Whats the best way to connect? Is it even possible?

[lsutiger1001]

Im not sure if this is the right forum to post this, so please tell me if I need to be in a different one. Ive been trying for hours to set this up, and cant seem to get it working. I have HD Cable, but I know the HD cannot be recorded onto a DVD. The Cable Box allows me to get, lets say, channels 1-300 (none being in HD, the HD ones are 700s). If I did not have the cable box, I would get about 1-80.

I was able to setup the equipment and record any channel 1-80 (the ones I can get without the cable box). I tried then tuning the DVR to channel 115 and it would not find it in the DVR. Is there a way to set it up and record those extra 220 channels that I can only get through my cable box? Ive been researching and looking for answers and keep finding various different responses. Some say its not possible, some say its possible with an A/B switch, some say I can do it, but I wont be able to watch another channel while recording, some say I can record and watch another channel, some say I need to split the cable signals. Its all very confusing. I guess my question is, how can I setup the equipment to allow me to record the channels I can get only through my cable box, and still watch another channel while recording?

I'll be as detailed as possible:

I have a Panasonic DMR-EZ27 Recorder. The plugs on back consist of:
RF In
RF Out
1 set of Component Video (Green, Blue, Red)
2 Sets A/V In (Red, White, Yellow)
1 Set A/V Out (Red, White, Yellow)
1 HDMI AV Out
1 Optical
2 S Video

I have a Cox Cable HD Cable Box. The back consists of:
RF "To TV/VCR"
RF "Cable In"
S Video
Optical
1 Set A/V Out (Red, White, Yellow)
1 Set A/V In (Red, White, Yellow)
1 SPDIF (Orange)
1 Component Set (Green, Blue, Red)

I have a brand new Sony TV with bunches of plugs in the back that will all match up to what I have on the DVR and the Cable Box.

 

[TLS Guy]

Im not sure if this is the right forum to post this, so please tell me if I need to be in a different one. Ive been trying for hours to set this up, and cant seem to get it working. I have HD Cable, but I know the HD cannot be recorded onto a DVD. The Cable Box allows me to get, lets say, channels 1-300 (none being in HD, the HD ones are 700s). If I did not have the cable box, I would get about 1-80.

I was able to setup the equipment and record any channel 1-80 (the ones I can get without the cable box). I tried then tuning the DVR to channel 115 and it would not find it in the DVR. Is there a way to set it up and record those extra 220 channels that I can only get through my cable box? Ive been researching and looking for answers and keep finding various different responses. Some say its not possible, some say its possible with an A/B switch, some say I can do it, but I wont be able to watch another channel while recording, some say I can record and watch another channel, some say I need to split the cable signals. Its all very confusing. I guess my question is, how can I setup the equipment to allow me to record the channels I can get only through my cable box, and still watch another channel while recording?

I'll be as detailed as possible:

I have a Panasonic DMR-EZ27 Recorder. The plugs on back consist of:
RF In
RF Out
1 set of Component Video (Green, Blue, Red)
2 Sets A/V In (Red, White, Yellow)
1 Set A/V Out (Red, White, Yellow)
1 HDMI AV Out
1 Optical
2 S Video

I have a Cox Cable HD Cable Box. The back consists of:
RF "To TV/VCR"
RF "Cable In"
S Video
Optical
1 Set A/V Out (Red, White, Yellow)
1 Set A/V In (Red, White, Yellow)
1 SPDIF (Orange)
1 Component Set (Green, Blue, Red)

I have a brand new Sony TV with bunches of plugs in the back that will all match up to what I have on the DVR and the Cable Box.

You can record programs from your cable box, but you will have to watch what you are recording. You need to connect the component video out on the cable box to the component in, on the DVD recorder.

You will need to connect a set of audio out (red white), from the cable box to the audio in of the DVD recorder. You did not state whether the optical connection on the DVD recorder is an out or an in. If it is an in you can connect the audio with an optical cable.

Connect the HDMI out of the DVD to your TV.

If you want to watch a different channel to what you are recording, then you will need an HD DVR form your cable company. You can then record from your hard drive in the DVR to your DVD recorder later if you want to save it.

 

[Hi Ho]

You can record programs from your cable box, but you will have to watch what you are recording. You need to connect the component video out on the cable box to the component in, on the DVD recorder.

I don't believe that DVD recorder has a component video input. The best connection would be S-Video.

lsutiger1001, I would connect the system as follows:

1. Split the cable signal from the wall using a quality splitter and send one line to the cable box and the other to the DVD recorder.

2. Connect the cable box to the TV with component video + audio. If your cable box only has one set of audio outputs you will need to use two RCA splitters so you can complete the next step.

3. Connect the cable box to the DVD recorder using S-Video + audio.

4. Connect the DVD recorder to the TV with HDMI.

With that setup it will be possible to record any channel 1-80 on the DVD recorder while watching something else through the cable box. It would also be possible to recorder any channel from the cable box (HD ones included) but you would need to watch what you're recording.

I would recommend looking into a DVR. A DVR would allow you to record one program and watch another or record two programs and watch a prerecorded one. You would also be able to record in HD. You could archive recordings to DVD.

 

[TLS Guy]

I don't believe that DVD recorder has a component video input. The best connection would be S-Video.

No of course it won't have component video in on the recorder! That level of connection is verboten on a video recorder by the Hollywood crowd! How could I forget! Hi-Ho's solution, will work well, just a few more steps.

 

[lsutiger1001]

No of course it won't have component video in on the recorder! That level of connection is verboten on a video recorder by the Hollywood crowd! How could I forget! Hi-Ho's solution, will work well, just a few more steps.

What are those few more steps?