Weird VCR/TV setup

[Anthona]

I just replaced my old vcr with another one that I hardly used from my
bedroom to my main TV in living room. I set it up as the previous
one..rf in and out, vid/audio and etc to TV. Now I did the automatic
channel search for cable and antenna ( different times )...I have
cable and OTA. Now, I am able to see the menu of the vcr on my
TV...setup a recording and etc...BUT, I am only able to get channel 3
and see whatever channel is on there...but I cannot playback or
record. I don't know what is going on...any assistance would be
greatly appreciated. BTW, I get the same results setting it up with
cable and ota...just channel 3. Oh yes, I cannot get any other channel
to come up on that Chnl 3 with the remote...if that is any clue. Thanks

[UCLAN]

Post by Anthona
I just replaced my old vcr with another one that I hardly used from my
bedroom to my main TV in living room. I set it up as the previous
one..rf in and out, vid/audio and etc to TV. Now I did the automatic
channel search for cable and antenna ( different times )...I have
cable and OTA. Now, I am able to see the menu of the vcr on my
TV...setup a recording and etc...BUT, I am only able to get channel 3
and see whatever channel is on there...but I cannot playback or
record. I don't know what is going on...any assistance would be
greatly appreciated. BTW, I get the same results setting it up with
cable and ota...just channel 3. Oh yes, I cannot get any other channel
to come up on that Chnl 3 with the remote...if that is any clue. Thanks

Questions:

* With the VCR _OFF_, are you able to tune all channels with your TV's
tuner?
* With your VCR _ON_, are you able to play back a known good recorded
tape and view it on your TV?
* If yes, with your VCR _ON_, are you now able to tune channels with
your VCR's tuner?
* If no, with your VCR _ON_, are you now able to tune channels with
your TV's tuner.
* _Exactly_ how do you have it wired? No "etc" allowed. RF out of VCR
to ?? Composite video and audio from VCR to ??

[Anthona]

Post by UCLAN

Post by Anthona
I just replaced my old vcr with another one that I hardly used from my
bedroom to my main TV in living room. I set it up as the previous
one..rf in and out, vid/audio and etc to TV. Now I did the automatic
channel search for cable and antenna ( different times )...I have
cable and OTA. Now, I am able to see the menu of the vcr on my
TV...setup a recording and etc...BUT, I am only able to get channel 3
and see whatever channel is on there...but I cannot playback or
record. I don't know what is going on...any assistance would be
greatly appreciated. BTW, I get the same results setting it up with
cable and ota...just channel 3. Oh yes, I cannot get any other channel
to come up on that Chnl 3 with the remote...if that is any clue. Thanks

* With the VCR _OFF_, are you able to tune all channels with your TV's
   tuner?

Yes, I see all my channels on my TV, including 3..my recording channel

Post by UCLAN
* With your VCR _ON_, are you able to play back a known good recorded
   tape and view it on your TV?

Yes, now I have after some tweaking on my chnl 3

Post by UCLAN
* If yes, with your VCR _ON_, are you now able to tune channels with
   your VCR's tuner?

NO, now I only get vid 1,vid2, chnl 3 and chnl 5 local fox for NY

Post by UCLAN
* If no, with your VCR _ON_, are you now able to tune channels with
   your TV's tuner.

I don't understand this question.

Post by UCLAN
* _Exactly_ how do you have it wired? No "etc" allowed. RF out of VCR
    to ?? Composite video and audio from VCR to ??

Its not really that simple to explain, with all the tweaking and
splitters , etc. I'll try...I have other cables connected ...to some
splitters ...ie..my pc tuner for one., also a cable going to my
kitchen tv to view cable there. I also, have an A/B switch to go to
cable or OTA. I can now record cable and OTA, but I have to be sure
that I set the channel up as one would with cable. I cannot maneuver
my vcr to go to my OTA channels...I have to turn on that channel, as
one would with cable, and see and record that way. I appreciate your
effort, but its understandable if you don't understand how I have all
hooked up. As of now, its better than nothing...I got a maze of cables
behind the TV and the others...I am seeing double:) Maybe I should get
a professional hookup guy after all. Thanks

[UCLAN]

Post by Anthona

Post by UCLAN
* With the VCR _OFF_, are you able to tune all channels with your TV's
tuner?

Yes, I see all my channels on my TV, including 3..my recording channel

Post by UCLAN
* With your VCR _ON_, are you able to play back a known good recorded
tape and view it on your TV?

Yes, now I have after some tweaking on my chnl 3

Post by UCLAN
* If yes, with your VCR _ON_, are you now able to tune channels with
your VCR's tuner?

NO, now I only get vid 1,vid2, chnl 3 and chnl 5 local fox for NY

This would indicate to me a faulty tuner in the VCR (unless there's
something you're not telling us.

Post by Anthona

Post by UCLAN
* _Exactly_ how do you have it wired? No "etc" allowed. RF out of VCR
to ?? Composite video and audio from VCR to ??

Its not really that simple to explain, with all the tweaking and
splitters , etc. I'll try...I have other cables connected ...to some
splitters ...ie..my pc tuner for one., also a cable going to my
kitchen tv to view cable there. I also, have an A/B switch to go to
cable or OTA. I can now record cable and OTA, but I have to be sure
that I set the channel up as one would with cable. I cannot maneuver
my vcr to go to my OTA channels...I have to turn on that channel, as
one would with cable, and see and record that way. I appreciate your
effort, but its understandable if you don't understand how I have all
hooked up. As of now, its better than nothing...I got a maze of cables
behind the TV and the others...I am seeing double:) Maybe I should get
a professional hookup guy after all. Thanks

Well, good luck then.

BTW, in the future, avoid all of the "..." and unnecessary abbreviations.
They make reading and following what you wrote quite difficult.

[Anthona]

Post by UCLAN

Post by Anthona

Post by UCLAN
* With the VCR _OFF_, are you able to tune all channels with your TV's
  tuner?

Yes, I see all my channels on my TV, including 3..my recording channel

Post by UCLAN
* With your VCR _ON_, are you able to play back a known good recorded
  tape and view it on your TV?

Yes, now I have after some tweaking on my chnl 3

Post by UCLAN
* If yes, with your VCR _ON_, are you now able to tune channels with
  your VCR's tuner?

NO, now I only get vid 1,vid2, chnl 3 and chnl 5 local fox for NY

This would indicate to me a faulty tuner in the VCR (unless there's
something you're not telling us.

Post by Anthona

Post by UCLAN
* _Exactly_ how do you have it wired? No "etc" allowed. RF out of VCR
   to ?? Composite video and audio from VCR to ??

Its not really that simple to explain, with all the tweaking and
splitters , etc. I'll try...I have other cables connected ...to some
splitters ...ie..my pc tuner for one., also a cable going to my
kitchen tv to view cable there.  I also, have an A/B switch to go to
cable or OTA. I can now record cable and OTA, but I have to be sure
that I set the channel up as one would with cable. I cannot maneuver
my vcr to go to my OTA channels...I have to turn on that channel, as
one would with cable, and see and record that way. I appreciate your
effort, but its understandable if you don't understand how I have all
hooked up. As of now, its better than nothing...I got a maze of cables
behind the TV and the others...I am seeing double:) Maybe I should get
a professional hookup guy after all. Thanks

Well, good luck then.
BTW, in the future, avoid all of the "..." and unnecessary abbreviations.
They make reading and following what you wrote quite difficult.

Thanks...I do not want to belabor this issue, but an after thought hit
me and would like to run it by you. If I just temprorarily disconnect
cables not involved with vcr and tv and just hook the vcr up
basically..rf in and out, rca cables to tv and do the automatic
channel search, do you think I may get all my channels available on
the vcr as I should, and would that work? I doubt that there is
something wrong with the vcr tuner. It was all setup in the bedroom
with all the channels shown prior to me replacing the old vcr. OOPS, I
did another "...", but i left nothing out:)

[UCLAN]

Post by Anthona
Thanks...I do not want to belabor this issue, but an after thought hit
me and would like to run it by you. If I just temprorarily disconnect
cables not involved with vcr and tv and just hook the vcr up
basically..rf in and out, rca cables to tv and do the automatic
channel search, do you think I may get all my channels available on
the vcr as I should, and would that work? I doubt that there is
something wrong with the vcr tuner. It was all setup in the bedroom
with all the channels shown prior to me replacing the old vcr. OOPS, I
did another "...", but i left nothing out:)

Simplifying wiring and *then* testing equipment is always a good thing.
If it works with the simplified wiring, slowly add the "other stuff" -
testing operation after each "add." One of two things will happen: 1) You'll
discover what wiring addition is causing the problem (making "long distance
trouble-shooting" easier") or, 2) it will work when completely wired - making
yourself scratch your head and ask "What did I do different." ??

BTW, if really complex, you might want to make an *accurate* diagram of what
you want to do, and wire it *exactly* as you drew it.

Good luck.

[GMAN]

Post by Anthona

Post by UCLAN

Post by Anthona

Post by UCLAN
* With the VCR _OFF_, are you able to tune all channels with your TV's
=A0 tuner?

Yes, I see all my channels on my TV, including 3..my recording channel

Post by UCLAN
* With your VCR _ON_, are you able to play back a known good recorded
=A0 tape and view it on your TV?

Yes, now I have after some tweaking on my chnl 3

Post by UCLAN
* If yes, with your VCR _ON_, are you now able to tune channels with
=A0 your VCR's tuner?

NO, now I only get vid 1,vid2, chnl 3 and chnl 5 local fox for NY

This would indicate to me a faulty tuner in the VCR (unless there's
something you're not telling us.

Post by Anthona

Post by UCLAN
* _Exactly_ how do you have it wired? No "etc" allowed. RF out of VCR
=A0 =A0to ?? Composite video and audio from VCR to ??

Its not really that simple to explain, with all the tweaking and
splitters , etc. I'll try...I have other cables connected ...to some
splitters ...ie..my pc tuner for one., also a cable going to my
kitchen tv to view cable there. =A0I also, have an A/B switch to go to
cable or OTA. I can now record cable and OTA, but I have to be sure
that I set the channel up as one would with cable. I cannot maneuver
my vcr to go to my OTA channels...I have to turn on that channel, as
one would with cable, and see and record that way. I appreciate your
effort, but its understandable if you don't understand how I have all
hooked up. As of now, its better than nothing...I got a maze of cables
behind the TV and the others...I am seeing double:) Maybe I should get
a professional hookup guy after all. Thanks

Well, good luck then.
BTW, in the future, avoid all of the "..." and unnecessary abbreviations.
They make reading and following what you wrote quite difficult.

Another possibility, depending where you live, is that your local broadcasters
have already pushed the switch to digital.

Where do you live so we can look this up?

Post by Anthona
Thanks...I do not want to belabor this issue, but an after thought hit
me and would like to run it by you. If I just temprorarily disconnect
cables not involved with vcr and tv and just hook the vcr up
basically..rf in and out, rca cables to tv and do the automatic
channel search, do you think I may get all my channels available on
the vcr as I should, and would that work? I doubt that there is
something wrong with the vcr tuner. It was all setup in the bedroom
with all the channels shown prior to me replacing the old vcr. OOPS, I
did another "...", but i left nothing out:)

[UCLAN]

Post by GMAN

Post by UCLAN

Post by Anthona

Post by UCLAN
* With the VCR _OFF_, are you able to tune all channels with your TV's
=A0 tuner?

Yes, I see all my channels on my TV, including 3..my recording channel

Post by UCLAN
* With your VCR _ON_, are you able to play back a known good recorded
=A0 tape and view it on your TV?

Yes, now I have after some tweaking on my chnl 3

Post by UCLAN
* If yes, with your VCR _ON_, are you now able to tune channels with
=A0 your VCR's tuner?

NO, now I only get vid 1,vid2, chnl 3 and chnl 5 local fox for NY

This would indicate to me a faulty tuner in the VCR (unless there's
something you're not telling us.

Post by Anthona

Post by UCLAN
* _Exactly_ how do you have it wired? No "etc" allowed. RF out of VCR
=A0 =A0to ?? Composite video and audio from VCR to ??

Its not really that simple to explain, with all the tweaking and
splitters , etc. I'll try...I have other cables connected ...to some
splitters ...ie..my pc tuner for one., also a cable going to my
kitchen tv to view cable there. =A0I also, have an A/B switch to go to
cable or OTA. I can now record cable and OTA, but I have to be sure
that I set the channel up as one would with cable. I cannot maneuver
my vcr to go to my OTA channels...I have to turn on that channel, as
one would with cable, and see and record that way. I appreciate your
effort, but its understandable if you don't understand how I have all
hooked up. As of now, its better than nothing...I got a maze of cables
behind the TV and the others...I am seeing double:) Maybe I should get
a professional hookup guy after all. Thanks

Well, good luck then.
BTW, in the future, avoid all of the "..." and unnecessary abbreviations.
They make reading and following what you wrote quite difficult.

Another possibility, depending where you live, is that your local broadcasters
have already pushed the switch to digital.

Then the answer to the first question wouldn't have been yes.