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

[Bob434]

yeah I don’t have HDMI unfortunately-

[Ray76]

What I mean by selector switch is that you don’t tune to a channel as you would with the RF but instead can switch between sources, “video 1” “video 2” and the like. There should be something on the remote or maybe on a menu.

[TomGuy]

32” 720p at Walmart is $150.

Even with newer LCD/LEDs, you should look at their sample TVs to see that they have the connections you need.

Many newer TVs are coming with only HDMI connections. Older peripherals (DVD players, etc.) may no longer work.

==

I have an older Vizio 32” that has 2 of each composite, SVG, HDMI, AV, and an audio out. That was one reason I bought it — so many connections for most peripherals.

Now I have been sort of searching for a TV upgrade. I notice many only have 1 of each, possibly ‘shared’ so that limits even more, but 3-4 HDMIs. I know I would ‘lose’ a couple of peripherals due to a lack of connections. I currently have a new ROKU box, old one gathering dust, WD TV box, old one also gathering dust, 2 DVRs, and 2 DVD players (one gathering dust).

Sometimes, you just gotta bite the bullet and upgrade.

[kingu]

Cable via component wires to a switch box, dvd/vcr via component wires to a switch box, component wires from the switch box to the tv - here's one of thousands of products you can buy:

http://smile.amazon.com/Monoprice-103027-4-Port-Component-Learning/dp/B001TK9SEE/

Though truthfully, with the cost of running the old TVs vs the quality of the new TVs, I'd highly recommend looking at buying a new TV and BluRay player and hook them up via HDMI.

[freedumb2003]

They usually cancel each other out.

[mass55th]

I wasn't familiar with RF Modulators, so looked them up. Never used one. I know I tried to connect the DVD player to the TV with an S-Video cable, but the only way I could get it to work properly was using the yellow, red, and white cables.

Is there any customer support offered by phone for the DVD/VCR? If so, maybe they could help you with connecting them up. Good luck.

[deadrock]

I hate to piggy back your post, but has anyone attached a Slingbox to a DirecTV box?

[TomGuy]

I would not worry so much about the quality. On an SD TV, you probably would not notice much difference between an AV and composite or HDMI. I don’t notice much difference on my LCD 720p TV from HDMI to composite or AV.

[Bob434]

that looks like it might work except if I would still need to use the RF modulator?

[Bob434]

yeah unfortunately I had to use the RF modulator- My TV has the red white/yellow connections (as well as the component red/blue/green- even has S-Video connection) but for some reason hooking up the red/white/yellow cables that came with the DVd to the Tv doesn’t work- It seems like it should work- but for some reason it doesn’t- i’ll probably end up having to call support if I decide to keep trying- but one poster said there isn’t much difference between picture quality on an SD tv anyways- so perhaps I’ll just stick with hwat I have-

[fatima]

Your right,we just bought a Smart TV and it does not accept the cables from our DVD player.They gave us a 50.00 rebate so I am going to order a DVD plus blue ray and VHS if they have one.

[Calvin Locke]

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

[Bob434]

Thanks Tom- I’ll probably just live with it-

I remember when I hooked up my previous DVD player, I can’t remember how I did it, but one of the connections I did resulted in really good DVD picture- but hten I couldn’t get the cable to work so had to switch something, and the DVD picture quality wasn’t quite as good- not sure what happened there- but it was a pretty noticeable difference-

[Bob434]

[[And what does that mean? The quality defaults to composite?]]

That’s what I suspected might happen, although I wasn’t sure- but it seems that running component into S-Video into coaxial would cancel out the better quality because the end transmission would be coaxial

[The Great RJ]

By the time you buy all the RF modulators and cables you are likely to come close to the cost of a new TV set. I helped a friend with the same problem only her problem was the DVD player was so old it didn’t have outputs that fit her newer TV. Cheaper for her to buy a new DVD player than buy all the needed cables and adapters.

[maddog55]

http://www.vetco.net/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=14287

$19.95 Composite Video (Yellow RCA) Left Audio (White RCA) Right Audio (Red RCA) S-Video Antenna In RF Pass Through (F Jack)

[cymbeline]

“absent HDMI”

HDMI IS component video, but the HDMI cable also has wires that carry the audio.

[TheRightGuy]

i’ve got a pretty much dated rig in the basement, found that using the dvd/vcr combo’s tuner and pushing signal direct to the tv via s-video is the best shot, however it also requires an audio amp to play the sound

[ClarenceThomasfan]

I had to “gerry rig” my tv/dvd/vcr/cable system through trial and error. Instead of that RF Pass-through thingee, I used an “old VCR” that used coaxial cables.

Not pretty, but it works and I can DVR my favorite cable shows on my VCR/DVR combo without paying the cable company for DVR charges.

[Yo-Yo]

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.

I know it’s a glib response, but honestly you can get a new flat screen 32” TV for under $150, have HDMI digital inputs, a digital tuner, component inputs, and incredible picture compared to your NTSC tube.

Time to join the 21st century.