Ok, I have a Sony 31 inch TV with RCA jacks and cable connections, also a New Sony VCR with the same RCA and cable connections. I have just bought a Sony DAV C-700
system that is a tuner, amp, dvd player, cd players changer all it on. A basic home theather package deal. Good price by the way. I also have a digital cable box too.

I want to totally scrap my connections that I have now because of the new Sony Dav system and try something different. I will spell out what I am planning on doing and then SOMEONE PLEASE comment as to if this will work or not and maybe some extra things that I have not thought about trying.

Standard cable hookup will be:

cable line to splitter one end to cable box input and the other to VCR input then run a pigtail from VCR out cable to cable in on TV. I know the cable box is not connected yet. This is for is my Sony DAV system goes bad or the cable box goes bad, I will not have to un-hook everything.

Keeping what I have said in mind above I will move on the RCA connections.
First I will connect the cable box RCA jacks output to the sony dav c-700 rca jacks video 2 input.
Then I will connect the VCR RCA jacks output to the SOny DAV C-700 RCA jacks video 1 input. I will then loop it back by connecting the Sony DAV RCA jacks video 1 output to the VCR RCA jacks input.

Now I have everything connecting to the Sony DAV C-700 in one way or another. I will then connect the RCA connector Video OUT from the Sony DAV to the RCA connector Video IN on the TV.

I will then turn off the TV's speakers that on in the TV itself.

If all I said works I should have a great signal and sound from all equipment connected. I should be able to watch tv with the cable box and have a strong signal and also at the same time be recording a program with te VCR without having to have a A/B switch. Also I would be able to have a strong signal from the VCR and be able to get a good sound from the Sony DAV system.
Also because of the loop between the Sony DAV and the Sony VCR I should be able to copy a movie from a DVD, but if not I will not be upset at all.

Again the cable connection is only there so I do not have to un-hook everything if the Sony DAV or Cable Box goes out. I would still have a VCR and TV with cable going thru them.

Please comment as to what if anything I have missed or how you would do it differently.

Roger

This message was edited by roger678 on 11/28/01 08:08.13.

the main thing I would do differently is I wouldn't use a splitter on the coax cable, since the splitters degrade the signal. This is no big deal unless you want to upgrade to HDTV later, or, if you want to watch PPV movies (ppv movies are usually sent on the higher end of the digital spectrum, and having splitters inline CAN degrade the signal enough to where that part of the spectrum gets cut out)

Al
Tx Light&Sound

Roger,

Your proposed hookup should work great, but Ahl's point is very valid. With your desires for a "backup circuit" in mind: I would recommend making both of the two leads you had planned to connect to a splitter long enough to reach the wall, but then only hook up the "main" lead to the cable box, directly to the wall. Leave the other (detached) cable right next to the wall socket. If something does go out you will only need to swap the one (wall) connection and be in business again along your "backup," without degrading the signal in either configuration.

Hmmm...if Roger wants to watch one program while recording another, he will have to use a splitter, I believe. I think Monster sells their splitters that go up to 2 Gigs or some such number.

Roger, here's my input (pardon the pun):

I would run the 'standby' coax from the wall to the cable box, from the cable box to the VCR, and from the VCR to the TV.

Make sure the receiver will deliver a 'video-2' input (play) signal to the 'video-1' output (record) jacks.

Don't be surprised if your attempts to record a DVD fail, because most DVDs contain the MacroVision anti-copy flag, which fudges with a VCRs AGC (Automatic Gain Control), and causes varying picture brightness.

Larry

Ok! First despite how splitters degrade the picture I would use it. So you want Standard Cable, Cable box, and record cable! So a three way splitter would be wise here. Use the RCA from the back of the VCR to the TV. Then I would use the sound out on the tv to the receiver as the audio!

Simple really! Some may disagree with this but I think it is the best really.

HtPB

Make sure you are using the right kind of splitter. I had a problem with my digital cable and splitting the signal. It not only degraded the picture but I wasn't able to get the onscreen guide to work. You need to use a splitter with 3.5db out. Mine has 1 ghz - 1200b in.