need help w/ new HTS & HDTV set up

[timbo114]

Here's the equipt list -
Boston Acoustics Avidea 610 HTS / dvd/ cd
Samsung LNS4051D 40" LCD HDTV
Emerson (junk, but will work for now) EVW601A VCR
Comcast Motorola DCT6200/6208 HD STB

I would like to have PIP and recording abilities for VCR from STB channels -
I have a digi opti cable for STB to HTS.
I have DVI-HDMI cable for STB to HDTV.

Below are pics of the jack packs on each pc of equipt.
Can anyone use these to diagram a plan of attack for me?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[markw]

First off, you'll need a separate STB for the VCR and the PIP inputs...

...for a total of three STB's. Without those other two, you'll be forced to record only what you're tuned into on the STB and the PIP will also be what you're tuned to on the STB, which is redundant.

Do you have these?

If so, then simply feed the output of the second STB to the PIP input on the TV and tune it to the desired channel. You'll select the PIP channel on this STB

Likewise, feed the output of the third STB to the input of the VCR and record away. You'll select the channel to be recorded on this STB and make sure you set the tuner's input to the aux input the STB is plugged into and make sure you leave that STB turned on when you expect to be recording. Then, simply fed the audio/video output of the VCR to whatever input you choose on either the TV or receiver.

 

[Hi Ho]

...for a total of three STB's. Without those other two, you'll be forced to record only what you're tuned into on the STB and the PIP will also be what you're tuned to on the STB, which is redundant.

This is true, if he wants all channels available on the VCR and PIP. If he can live with only the basic cable channels on the VCR/PIP then a simple coax splitter will do the trick.

 

[markw]

This is true, if he wants all channels available on the VCR and PIP. If he can live with only the basic cable channels on the VCR/PIP then a simple coax splitter will do the trick.

The only PIP inputs I've seen are comprised of audio and video, not RF. Those that do offer a tuner for PIP usually advertise two tuners. I could be wrong, though.