I have Comcast digital cable box and an Emerson DVR. I am trying to set it up so I can record any channel while watching another. Unfortunately, the only setup that works is the one that forces me to watch what I record. Oh yeah, everything is on Ch4. The manual for this device (DVR) said to connect as follows: Cable (from wall) TO DVR Ant IN DVR Ant Out TO Cable Box Ant IN Cable Box Ant Out TO TV This setup works fine (except having to watch what I record): Cable TO Cable Box Ant IN Cable Box Ant OUT TO DVR Ant IN DVR Ant Out TO TV When I use the Video/TV switch on the remote the DVR will not even display the Setup screen. Any ideas? I would think that since everything worked fine in the other configuration that upon switching configs everything would be good to go. Apparently I am wrong. Any help is greatly appreciated. Regards, Patrick
Not possible... sort of. You can add a splitter to the setup and have 2 inputs to TV as long as the reverse strength into the set-top box is strong enough. Before going into set-top box, put in a 2way splitter, one side going into TV, other into set-top box. You can then watch any analog channel on different input while DVR is recording whatever channel you have set-top box playing. The bonus to this would be if your TV has a built in digital tuner it will lock in all digital channels that aren't encrypted (you may have to do channel search in menu to lock them in). The reason cable companies DVR's can watch and record 2 different channels are their boxes have 2 tuners built in, but there regular digi boxes don't. About the reverse strength... you'll know if it's not strong enough if your PPV and OD (on-demand) channels no longer function.This will also happen if you go thru DVR before hitting the set-top box. I mention this because if your DVR has a built in digi tuner but your TV doesn't ,it would make sense to have 2nd leg of splitter going into 2nd input of DVR before the TV if it supports 2 inputs. Clear as mud ? I hope this helps...
Sorry for not being clearer. The DVD Recorder is an Emerson. I think I said it was a DVR. My mistake. That is what I was thinking of ... splitting RF before STB and running a coax to the DVD recorders Input. Then running S-Video and Audio cables to the TV (and using Input on TV to see what DVD is playing/recording). The only real issue here is that I cannot record digital programming or anything else out of the digital box. Does all of this sound plausible? Thanks, Patrick
I hate not having an edit button... Going by the manual for your DVR, it will not work if you plan on using any Pay Per View or On Demand (it will usually let you order 1 or 2 before it craps out from not being able to call home unless your set-top box is still using home phone connection (phone wire plugged into back of digital box) to call home). It would go something like this... Cable (from wall) into input of 2 way splitter 1 output of splitter to input of cable box output of cable box going into input of DVR DVR output going into TV Use RCA cables if you have them, you do get a little better picture. 2 output of splitter going into 2nd input of TV The downfall of this is some cable box remotes won't let you change the inputs to the TV, and some do. Alternately, if your DVR supports 2 inputs, has a built in digital tuner and your TV doesn't you could... 2 output of splitter going into 2nd input of DVR Same DVR output going into TV. You will still have to use 2 remotes as the set-top box won't operate you DVR properly in most cases to change the input remotely.
Ask a mod to move this to either the dvb forum, as you may be able to find your answer there. This thread is more for those who back up movies and such to dvd media.
Here is the way I do it. First I've got the Comcast Sientific Atlanta 8300 DVR which is not the HD model. I pay about $72 before tax for the digital preferred package which goes through the Encore channela but does not include HBO or the other new movie channels like Stars ect. The cable DVR can record 2 channels at once while playing back a 3rd. My Magnavox DVD recorder is hooked up to the VCR out jacks on the DVR. That lets me record whatever is recorded on the DVR to a DVD. The DVR is connected to line 1 of my TV while the DVD recorder is connected to line 2. The television is not connected directly to cable. This way I can record something on DVD while watching something else I recorded or a live channel through line 1. Works great for me!! Oh & the 500 gigabyte Western Digital My DVR Expander is connected to the esata port on the back of the cable DVR for a whole lot of recording space. Came in handy when I recorded almost all of the TCM Summer Of The Stars movies that ran all of last month. Which means I still have about 2 weeks of movies to burn on DVD's....
True Bratcher... but I don't think pblake61 has a DVR... just the standard STB I also don't think he's coming back to let us know if he has it working or not :-/ Out of curiosity, do you hook up your WD expander to the 'puter for any of your dvd recording, or just straight to your Magnavox DVD recorder ? I was under assumption you had to be running linux to rip them off the expander is why I ask and was curious if any easier way for us poor windows user to do so has been created yet ?
The 500gb WD Expander is connected to the cable DVR. So far you can't get files off of the expander. The recordings are encrypted & tied to the one DVR box. It's not linux but some other operating system. My cable box is running Sara software. So all I can do is record stuff from the DVR to the DVD recorder in real time.
hey codacious ... ur right, STB ... have not had a chance to pull all the components out and "rewire" them. i believe i am going to take the rf splitter approach
10-4 pblake61... sound like a weekend job if the mess behind your TV looks anything like mine Let us know how it turns out... I was afraid of that... The new version of Sara is already being tested so by the time they get it cracked, it will need to be done again :-/ I used to install S.A. boxes and still in the biz, but differ dept. Dying to pull my shows of the DVR and rip them to computer without having to use a DVD-R inline.... Thanks for the info bratcher
