Everything on the TV works EXCEPT live TV.

Question edited into written English with punctuation.

The lens isn't black, the viewfinder is black. Connect it to a television or computer and see if playback and live recording is working. In that way you know the optics and the electronics are working. The viewfinder is a small LCD display screen with a magnifying glass in front of it. Take it to your local camera shop, they will know someone that still repairs these camcorders.

I was hoping to find a free PDF manual as I wondered if there is a switch or a setting to turn OFF the viewfinder?

https://www.google.com/search?q=RCA+CC604+VHCS+Camcorder+manual

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Guest,

Are you still having problems recording live TV shows? You can try unplugging the receiver from the power outlet for 10 seconds and plug back in. This will make the receiver reboot and then acquire satellite signal. Once the acquisition is complete, a program guide download will take place. Allow the download and see if the receiver will allow you to record.

If it doesn't, then run a check switch test. Press your menu button to bring up the main menu. Press 6, 1, and 1 on the remote which will take you to the Point Dish screen. Upper right hand corner of TV screen is a button, "Check Switch". Maneuver to that button and select. You will now be at the "Installation Summary" screen. At the bottom of screen, select "Test" button. Allow the test to run. After completing, it will automatically take you back to installation summary screen. Check for any errors windows. Exit completely out of all menus till you are back to "Acquiring Satellite Signal". Allow program guide download after acquisition, then check if you can record.

I hope this helps.

Ray Calo
DISH Network

If camcorder shows old recorded tapes picture with correct colors in LCD but does not show live view in camera mode to record new movie then its ccd imager chip failure.
And if camcoder shows live view and old recorded tapes in its eye piece view finder but does not show any thing in LCD the its problem of broekn/ cracked flexible wire between lcd board and main board of camcorder.
Let me know your finding with bit detail to provide you solution/ helpful info.

To my understanding that you do not see live view in camera mode to record and camcorder playback old recorded tapes correctly and you get picture in LCD.
If it is true then please check lens cover that need to be slide down to get live view in camera mode. If problem still exist then 2 possibilities, either aperture in lens mechanism is bad or ccd imager is defective.
In that problem, camcorder needs qualified tech to fix it.
Let me know any further query.

Couple of questions,
Is it Sony DCR-TRV22 camcorder? please confirm model number.
Can you see fine and clear picture in playback of old recorded tapes in camcorder?
Let me know info to proceed.
Thanks.

Try unplugging it, wait a minute, plug back in.

I fixed the problem by knocking on the top of the camera as said by someone here...not technical, but it worked:P

It does seem to be a tv problem, check the input connector to the tv next time when it happen, this tv seems to have problems with connectors or could be the video processor good luck

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?mdl=CCDTRV128&news_id=161

I have a similar setup. Your problem is because you are selecting the recording on the digital tuner of the TV. When you do this you need to keep the TV on and canot switch channel.

You should make sure you use the digital tuner on the DMR-EX77 recorder and then you can use the TV as you like.