putting my system back together in new house

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d1eng

12 posts

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#54570 18-Dec-2009 10:29

Hi, I was wondering if anyone can help. Bought a panasonic HDMI ready Plasma, Home Theatre system, DVD recorder from Bond & Bond last year. They did a crap job of setting it up in the first place and they had sky from a scart to tv and the picture quality wasn't the best. Anyway, moved house, unplugged everything and have tried (unsuccessfully) to put back together again! I have bought a HD freeview box and I have a vcr also.

So I have run the freeview to TV via HD cable. I have tried running cables from one to another to link the theatre system but to no avail. I can only get the theatre system to work at the moment when I have HDMI 2 selected on TV. HDMI 1 is Freeview. HT only has outlets, no ins. I have enough decent cables to do it but not sure what I need to do. read the manuals but they are clear as mud.

can anyone help?

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#283677 18-Dec-2009 10:41

Hi,
A few precisions we need:
- Does the HT include a DVD player or is it a receiver (seems quite odd that it has no input)
- How many HDMI inputs on the TV?
- Maybe giving the brand/model of the devices would help.

Where do you live?

gcorgnet

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#283684 18-Dec-2009 10:54

The trick is usually to do things one step at a time. And before you start, make sure you know what you want you system to do.

I am assuming you want to be able to do the following:
- Watch Freeview HD (live)
- Watch a dvd using the dvd recorder
- Record freeview using the dvd recorder
- Watch a recorded program using the dvd recorder
- Watch an old VHS tape on your VCR (I am assuming you are not planning on recording anything with this)

Depending on the input/output of your different components, there might be several solutions to achieve this.
From what you have written, I know your TV has at least 2 HDMI inputs. Does it have 3?
Does you DVD recorder output on HDMI? Or are you going to have to use components (these 3 Red/Green/Blue cable that carry video)
Also important for recording freeview, what sort of input does you dvd recorder have? because you will need to somehow connect the freeview box to the dvd recorder.
Don't worry about the VCR from now, it can probably be plugged straight to the TV on an RCA connection.
Before we know what to do with the HT though, we need to know what it is and what input/output it has...

d1eng

12 posts

Geek

#283688 18-Dec-2009 11:02

Hi, HT has a DVD player.
2 HDMI inputs to the rear and one in the flap at the front
TH-42PV80AZ Panasonic Plasma TV
DMR-EH68 Panasonic DVD Recorder. r/w/y in, r/w/y out, hdmi out, 2 scarts marked TV and AV2
SC-PT465 Panasonic DVD Home Theatre sound system r/w/y out, hdmi out.
Freeview has hdmi out 2 scarts (VCR & TV), 1 r/w/y out

All viera link compatible

Just moved to Lynton Road, Bucklands Beach

Hope this helps??

d1eng

12 posts

Geek

#283690 18-Dec-2009 11:08

Further to my last post. All correct above, I would want the HT to be on at all times. We had been playing DVD's from the HT as opposed to the DVD recorder. Doesn't make any dif though. VHS can go into TV, although I presume I can unplug something from back of DVD recorder and plug the VCR in and record?

HT, Freeview, DVD recorder all have the red green blue facility. Again HT is out though.

gcorgnet

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#283692 18-Dec-2009 11:11

OK,

Here's what you can do:

- DVD Recorder to TV via component (rgb)
- FreeviewHD to TV via HDMI on HDMI 1
- HT to TV via HDMI on HDMI 2
- FreeviewHD to DVD Recorder via RCA
- VCR directly to tv using RCA (r/w/y)

Can you try that and see if that works?

d1eng

12 posts

Geek

#283695 18-Dec-2009 11:19

Just need to nip out but will try when I get back. I have a couple of top quality scart (with in/out switches) with r/w/y at the other end. The guys who installed initially did have sky (in old house) using scart/rwy rather than HDMI. Problem is the picture was good but a little fuzzy round the edges. Will try the way you suggest though. Am I best using the scart leads or plain r/w/y?

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gcorgnet

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#283696 18-Dec-2009 11:22

I tend to keep away from SCART as much as I can because it's quite annoying to plug and sometimes when the cables get old, they have some sort of play in them that can make for interferences, etc.
I would advise to use RCA as much as you can...
But technically it's all the same.

scherfie

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#283746 18-Dec-2009 13:24

Have a look here (http://www.connections.panasonic.com), it's focused on the USA spec Panasonic gear so you will have to have a play around but might be of some use.

Also I would start with just the FreeView - TV connection first, get that working then slowly add your other kit, and test, test, test...

Have fun!

gcorgnet

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#283753 18-Dec-2009 13:39

wow, that Panasonic connection site is pretty cool !

d1eng

12 posts

Geek

#283763 18-Dec-2009 13:54

Ok, so have copied what you had above gcorgnet. Still no sound out of HT. when on HDMI 1 I can watch freeview direct to TV but no HT sound. When I go on AV2 (component) the picture quality is poor and in black and white (may be to do with the fact the cables are new but not high spec?) Anyways not looking good??

Have had a look on the American site but models are different and it looks as though they are suggesting HDMI from each one into the TV, so will try this using the front panel.

Jaxson

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#283771 18-Dec-2009 14:07

How have you connected your freeview to the home theatre?
What's the route you think the audio is going to take to go from the freeview box to the home theatre sound system?

Is there a single rca socket output called digital/coax output or similar on the freeview box,
And is there a similar input on the back of the home theatre?

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d1eng

12 posts

Geek

#283779 18-Dec-2009 14:20

Ok, so the HT has a HDMI out, an rca (ryw out) and a component (rbg out). It has a optical in cable which I have currently connected to the DVD recorder. The Freeview has hdmi, scart x 2, rca and component options.

Jaxson

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#283795 18-Dec-2009 15:09

Right, well you only need one of the home theatre outputs so go with hdmi to the tv.

You should also connect the freeview box to the tv via hdmi as well.

If there is no optical or digital output on the freeview box then you'll have to connect the analogue red/white rca freeview output to the home theatre unit.

If there is some for of optical/digital coax output on the freeview box then it should be connected to the home theatre unit over the dvd recorder. you ideally want some form of digital connection to get surround sound on TV3.

What freeview box are you using.

d1eng

12 posts

Geek

#283831 18-Dec-2009 16:23

HT Homecast 3000 Freeview Box. Just bought it. The problem seems to be the HT as I do not have any ins apart from the optical one. HDMI out, rca out and component out.

d1eng

12 posts

Geek

#283920 18-Dec-2009 23:18

Anyone able to give any further advice...other than get rid of the HT and get an Amp!

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