Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - analog VCR connection to digital TV

How do I hook up my analog VCR to a digital TV? I have a converter box and have tried various configs, but no luck. I'd like to be able to record one digital program while watching another.

I haven't seen one of those converters yet. Seems like you would have cable into the converter, then to VCR, then to TV.

BUT. I have 2 DVR's and both have instructions saying the VHS will not record DTV. The signal won't allow it.

Most of the boxes output Video/R audio/L audio on RCA jacks or like a VCR they output the program on analog channel 3 or 4 (I THINK..just from looking at some specs on a few.) Your converter box will be what actually changes the channels. Guess it depends on which converter you have.

If you have a digital TV, then it should go directly to the antenna, not through the box.

I'm on cable and have no full power TV stations around, so kind of a non-issue to me.

My earlier reply might not be relevant to a converter.

Book says Digital Broadcasts cannot be recorded to VHS.

But I can record 'DVD to VHS' and 'VHS to DVD'. Go figure.

DVR's are getting cheap. I remember when they were in excess of $1000.
If you decide to get one, be advised they come in different versions, some with tuner, some without. And not all use the same media.

Interesting comments. For what it's worth, I originally got the converter box since I only have a rooftop antenna and was unable to switch the TV from analog to digital. Finally figured out there's a ATSC port on the back for the antenna cable (for digital) and I had been using the VHF/UHF port (for analog). (Neither SONY nor the TV repair guy told me that.) I got a splitter and connected one cable to the ATSC port and one to the converter, then to the VCR, and then to the TV, just as tinner666 mentioned. I connected A/V cables in the last step from the VCR to the TV, as Gunguy45 said. Problem is that I can't pull up any menus for the converter box or the vcr. The converter box is on channel 4, the unused channel in my area. (Channel 3 is NBC). The VCR has been set to channel 4 for years of analog use. I have no idea if it's switched to 3 for some reason, since I can't access anything. It doesn't have a switch on the back--everything is programmed in.

Anyway, the converter allows the VCR to record in digital, but only the same program being watched or one programmed to record while not watching any. I learned that when I still had the TV in analog. Confused? Me, too. Might end up getting a (digital) DVR, if I have to. Seems like I'll have to know what I'm doing to get the right one. If I knew what I was doing, I'd probably have solved my problem!!

Split the signal from the antenna to (1) the input of the VCR, and (2) the ATSC input of the TV.

On the TV, you'll be able to watch all of the digital channels.

The VCR will only receive the analog channels that you've always received.

Plug the yellow, red, and white RCA cables from the VCR to the TV and note which TV input those cables are plugged into. Use the TV's remote to switch "Source" or "Input" between the digital ATSC channels and the AV input (VCR).

The VCR is not able to receive ATSC signals. But you can still record programs on the VCR while watching your new digital TV. When you want to watch the programs, switch the TV to the AV input that is connected to the VCR.

Now, when they shut off analog broacasts, your VCR will stop receiving signals from the antenna. At that time, connect the converter box between the splitter and the VCR. Use the yellow, red, and white RCA cables between the converter and the VCR. Select the AV input on the VCR and use the converter's remote to change channels that can be recorded.

The VCR will never record digital, but the converter will allow it to record digital TV as analog -- the way it's always worked.

I got 2 DVR's. From the DTV Antenna, I split the signal between the 2 DVR's. Let's me record 2 things while watching a third. ( From antenna or the DVD )I never got rid of the DVD, so it's ties in too.
All this is tied together through a Phillips 4 componet Auto-Switcher, and from there to the Surround tuner/receiver.

The DVR playback between the 2 units is handled by an A-B switch..

There was a time I had 2-3 VCR's hooked into this. Cable guy came in and disconnected everything and hooked the cable to the TV. :madhell: I wasn't home, wife was. I called him back and he said he didn't have a clue how to plug the cable into the 1st splitter! :wall:

Interesting results of some testing. I removed the A-B switch and the antenna line to the TV. Did NOT affect the DVR or DVD set-up. I DID lose all UHF signal.

I left the A-B out and put a splitter in where it had been. ( Output from both DVR's, to TV ) That works fine and I doesn't affect DVR to TV of DVD to TV. Air signals might even be clearer. It's pretty sharp, so hard to tell

I tried Rick's suggestions, but no luck. When the ATSC port on the TV is used for the antenna, I can't access the VCR menu. I'm assuming that my TV's remote button "Digital/Analog" is comparable to "Source" or "Input," (which my remote doesn't show).

I attempted the 2nd suggestion using the converter box, but couldn't pull up menus on the VCR or the box. I also wonder--shouldn't the TV and VCR be connected?

Yes, they should be connected.

The Digital/analog switch on the remote is just that. It tells the TV, at least on my Bravia, which signals to accept. In analog, it cannot find ANY D signals.
AND vise/versa.

I also wonder--shouldn't the TV and VCR be connected?

Yes. From my post above:
Plug the yellow, red, and white RCA cables from the VCR to the TV and note which TV input those cables are plugged into. Use the TV's remote to switch "Source" or "Input" between the digital ATSC channels and the AV input (VCR).

I tried the first suggestion again which, as Rick mentioned, connects the VCR and TV with the RCA cables, but it didn't work. The TV does broadcast digital channels, but when the VCR is on, I get snow and a faint "no signal" message on the lower left of the screen. I switched to analog on the TV remote and tuned the tv to channel 4, as I have in the past to use the VCR, but, again, snow and "no signal."

I also tried the second method, which didn't work either. That's the one that doesn't seem to connect the TV and VCR.

The only way I can get the VCR to work is if I connect the cable from the antenna to "antenna in" on the VCR. I connect another cable from "antenna out" on the VCR to the VHF/UHF antenna port on the TV. Then I only get analog.

There is no RF signal on the RCA cables. Tuning your TV to 3, 4 or 57 , digital or analog wouldn't matter. You need to choose Video1, AV1, whatever the jacks on the TV that the VCR is connected to are labled.

"The only way I can get the VCR to work is if I connect the cable from the antenna to "antenna in" on the VCR. I connect another cable from "antenna out" on the VCR to the VHF/UHF antenna port on the TV. Then I only get analog. "

This indicates to me, at least, that the analog vcr is interferring with the digital signal.

BTW. I was having the same problem without having a converter box. DTV wouldn't come throught the VCR.

I had many chances to experiment because I bought my 'system' a piece at a time over 3-4 years. I'm DTV 'compliant' without any converter boxes. My next componet will be either a tuner with 5-6 HDMI inputs, or a decent Optical audio splitter/switcher that can handle 5-6 componets.

Making progress! The A/V jacks on the TV had no labels, but by choosing the TV/Video button on the TV remote, I got the Video 1 option on the screen and chose it as suggested by Gunguy45. Then I got the VCR menu and could program and play one program while watching another!

I also tried Rick's 2nd hookup (for when analog broadcasts are shut off), but I connected the A/V cables between the VCR and TV. When I set the VCR to record on channel 4 (the unused channel in my area), it recorded a program, but I had no way of choosing which one. I'm unable to access any menu from the converter box. Any thoughts...?

At some point, I'm wondering about getting a DVR with a digital tuner. I'd like to copy a few VCR tapes to disks I'll save and I think I can hook up the VCR to the DVR to do that. (I imagine I'll need help again.) Then I figure tapes will be out of the picture and I won't need the converter box any more. Right? Generally, I'd like to record programs and watch them later (and/or another one at the same time), but I rarely keep anything. Can new programs be recorded over previous ones? All I'd like is a very basic system with no stereo equipment or anything else. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Finally got the analog VCR to record digital TV via the converter box while I watch something else. I connected one additional cable from the VCR antenna out port to the TV VHF/UHF port. It doesn't seem to matter if the A/V cables are connected between the VCR and TV or the VCR and converter box. Thank you all for your suggestions. They were very helpful.

From what I can gather from posts on this site, and FCC info,
in order to watch one channel on a digital TV while recording another on an analog VCR, it is necessary to split the antenna signal (digital), sending one path directly to the digital TV and the other thru a converter box (digital to analog) to the
analog VCR. However, a salesman at Radio Shack where I went to buy a splitter today said this wouldn't work, because
the splitter would attenuate the signal too much.
I don't know the answer. A splitter costs about $10 at Radio Shack, although they have more expensive ones. The salesman tried to sell me a second antenna.

vert...the salesman was an idiot...it should work fine as you stated if your incoming signal is w/i spec. Oh, and don't buy the overpriced splitter from RS. You can get the same thing from Wally World (WalMart), Home Depot, Big Lots etc for 4 bucks or so. Just make sure they are the wider frequency range. Not sure if it really matters, but why not?

I stopped by there hoping for a better price... butI'm not paying 2-5 X as much just because the painted them gold. And they had no specs on the attenuation of the outputs.

Split the signal twice and you lose -3.5dB of power to each feed. Split it four times, lose -7dB. Split it eight, lose -14dB.

You should have no problems splitting it between two devices, but the loss is cumulative. If it's already been split upstream, take those losses into account.

Generally a cable signal will come into your home at a rule-of-thumb +15dB. A roof antenna can be at zero or up to +30 depending on how near you are to the transmitters. A digital signal will let you know if the split is causing problems: If the TV gets a picture without the splitter but doesn't with the splitter (by falling under 50%), put an amplifier before the splitter.

Thanks for the info. I am using rabbit ears, but I'll give the splitter a try, if I can find one for a reasonable price. They're availble for about $4 on eBay, but I'd prefer to get one right away at a store.
Thanks again.

HD and Lowes sell splitters.

in order to watch one channel on a digital TV while recording another on an analog VCR, it is necessary to split the antenna signal (digital), sending one path directly to the digital TV and the other thru a converter box (digital to analog) to the
analog VCR.

THIS WAY DOES NOT MAKE ME ABLE TO WATCH THE VHS becuz no coaxial cable connect to the TV.

i am using the a/v for my dvd player.

Connect the A/V outputs from your DVD player to the VCR, then to the TV. The VCR will pass the DVD's signal to the TV when it's not playing a tape, but it will always have to be on and set to the Line input when you want to watch a DVD.

Finally got the analog VCR to record digital TV via the converter box while I watch something else. I connected one additional cable from the VCR antenna out port to the TV VHF/UHF port. It doesn't seem to matter if the A/V cables are connected between the VCR and TV or the VCR and converter box. Thank you all for your suggestions. They were very helpful.

Can't find a vhf/uhf port on my tv. Can you further identify?

May also be labeled as ANT In or Cable In....