DVD/VCR Cable Box TV Cable Question

3/72015 | bob434

[Bob434]

trying to hook my dvd/vcr combo up to cable box and TV but need an RF converter I guess as the DVD won't play on my older SD tv without the RF modulator-

TV has composite connectors yellow/white/red, plus component blue/green/red, plus 1 S-Video connector-

the cable box and dvd/vcr combo also has all three connections,

but the RF modulator only has composite yellow/red/white and S-Video connection, plus coaxial in and out- I want the best picture possible, what wires am I going to need? Am I stuck having to use composite wires?

The problem I'm facing is trying to have all three devices use S-Video or component wires- as there is only one set of connections per wire type (IE component connections only have one set of red/blue/green on cable box-) Meaning I could use component cable to go from cable box to DVD, but I would have to use S-video from DVD to rf modulator, but then from RF modulator to TV it would be a coaxial cable- so doesn't that defeat all the effort trying to use higher quality wires if everything gets funneled down to coaxial cable for the last connection?

This stuff really confuses me- I'd like the best quality picture for both DVD viewing and for cable TV viewing- but having to use

[minnesota_bound]

When you are done it should look like this... : )

[minnesota_bound]

Don't forget to program the remote controls you will need.... : )

[freedumb2003]

>>And what does that mean? The quality defaults to composite?<<

Depending on the wiring, I think you get no picture at all.

[Neidermeyer]

Unless you are intending to record on the VCR I’d hook the cable box and the DVD/VCR up to separate inputs on the TV... whatever works... probably use coax out on the combo and use it’s tuner instead of the TV’s own tuner...

Just use whatever works and buy a new TV when you can with modern cabling inputs.

[Bob434]

Oh my gosh- lol it already does

[Bob434]

thanks- I bought both a S-video and component cables- I could not get both to work because the TV only has one set for audio- so had to use component and audio from the DVD out to TV, and just ran the cable box with the coax cable-

I was running into problems where DVD would play, but TV sound AND DVD sound was running together- then I’d shut off the cable, and DVD sound was fine, but I wouldl ose the cable sound when I turned TV back on

Ycuk- I hate hate hate wiring-

[Bob434]

[[If you have to go through an RF modulator, it doesn’t matter what input type you use because the RF modulator will mangle the signal anyway. Use the composite (yellow) connection.]]

Thanks, that was what I feared- but I found out today I had forgotten to use the TV’s “INPUT” selector to choose component 2 for the DVD (or video 2- can’t remember now) and video works fine now- no need for RF modulator- so I returned it- I strongly suspected we didn’t need the Rf modulator, but it never dawned n me until today that I need to change the input selector to view the DVD- With the modulator, the DVD would play without having to switch the input selector- just had ot use the remote for DVD and it would autoswitch right to the DVD- That was nice, but ?I suspected I didn’t need the RF, but couldn’t figure out how to get DVD to play- Uggggh- my mind is getting tired

[[Time to join the 21st century.]]

To the gallows with you lol- One thing I’ll NEVER be pulled over for is talking on a cell phone or texting- don’t even own a cell phone

[Bob434]

[[I used an “old VCR” that used coaxial cables.]]

That would be a good idea- our old DVD player wouldn’t play DVD’s any longer, but everything else worked-

[Bob434]

[[however it also requires an audio amp to play the sound]]

Yeah that was the problem I was running into with the S-Video- I couldn’t hook up both component cables & audio cables AND the S-Video because TV only has one set of audio (red/white/yellow) to hook to

I would think there should be a “Y” connector to connect audio for both devices into one set of connections?

[Bob434]

Yeah that’s what I was using- but I wanted the better quality picture from both TV and DVD- that RF modulator wouldn’t allow both-

[rabidralph]

Are you megalomaniac Rob Lowe?

[Bob434]

no I’m questionable decision rob lowe lol

[Bob434]

Lol, I know- I need three stinking remotes now- one for the TV, one for the cable, and one for the DVD player-

I have a universal remote for the cable- but it’s a pain finding all the different codes to run the different devices- I got it to turn on the DVD, but it won’t do anything else with it- I think I got the wrong code I guess-

I miss the days when we had to get up off the couch to turn the channel lol

[rabidralph]

Do you need a distribution amp?

I can't vouch for the brand that's listed but maybe you should search for signal splitters or distribution amps or some similar items. There are also this selector box, featuring component inputs.

Good luck!

[rabidralph]

Ping, to you!

[rabidralph]

LOL! You’ll get through it.

[Bob434]

thanks, yeah that second unit looks like it might be the device- , and pretty inexpensive too- looks like perhaps only one unit at a time would work, thereby solving the double audio issue- I’ll research that more- thanks

[rabidralph]

You’re welcome!

[Neidermeyer]

I was running into problems where DVD would play, but TV sound AND DVD sound was running together- then I’d shut off the cable, and DVD sound was fine, but I wouldl ose the cable sound when I turned TV back on
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Yeah , that has to do with the TV and how it prioritizes signal inputs... lucky for you this stuffs cheap now , a flat 32” TV is under $200 , a modern DVD player (Sony) at Walmart is under $20 ,, and you can get wall mounts and HDMI cables super cheap at monoprice.com

[Bob434]

[[a modern DVD player (Sony) at Walmart is under $20]]

I assume you mean a personal DVD player? like the small ones you carry around? I had thought about that- but we do still play tapes as well-

[[a flat 32” TV is under $200 ,]]

I guess it would need a couple of HDMI in ports? Or could I run everything into an HDMI expansion hub device? Saw oen at walmart not too expensive- Hooking up a coupel of devices via HDMI would allow each device it’s own sound priority? IE I wouldn’t have issues like the one I described where TV and DVD sound would both be playing at same time even htough I was on the DVD ‘channel’ (component 2 or whatever it was)?