New TV & DVD - Older Equipment

[airolg]

Help!!!
I just got a new TV and a rewritable DVD player and I'm not sure how to do this. I have an old sound system, as well.

Here's what I have:

Projection TV: Hitachi HDTV
Cable TV: Comcast (Motorola)
DVD: Lite-on 5007A
VCR: Panasonic PV-V4540
Sound system: Sony STR SE-391

I thought I'd be able to figure this out, but I'm scared to try anything. I want to move my old video tapes on to DVDs, but I also want to continue to video television programs. Can I do both?

I'm so lost...none of the guides in the books have my situation and I can't seem to do it logically since I'm not sure if it's even possible.

Can I use this old sound system???

Any ideas?

 

[Leprkon]

Question:

Projection TV or TV PROJECTOR ?? Big problem if it's the second

If it's a big TV, not a projector, there should be a number of video and audio inputs and outputs on the back (you didn't give a model number, so there was no way to check the website for an instruction book).

Feed the DVD into the TV using the component in/out

Feed the VCR into a composite feed (red/white/yellow) and hopefully there are outputs from the TV for that as well.

Either player should now be able to record whatever is being displayed on the screen, AS LONG AS the signal is in a format the player can work with. DO NOT expect to be able to record an HD-TV program on your VCR.

If for some reason, there are no composite outputs from the TV, you may be able to cheat by running your cable feed into the VCR and then from the VCR into the TV. Then use the VCR to change channels instead of the TV. You can tape any compatible signal going through the VCR. You just won't be able to tape from the DVD to the VCR (but then why would you want to ?)

Give that a shot. Good luck.

 

[BMXTRIX]

You may want to consider paying someone to come out and hook everything up for you. There are technicians available where you purchased the equipment. I definitely am hearing a cry for help, but have a feeling that terms like component video, s-video, and composite may not mean much to you when combined with 480i, SDTV, EDTV, and HDTV in 1080i.

Hookups:
From VCR to DVD-R - Connect the video OUT from the VCR to the video input 1 on the DVD-R. Use composite cables with standard audio which are the red, white, and yellow connections.

From VCR to TV - Connect the RF (coaxial/cable output) from the VCR to the RF (coxial/cable input) on the back of the TV. Generally, you don't want to ever use your VCR again as this is the lowest level video available.

From DVD to TV - Connect the component output (Red/Green/Blue) to component input 2 on your TV. Connect digital audio if available (not likely) or just the red and white standard RCA type audio to your TV from the DVD to the component input 2 audio jacks.

From cable box to TV - Same as from DVD to TV, except go to component input 1 on your TV with video and audio.

From cable box to DVD - Use the composite video out from the cable box to go directly to a second composite input on your DVD. If you do not have an additional composite input on your DVD then you will have to switch cables anytime you want to switch between VCR recording and cable recording. My guess is that your DVD-R has more than one composite input on it. You may use an S-video connection instead of composite if you would like, this will improve quality of your recordings somewhat from cable.

This setup allows you to record any channel that you are watching on your cable box directly to DVD. Just make sure your DVD is powered on and on the correct input for the cable box. By switching inputs on the DVD-R (using the remote) to the VCR input then anything you play on the VCR will be recorded to DVD.

I am unsure if you also must have a composite output from your DVD-R to the TV so you can monitor the recording of VCR & cable. But, you can hook that up as well if you would like.

As I said, this isn't straightforward and you may wish to have someone come out to assist you with the setup.

 

[airolg]

More Info

Well, I didn't get the "white-glove" installation...something I should have done now that I see that I'm stuck.

Thanks for taking the time with me.

The Hitachi is a projection TV 57F510.

The Comcast cable guy was no help, but he was able to install the HDTV/DVR with dual tuners box. With this new tuner I got this morning, there is no longer an in and out cable line...before, I had my cable signal going to the VCR to the cable box then to the TV, something I can't do anymore.

Hitachi has a great quick guide that are all color-coded, but I wanted the cable guy to get his part finished and he didn't use the Input they suggested, so I need to regroup. I'm going to print out your tips and take them with me to the TV and see if I can make heads or tails of this mess.

I'll get back to you with any success or none if that's the case.

Again, I appreciate any and all help. Did you think the sound system is too old???

 

[BMXTRIX]

I didn't actually look at the sound system directly - though any audio I tell you to send to the TV can actually go directly to the receiver and you can use that instead.

Now, I just looked your manual for the TV up online:
http://merchant.satisfusion.com/library/manuals/owners/51_57F510.pdf

The back of your TV is shown on page 9 - Let's start there.

Follow my instructions and hook cable up to input 1 on your TV with component cables
Input 2 should come from the DVD-R to the TV
Input 3 should come from the VCR

Now, your cable (COAX) can come from the wall, to the VCR, then loop through the VCR to the TV, then from the TV to the new cable box. Or to the TV first, then the VCR, then the cable box.

That should allow you to watch and switch between all the video sources directly on your TV.

Now, follow my instructions above to allow you to record from the cable box to the DVD-R and from the VCR to the DVD-R.

NOTE: Depending on what technology is in the current Motorola HD-DVR you may have some issues when dumping from the cable box to your DVD-R. I couldn't be sure without testing it myself, but the hookups are still correct.

You may be able to get a haflway decent tech over to your home for a couple of hourse of work at about $50.00 - $75.00 per hour. More or less depending on your location. Where are you located?

 

[airolg]

Getting there...

Okay, got the Inputs finished.

The problem I have is with the new Cable box, there's only a COAX line in, there's not the traditional in and out.

When the cable guy left, he'd only hooked the TV up using the fancy colored cables in Input 2 and the cable from the wall to the cable box. That's all that was connected.

So, I have the DVD-R hooked up with fancy colored cables and the VCR hooked up with the red/white/yellow ones.

So, where on the back of the TV should I hook the COAX cables from the wall? and then where should I come back out to go the cable box? and then I have to fit the VCR in this mix, correct?

There are only three COAX cable places on the back of the TV, should I run it through there?

Off to turn on the TV and see what happens...back soon.

 

[BMXTRIX]

The TV has 2 COAX inputs and 1 output. The top most input is where you should run cable from the wall into. The connection in the middle is the OUTPUT - run it out of the TV into your VCR. Your VCR should have an in and an out as well. The out of the VCR into the cable box.

Keep in mind the cable feed ONLY carries analog channels (2-99 or so) and will not allow you to view HD or digital cable channels directly. Your cable box is only viewable on input 2 (as you said above) - which is the way it should be.

Coaxial analog video is one of the lowest forms of video available and is about as good in quality as a VCR tape - if you are lucky.

You can also pick up a 1-in 3-out coax splitter from your local Radio Shack, then you will have 3 separate cable feeds, one for your VCR, DVD-R, and cable box.