Cant find VCR on TV

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xpd

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Topic # 86439 6-Jul-2011 21:37

I have a Panasonic TH-P50U20Z TV and a Panasonic DMR-ES35V DVD/VCR combo unit.

Have only just got round to sorting out the cabling etc, so now we get TV via the RF (antenna to VCR, out to the TV RF) but cannot get a picture to display for the VCR - insert a tape, hit play, hit tune on the TV and get nothing. Just finds the standard RF channels.

Reading the TV manual mentions tuning the VCR to channel 0, tried that and still nothing.

Any ideas ? Yes I could just connect it via RCA but the wife wants to be able to record analog TV (until the switch off).

TIA

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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lchiu7

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Reply # 490288 6-Jul-2011 21:40

How does connecting the VCR to the TV via composite video affect the ability to record TV shows unless the VCR is not able to tune into the OTA signals?

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Dunnersfella

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Reply # 490291 6-Jul-2011 21:43

Why not connect it both ways, then switch to AV1 (or AV2 or AV3) whatever one you've connected it too when you want to watch a tape?

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richms

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Reply # 490331 6-Jul-2011 22:37

CH 0 is below where most NZ TV's start autotuning, so try manually tuning to the bottom of the VHF band. Its unlikly that a DVD recorder has its output in the VHF band tho.

What is more likly is the RF out is on a channel that has digital on it so being swamped by the off air reception making it just look like noise. Try an autotune without the antenna plugged into the source and see what you get, if that works and it dies when you plug the antenna in, then you need to change its RF output channel. Probably in the menus somewhere.

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Reply # 490335 6-Jul-2011 22:55

The user manual is available online and says if you don't get a picture on your Tv to make sure the TV is connected via the composite, Svid or component connectors.
It obviously doesn't have an rf modulator and the rf connectors are purely pass-through to the TV.
Therefore it's not possible to receive the VCR/DVD via the TV's tuner, only via audio/video connections.
Doesn't stop you recording off air though. Just use the VCR/DVD tuner to select the channel you want to record while viewing the TV via the AV input the unit is connected to.
I don't see you have a problem at all.

xpd

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Reply # 490440 7-Jul-2011 09:48

Thanks richms, will give that a shot.

Personally, I dont care if it cant record TV, I only accepted it so I can transfer my VHS to DVD but the wife has other ideas...

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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B1GGLZ

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Reply # 490509 7-Jul-2011 11:34

"Reading the TV manual mentions tuning the VCR to channel 0"

No it doesn't.
It says tune in the signal from the VCR and allocate that channel to Programme button 0 which is somewhat different to tuning to channel 0. Your TV tuner won't tune Channel 0 anyway as it's below it's tuning range.
If the VCR does have a built in modulator it would most likely be in the vicinity of Ch36 UHF.
Also trying to watch a picture on the TV via the rf modulator would be be pretty awful compared tocomposite or component connection.

How do you watch a DVD or VCR Tape?

robjg63

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Reply # 490522 7-Jul-2011 11:57

Didnt there used to be a switch on most VCRs where you could set what channel the VCR signal would be output? - something like 1 and 3 from memory. If you have such a switch on the VCR change it to the other channel and do a re scan on the analog tuner and see if it picks it up.

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Brunzy

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Reply # 490524 7-Jul-2011 12:01

robjg63: Didnt there used to be a switch on most VCRs where you could set what channel the VCR signal would be output? - something like 1 and 3 from memory. If you have such a switch on the VCR change it to the other channel and do a re scan on the analog tuner and see if it picks it up.

Yer man Bigglz has the answer.

DVD recorders dont come with modulators that I am aware of,
cant say for sure about combo units

richms

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Reply # 490571 7-Jul-2011 13:21

Brunzy:
robjg63: Didnt there used to be a switch on most VCRs where you could set what channel the VCR signal would be output? - something like 1 and 3 from memory. If you have such a switch on the VCR change it to the other channel and do a re scan on the analog tuner and see if it picks it up.

Yer man Bigglz has the answer.

DVD recorders dont come with modulators that I am aware of,
cant say for sure about combo units

The 2 that I have had thru here have both had modulators, one went to a friend with an old TV that wanted to watch DVDs, the other broke. The philps that we got to replace it that also broke did not have an RF modulator, but did still have a passthru with the crappy amplifier in it that distorts the signal to hell when run thru it. Why they cant just have a straight splitter etc in it?

Richard rich.ms

xpd

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Reply # 490588 7-Jul-2011 13:56

Okies, will have further play round tonight.

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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Jaxson

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Reply # 490590 7-Jul-2011 14:18

Dunnersfella: Why not connect it both ways, then switch to AV1 (or AV2 or AV3) whatever one you've connected it too when you want to watch a tape?

+1 Can your VCR part do RCA line level AV out?
If it can then skip the RF bit altogether, it'll be dead recording wise when analogue drops off anyway.