Old video

[ImLostAgain]

My neighbour has bought himself a HD tv and is quite satisfied with it but says he cannot record onto his video. As it has been a while since I owned either a tv or video I wasn't sure I could help but I checked as much as I could.
Anyway he has the main aerial connected to the video and the rf out from the video connected to the tv. Also he has a scart lead connected to ext1 on both.
He can watch recorded videos but when he records and then plays back it just says,no signal.
So, has he got them connected up incorrectly or is his video just not compatible? He says his video is about 5 years old.

[hc4361]

He is watching digital tv with an analogue recorder. He needs to manually set the recorder to record EXT or AV as the channel, and keep the tv turned on to the channel he wants to record.
A cheap dvd recorder will be the best option.

[ImLostAgain]

cheers hc4361. I think I'll just suggest the dvd recorder option, the rest will, I think be too much for him. Thanks again.

[Buenchico]

Let's take go back, for a moment, to the days when your neighbour was using his VCR with an analogue TV set. Each device had its own (analogue) TV tuner built into it, so you neighbour could record one channel while watching another.

Now let's move forward to the current position where your neighbour still has his VCR (with only an analogue tuner inside it), together with a TV set (with a digital tuner inside it). Assuming that your neighbour wants to record from Freeview (rather than from the five analogue channels - if they're still available in your area) he'll have to use the tuner inside the TV to do so. (That assumes that the TV is capable of feeding the output from its tuner to an external device. Most modern sets seem to be able to do so, but it might be unwise to assume that they all can). So he'll only be able to record the same channel which the TV is receiving.

Since the actual 'reception', of the signal to be recorded, is to be done by the TV's tuner, it's essential that the TV is switched on and tuned to the appropriate channel. The VCR won't be recording a signal from its own tuner, so it must not be set to record from any numbered channel on its handset. Instead it needs to be set to record from 'AV'. (Some VCRs use alternative labelling instead of 'AV'. If there's no 'AV' button on the handset, look for 'AV1', 'Ext', 'Ext1', 'Aux' or 'Aux1'). Timer setting should, as normal, be set from the VCRs handset.

Chris

[ImLostAgain]

Ok Chris, reading through that it seems pretty straightforward. Seems to defeat the object though that your recording what your watching but I see what you mean.

As hc said, a dvd recorder is the way to go. I assume then, that he could record one programme while watching another? Thats if there is anything worth watching!!! which is the reason I got rid of mine.

[ImLostAgain]

Sorry to start this up again but there is another problem.
My neighbour took your advice and bought himself a dvd recorder. All has been well until now apparently.
The tv he bought is a Samsung le37b554 and the recorder is a Humax9150t. Before buying the Humax the tv worked well and indeed still does if not connected to the dvd. When the connection is made however, both work ok for only a short time before he gets programme 'freezing' or the message that the signal is weak or the programme is scrambled.This is only on some channels.
I have checked his signal strength and it seems ok.
So now I'm wondering if the dvd is at fault, or these two items are not compatable.There again could it possibly be his aerial which although showing good clear programmes on the tv,might not be strong enough to handle digital signals to both appliances?