Setting up a DVD player or VCR with a television is confusing to some people. If you’re one of those people, setting up both a DVD player and a VCR with a single TV may seem like an impossible task. The fact is, it’s actually quite simple. The trick is knowing how television cables function. Coaxial cable is capable of sending a radio frequency (RF) signal from one device to another. RCA cables, on the other hand, can only send audio and video signals. The problem is that most devices only have one coaxial input and output. You can use different cables to get around this problem.
Since your VCR has its own receiver, you should use the coaxial connection to attach it to the television. If you plan to watch free-to-air television, you will need a powered antenna with a coaxial cable connection. Install this antenna as high up as possible, on a shelf or other support. If you’re using a cable or satellite receiver box, you won’t need an antenna unless you plan to get your local channels over the air. Connect the coaxial cable to the output on the back of your cable or satellite box.
Connect the source of programming to the input on the back of your VCR. Then line another coaxial cable from the output on the VCR to your television. These connections are the same whether you’re using analog or digital equipment. Set the switch on the back of the VCR to channel 3 or 4.
Then find the RCA outputs on the back of your DVD player. DVD players have no receivers, so they don’t need any input from the antenna. Simple line the RCA audio and video outputs on the DVD player to the RCA inputs on the back of your television. Make sure that you choose the same color for the video and audio outputs as for the inputs. These are usually color coded to make things easier for you. However, older VCRs, DVD players and TVs may have a different color coding system than newer ones.
Turn on your television, VCR and DVD player. To watch television and record on your VCR, set the channel on your television to either 3 or 4, depending on what you set earlier. To watch DVDs, press the “Input,” “Video,” “A/V” or “Source” button on your television remote.
This setup is basically the same if you are using a digital TV converter box with your setup. Simply route the antenna to the input to the DTV converter with a coaxial cable. Then line the DTV converter to the back of the VCR, and the VCR to the TV with additional coaxial cables. You won’t need a DTV converter if you have cable or satellite service.
Keep in mind that a DVD player is not a DVR. A DVR can record programs like a VCR, and therefore needs the source of programming to be connected to it. If you’re short on space or cable connections, your best bet is to put the VCR in another room on an auxiliary television that is not directly connected to the DVR.
Using these tips will help you to simplify setup of your home entertainment equipment and get you watching you favorite programs again in no time.
