial cable

With Video 2, you can use either the RCA cables or component cables, but not both. So the black and white DVD picture is the video 2 RCA cable connection, which is not used since you are using the component cables.

The 03 in the corner is the channel number. This is your coaxial input. You can view both the DVD and VCR through this connection.

I would watch the DVD through the component video input since it will provide better picture quality than the coax input. Watch the VCR through the RF coax connection (the 03 in the corner).

Glad you figured it out.

Exactly; also, the s-video input is most likely shared with the video-1 RCA jacks, so, it's one or the other with that one as well. I wasn't sure if the model he had had the component video as well as the A/V inputs, the descriptions were getting kinda confusing....