Solution to the VCR problem?!?

[tubaloth]

So, my dad who doesn't even know how to turn the computer on. Doesn't know how to set the VCR, realized that he well need to get these convert boxes before next year.

The problem is (if you didn't already know) You would need to convert both the VCR signal and the TV signal. This is mostly because you want to watch a Different channel then what you are recording!

Sense you need to convert both, you would then need to buy TWO Converts, and also two antennas (You could buy one antenna and then split that signal).
After trying to explain this all to my dad, he was like well I guess we should go and buy two Convert boxes. But then I realized if I buy two of the same convert, when I change the TV channel that would change the channel on both boxes...

So has anybody found away around this? Mostly I guess it would be nice if they made some VCR Convert box combo. I do know ECHO star is coming out with a Convert box and PVR in the same box! (So far they are the only ones right) But that won't be out until September which is pass our Coupon time! !!!!

So far the only idea I have is to Use the one antenna, split the (Digital) signal to two Different Convert boxes! One goes to the VCR, one to the TV????

Any better solution?

Also, the convert box I have does strange thing with the volume I have to turn up my TV volume a lot more, just to get the Convert box volume to be in a good range? does anybody else have this problem with there convert box... If not, which box do you have?

[cd637299]

I was hoping for an answer here myself....but I would think, that the purpose of the converter box is to "downgrade" the signal, from digital to analog, hence being able to watch on your regular TV.

Once the cable from the rabbit-ears/outdoor antenna goes into the converter box, then a cable goes from the "OUT" on the box to the VCR, and then a regular cable from the VCR to the TV.

I don't think an extra box would be necessary, but I myself have not given this a "go" as yet.....I have my coupons, which I plan to redeem in about a month. I'll attempt the setup as above, and hopefully get back here.

Doesn't anybody else here have this situation?

cd

[w9wi]

The problem is (if you didn't already know) You would need to convert both the VCR signal and the TV signal. This is mostly because you want to watch a Different channel then what you are recording!

Sense you need to convert both, you would then need to buy TWO Converts, and also two antennas (You could buy one antenna and then split that signal).
After trying to explain this all to my dad, he was like well I guess we should go and buy two Convert boxes. But then I realized if I buy two of the same convert, when I change the TV channel that would change the channel on both boxes...

So has anybody found away around this?


The simple answer is to buy two different brands of converter box...

I might be tempted to buy one box first, then when you go shopping for the other one, take the remote for the first box with you. Point it at the demo unit, hit a few buttons, and make sure it *doesn't* control the second box.

I don't know of anyone who makes a VCR with a digital tuner. (I think the industry considers VCRs obsolete, the ones you can still buy seem to be built-in with a DVD recorder, in the hopes you'll dub your tapes to DVD)

I do have a Phillips DVR that has a (pretty decent) ATSC tuner in it.



Also, the convert box I have does strange thing with the volume I have to turn up my TV volume a lot more, just to get the Convert box volume to be in a good range? does anybody else have this problem with there convert box... If not, which box do you have?

Dunno, I turned the volume on the converter box all the way up & use the volume control on the TV...

[tubaloth]

Once the cable from the rabbit-ears/outdoor antenna goes into the converter box, then a cable goes from the "OUT" on the box to the VCR, and then a regular cable from the VCR to the TV.

That does work, expect for the main problem! If you want to watch TV on one channel and record on another! With the set up you explain because it only has one converter box, you are only going to be getting in one signal! (that is passed through both the VCR and the TV). This is fine if.
1. You only want to record on one station.
2. While you are recording you can't change the channel. Now that the converter box is outside the VCR, the VCR doesn't know the channel is changing, so you could loop through all the channels and record that all.

Thats why so far the only solution I have is to buy two converter boxes. One for the VCR, and one for the TV.

Really what I was hoping is that somebody else had found a better converter box that maybe can do two outputs independently (one for VCR, and one for TV). Or that some other company would come out with a Converter box and DVR (Digital Video Record) that records shows onto some hard drive. I know Echostar (DishNetwork) has one coming out. They said it would be out in July, but now I'm hearing rumors it won't come out until September. And as we know all the good converter boxes well come out in Feb 2009.

[cd637299]

Sorry 'bout that....I misread.

cd