Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Will analog dvd player feed HDTV?

I am trying to play DVD movies on an analog DVD player into a new HDTV. Does not work. I suspect the HDTV is looking for a digital signal so it will never work? Can anyone give me advice?

It will work just fine.....what connections are you using? The video and audio out (3 RCA jack) connections? Or an RF out connection?

Most likely you just need to select the right input on the TV...

First I used the RF connection then ADDED the 3 RCA jack connection with the RF still connected. I set the HDTV and DVD player to channel 3, at least I think I did. I did get some very distorted picture and periods of sound and then the sound would disappear.

You may want to disconnect the RF line and just use the RCA..you'll probably get a slightly better picture that way. Don't think they should really interfere though. You'll have to select the correct input (1, 2, VID1, VID2) whatever it may be labeled.

Any digital ready HDTV will still receive any older style analog signal.

That was it. I needed to select correct source on HDTV remote. Went to AV and picture and sound popped up. I didn't mention I am using an antenna (no cable TV in my house) so I need the RF connection. I am also having trouble with a converter, analog TV and DVD/VHS player in another room. I'll start a separate thread for that. Thanks again.

Well, I'd connect the RF direct to the TV, let it do the decoding and stuff. No real reason to run it through the DVD is there? I would think that would just degrade the signal...

If I connect RF direct to TV I will need to get an output from the HDTV to an input on DVD/VHS player/recorder so I can record TV programs. I will have to check to see if connections are available on each box. Do you agree?

Ahhh you didn't say it was one of the multifunction things...naw, if its working, leave it as is. Though I would always switch to the AV/RCA inputs to play back either tapes or DVDs. Anytime the signal comes from the built in RF modulator..it prob won't be very good.

Some TVs (mine does anyway) have video and audio outputs (mine are labeled "monitor") that you could use to record from, but it will only record what the TV is tuned to. Not real useful most of the time.

Uhhh one thing..if your area has switched to digital, your older combo unit won't be able to record anything w/o the converter or the TV being the first item in the line.

I can't see any connections to give me an output from the HDTV to the analog DVD/VHS unit in order to record TV programs. The only way I can now think of to make all this stuff work together is to double tap the signal from my antenna to the RF input of the HDTV and also connect the antenna signal through a converter to the RF input of the analog DVD/VHS unit. Then feed the DVD/VHS output to the HDTV using the 3 RCA connectors. Sound right?

Yep...sounds right. I'm in a small town with no real TV stations so they didn't have to conform to the digital transition.

I'd just put a splitter on, output to each of the units (TV and converter), and use the RCA inputs to the TV to view anything.

Thanks again Gunguy45. Next week I'll start a thread on the other problem of an analog TV, another analog DVD/VHS/FM/AM system and a converter working together.