Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - vcr/tv hookup
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10-19-00, 08:16 AM
Hi, I just got my parents VCR (hardly ever been used) and I hooked it up to my tv and it's not getting the television signals. All I get is a solid blue screen. I hooked up the cable from the wall to the cable in on the VCR and another coaxal cable from the "out to tv" connection on the VCR to the TV. Do I need other cables as well?
10-19-00, 08:29 AM
Do you get the blue screen with the VCR turned on, or off, or both?
Do you have the TV on channel 3 or 4, whichever the VCR is set to?
First thing to try is take the cable from the input on the VCR and put it directly on the TV. Do you still get a blue screen? If so, you have no signal coming from your cable. If you do get normal reception then move the cable back to the VCR and make sure it is connected to the antenna/cable input and is tight. Try playing a tape. If you still just get a blue screen, then try a new cable between the VCR and TV, or if you have AV inputs on the TV, try using direct AV connections. If you are still getting a blue screen with direct AV connections, and the cable works on the TV, it may be that the VCR is bad.
Let us know how these tests come out, and we can suggest a solution from there.
[This message has been edited by ranck (edited October 19, 2000).]
Do you have the TV on channel 3 or 4, whichever the VCR is set to?
First thing to try is take the cable from the input on the VCR and put it directly on the TV. Do you still get a blue screen? If so, you have no signal coming from your cable. If you do get normal reception then move the cable back to the VCR and make sure it is connected to the antenna/cable input and is tight. Try playing a tape. If you still just get a blue screen, then try a new cable between the VCR and TV, or if you have AV inputs on the TV, try using direct AV connections. If you are still getting a blue screen with direct AV connections, and the cable works on the TV, it may be that the VCR is bad.
Let us know how these tests come out, and we can suggest a solution from there.
[This message has been edited by ranck (edited October 19, 2000).]
Smokey
10-20-00, 05:55 AM
Good Morning, Bandit:
ranck is right in all respects and you have the system connected correctly.
Look at the remote control for the VCR and find the button VCR/TV. In the TV mode, the antenna should bypass the VCR electronics and feed the TV directly.
There should be a menu option on the VCR that designates the inputs for recording. You should have a "LINE" input for recording from another video source (another VCR). And, you should have a "TV" input that allows the tuner in the VCR to become your recording source. With the TV on Channel 3 (or 4), the VCR input to "TV", you can then use the VCR tuner for your TV viewing. On the remote control, pressing the VCR/TV button will change this so the television set operates independently of the VCR.
And, with the TV operating independently of the VCR, you can record one channel while viewing another on the television set.
Smokey ;)
ranck is right in all respects and you have the system connected correctly.
Look at the remote control for the VCR and find the button VCR/TV. In the TV mode, the antenna should bypass the VCR electronics and feed the TV directly.
There should be a menu option on the VCR that designates the inputs for recording. You should have a "LINE" input for recording from another video source (another VCR). And, you should have a "TV" input that allows the tuner in the VCR to become your recording source. With the TV on Channel 3 (or 4), the VCR input to "TV", you can then use the VCR tuner for your TV viewing. On the remote control, pressing the VCR/TV button will change this so the television set operates independently of the VCR.
And, with the TV operating independently of the VCR, you can record one channel while viewing another on the television set.
Smokey ;)
10-23-00, 08:23 AM
Hi, Smokey and Ranck. Thanks for responding to my question. I think the problem must be with the VCR. I can't use the VCR tuner to watch tv. That's when I get the solid blue screen, and I also can't record any programs, it just comes out blank. I can watch pre-recorded tapes though. I tried switching between channel 3 and 4 and also changing the cord and using direct AV connections but nothing works. Thanks again.
10-23-00, 12:35 PM
Sounds like the tuner on your VCR is bad.
One quick question. Does the TV tuner pick up stations OK when the VCR is turned off?
I mean when the cable is stilled connected through the VCR. If not, then it could just be a loose connection in the VCR's cable input and fairly easy to fix. Just a thought.
One quick question. Does the TV tuner pick up stations OK when the VCR is turned off?
I mean when the cable is stilled connected through the VCR. If not, then it could just be a loose connection in the VCR's cable input and fairly easy to fix. Just a thought.