I am unable to get my vcr to record. To use my vcr i have to turn my tv to channel 3. Our cable company uses channel 4. Please help

If your using digital cable it will only record channel 3 or 4 depending on what your cable box is set to...In order for it to record different channels it needs a cable source plugged directly into it. You will only be able to record standard cable channels 1-125. If it's digital cable forget about... you can only record it with channel 3/4 a solution to this would be using a 2nd digital box.. "auto-programming" may be limited even with a 2nd cable box. If your only using standard cable 1-125... you can use the TV/VCR button it will switch between the tuner of the TV & VCR allowing you to record while you watch a different show... keep in mind this won't work for digital channels which if I'm not mistaken comcast has already converted all channels to digital even basic.

Here is what you will need. This is assuming you do not have a HD cable box.

1) A two port cable splitter available at your local hardware or electronics store. VERY IMPORTANT- this splitter needs to pass up to 1000 mghz so you do not interfere with the functions of the cable box. Also, when purchasing this don't be fooled gold does not always equal good (a common mistake made by folks).

2) 1 small coax cable.

3) 3 Additional coax cables. (1 long enough to reach from the wall to the cable box. 1 long enough to reach from cable box to the TV. 1 long enough to reach from wall to the VCR. These cables should be RG6 coax cable (about the width of a standard wooden pencil)

4) 2 RCA cables (Yellow/Red/White)

Here is how you need to connect the cables....

1) Use the small coax cable and connect it from the WALL to the INPUT of the two way SPLITTER.

2) Use one of the coax cables and connect it to the OUTPUT of the SPLITTER. Connect the other end of this cable to the INPUT of the CABLE BOX.

3) Use one of the coax cables and connect it to the OUTPUT of the CABLE BOX to the INPUT of the TV.

4) Use one of the coax cables and connect it to the OUTPUT of the SPLITTER. Connect the other end of this cable to the INPUT of the VCR.

5) Use one of the RCA cables and connect to the DVD/VHS COMMON OUT on the VCR. Connect the other end of this cable to the VIDEO IN on the back of the TV.

6) Use the other RCA cable and connect it to the VIDEO OUT on the back of the CABLE BOX. Connect the other end to the IN 1 on the back of the VCR.

Here is how to set up the VCR-
1) Tune the TV to the video input that you connected the VCR to.

2) Go to the auto program in the menus for the VCR and select "CABLE" as the source and you should now be able to get all the channels you would normally get without the cable box.

3) This will give you the option to record shows from basic cable on the VCR. While copying these channels you will still be able to tune the TV to CH 3 for the cable box and watch TV normally through the cable box.

4) If you want to copy one of the channels that is only available with the cable box you will still be limited to only being able to watch that channel while it is recording but here is how you will do it.

• Tune the CABLE BOX to the channel you want to record.
• Tune the TV to the VIDEO INPUT you have the VCR connected to.
  
• Select either VCR or DVR on the VCR.
  
• Select recording mode.
• Press the INPUT SELECT button.
• Select IN 1.
• Press RECORD.

Hope this has been helpful....

Good Luck....

If you're referring to programming your VCR for recording, that works just like it did before the cable box was installed, but with two major differences.

The first difference is that the VCR must always be programmed to record on the converter box output channel. Usually this is channel 3, but may also be channel 4. The cable box selects the channel from the cable system, but it's always outputting to your TV on the same channel. That channel is what the VCR needs to record from.

The second change to programmed recording is that you can't program your VCR to record programs on different channels. The reason is because, as mentioned above, the VCR is actually recording from the cable box which is always on the same output channel. Unless you are home to change the channel on the box, you're stuck. For example, if you want to record a show at 10PM on channel 8 and another at 11 on channel 26, those are the cable channel numbers. The box output is channel 3 (or 4) in both cases. The VCR can't switch the box for you. It's only going to record the program on the channel you selected before you left home. You also need to leave the cable box turned on, but the TV can be off. This is probably the thing most people find confusing about dealing with a cable box.

Now having said all that, some brands of cable box do include a timer feature of their own that allows you to program the box to switch channels. This feature is used in conjunction with timer recording on the VCR. You still always program the VCR to record on channel 3 (4), but now the box can be programmed as well to switch to the channel on the system you want to record. This allows you to get around the limitation described above. If your box offers this feature, it will be accessed through its setup menu using the remote control. Ask your cable company if this is available if it's not clear from the setup menus or instructions the installer left you with.

With your setup, the VCR gets its input from the cable box output, which will be on either channel 3 or 4. It depends on how you've set the box. The channel you are watching on TV or want to record is picked on the cable box.

The VCR will only ever see a channel 3 or 4 signal, so it must stay on that channel. That means when you record, set the VCR to record on channel 3 or 4, the box OUTPUT channel. The biggest mistake people make when they have a cable box is to set the VCR to record on some channel other than 3 or 4, and the result is snow. There's nothing on any other channel for the VCR to record. You also need to have the cable box turned on and set to the channel you want to record if you set the VCR for timer recording. That's another pitfall people meet.

This should get your recording going.

Hello mcgillicu390,

From your VCR you should have an (RF OUT) and an (RF IN) Connector (these also might be marked as ANT IN and ANT OUT, or CABLE IN and CABLE OUT).

The same goes for your TV (RF IN), (ANT IN) or (CABLE IN).

Now, take your Coaxial Cable (Cable with screw on or Push on connector with a wire in the center of it) and connect it to the TV (RF IN), take the other end of the same cable and connect it to the VCR (RF OUT).

Then connect your cable TV set top box or antenna to the (RF IN) of the VCR.

If you are using a cable box set your VCR and TV to Channel 3 or 4 (depending on your area)

If you are just using the VCR and an antenna set your TV to channel 3 or (depending on your area).

That should do it for coaxial connectivity.

If you are using the composite video and Audio cables to connect to your TV here are the directions for that.


Looking at the back of your TV you will see Three RCA type connectors colored as Yellow, White, and Red. Yellow is Video, White is your Left Audio, and Red is your Right Audio. They should be marked as (Video IN), (R Audio IN), and (L Audio IN). *note these markings may not be exactly like what is written, however the indicators should be close to what you are seeing.

Now look at your VCR, you may see a lot of RCA Connectors (up to 6 of these connectors) don't worry, you are only looking for the ones that say (Video OUT) (R Audio OUT), and (L Audio OUT).

Once you find the connectors on both pieces of equipment, take the Yellow, Red, and White tipped cables and plug the in their respective jacks Yellow tipped cable connects VCR (Video OUT) to TV(Video IN). Red tipped cable connects VCR (R Audio OUT) to TV (R Audio IN), and finally White tipped cable connects VCR (L Audio OUT) to TV (L Audio IN),

Once the cables are connected you will be able to use the composite selection on your remote to view the images from your VCR, the VCR in this case will be acting as the tuner for your TV with out you having to set the TV to channel 3 or 4, you will just have to use the AUX or whatever setting on you remote that allows the composite video to display.

I hope this helps,

Thank you,

Shuttle83

http://www.electron-age-technologies-llc.com

Solution 1

How to set the DVD Recorder+VCR’s RF output channel
Turn off the DVD Recorder+VCR, then press and hold
CH (v/V) on the front panel for about five
seconds to change the RF output channel (CH 03 or
CH 04). “RF 03” or “RF 04” appears on the front panel display.

Solution 2

Cable Service With Cable Box
If a cable box is required in your cable system, follow the
instructions shown below. This hookup permits both TV and
DVD Recorder+VCR operation.
To view or record a CATV channel:
1 Tune the TV to the correct video input channel.
2 Set the DVD Recorder+VCR to the output channel of the
cable box using the CH (v / V) or the 0-9 keys on your DVD
Recorder+VCR (e.g., CH3).
3 Select the channel you wish to view on the cable box.


Please rate this a fixya

tune in the AV channel on the VCR to the TV and save the settings, then you should be able to record your programmes


kind regards

Turn on power to TV, and DVD/VCR, set TV to channel 3 or 4
Insert video cassette
Select desired channel by using CH/TRK
Set the desired recoring speed (SP or EP)
Press REC once
Press STOP to stop recording.

Timer Recording,
Press Menu and the Main menu will appear.
Use up and down arrows to choose the Timer record menu
Press Select/Enter to go to the Timer Record menu.
Use arrows to choose the program no. (1-8)
Use down arrow to choose Month option
Use arrows to choose the desired month
Use down arrow to choose the Day option
Use arrows to choose the desired day
Use down arrow to choose Start Option
Use arrows to choose the desired start time
Use down arrow to choose the Stop option
Use arrows to choose the desired stop time.
Use down arrow to choose the Channel option
Use arrows to choose the desired channel (Channel, Line1 or Line2)

Cable users: If you have Cable TV and used Cable Box in Connecting Antenna/Cable TV to DVD/VCR using a cable box converter, you must set the channel in this step to match the cable box output channel (usually 3 or 4). Change channels on the cable box instead of the DVD/VCR

Are you using the cable connectors to go into the VCR, and then from the VCR to the TV?

If so, turn the VCR on. Put the TV on channel 3 or 4 (depending on which one you have it set to. If you are unsure, try both channels one at a time) Press the VCR/DVD button so the display on the VCR says VCR (not DVD). Now, you should be able to change the channel with your VCR remote control. If not, you have a problem with your cables. Make sure your cable from the wall goes to RF IN on your VCR. The RF Out on the VCR should go to your TV ANT In or TV RF In.

If you have successfully gotten your TV to display the TV station shown on the front of your VCR, then all you have to do is put in a tape, select the channel you want to record and press the record button.

If you want to watch another channel while you're recording, press the TV/VCR button on the VCR remote, then use your TV remote to change channels.

When you want to stop recording, press the stop button, put the TV back onto channel 3 or 4 (depending on what you have it set to) and press the TV/VCR button on your VCR again. From here you can rewind and view your recording.

Hi,

You need not set your VCR to either CHs 3 or 4.  You simply have to set it to the channel that you would want to record. Further, the coax either from your cable or aerial should go straight to the VCR for it to receive any of the channels. The VCR then maybe hooked up to your TV either buy a shorter cable and this is when you set the TV to either 3 or 4. Alternately, you can use the RCA connector from your VCR to your TV.

This is a generic/compressed solution. Pls post back should you want additional information.

Good luck and kind regards.