QuestionDear Mark:
I have an old surround sound system. The components are:
Sony Model # STR-D1015 FM-AM Receiver
Panasonic VCR Player #PV-4564
Panasonic TV #CT31SF12T
Comcast Cable
We recently cancelled our digital cable opting to have simple cable input. Their service person came and disconnected the boxes and removed them.
The original cable input was connected to the digital cable box and the output of that box was connected to the VCR. Then a connection was made to the TV.When he left I reinserted the cable directly to the same location on the VCR as before. Since then I have been unable to use the receiver as my control point. Originally I could control all functions through the receiver. Now the receiver is useless for TV use as well as watching video tape.
I can use the receiver to watch DVD'S, listen to tape or records. But when it comes to TV or VCR I cannot view tapes.
From what I can see the input from the cable should not be plugged directly into the VCR, but if not where should it go? Since the system was working prior to the removal of the cable box I am obviously doing something wrong.
Your help would be appreciated.
AnswerStandard cable (non digital) should be able to be picked up by your TV or VCR or other cable device without the use of a cable box. Using your VCR as the tuner is the right choice since your VCR has the correct outputs to go to your TV and audio system.
Since you are using the vcr as a tuner you will have to run the vcr through the auto channel detect, this will find all the channels on the cable. It should be in the menu system on the VCR somewhere.
As far as you saying you could "control" all functions through your receiver, do you mean you could switch all devices with the receiver or do you mean you could control all functions with your receiver’s remote? (change channels etc) please let me know the answer to this as it is a separate issue.
As far as cabling the ideal way to do this is to use the receiver as the primary connection point.
1. You run your cable TV into the cable input on the VCR.
2. The VCR should have composite video and left and right audio outputs (yellow red and white). These should go to the receiver’s Video1 input.
3. The DVD player should also have the same type of output. These should be connected to the receiver’s DVD input (or video2 if there is no DVD input)
4. The receiver should have a "monitor out" jack this should be connected to the TV's video1 input. And the TV should be set to video1 at all times.
5. If using separate speakers on the receiver use these as your main speakers and don’t bother hooking up audio to the TV. If you have no front speakers, hook a tape out or other output's left and right to the TV's video1 left and right and use the TV's speakers as your main speakers. Speakers on the receiver are much nicer. This allows you to switch between VCR or DVD with the receiver and use the receiver’s volume control. You don’t need the remote for the TV at all (just maybe to turn it off and on) Cable Channels are changed through the VCR (receiver set to VCR) and tapes are watched in the same setting. To use the DVD player just switch the receiver to DVD. the TV always stays on Video1 since that's connected to the receiver’s output.
