dvd to vcr to tv...problems

[handsomeharry]

i'm having problems with my dvd playing onto my tv.
here is the setup that i have:
dvd connected to vcr-vcr connected to tv. tv set on ch. 3.
Now, after i switch the dvd button to play, i depress the 'input' button on the remote for the vcr as well as the 'tv/vcr' button. this usually works well. however, just lately, it wouldn't play properly for my mom as i was heading for work, and she asked me to fix it. i don't know what button i pushed on the remote (for the vcr) but voila, it started working just great.
now, i have the same problem and i don't know what button to push.
can anyone help me?

the dvd is a sony; the vcr is a new jvc; the tv is pretty old...that's why i have to run the dvd player thru a vcr.

[handsomeharry]

btw, i'm at work now, so i can't tell what buttons are on the remote.

[amarone]

I had a similar problem with the X-Box DVD capability. Microsoft support said that you cannot run a DVD through the VCR. That was confirmed by other posters in a thread on SDMB. It's not an X-Box specific thing - it applies to any DVD. I bought an adapter that allowed the DVD to go straight to the TV - basically, it is just a Y-cable.

[handsomeharry]

well, not to be too difficult, but you can run one thru a vcr. it worked for me quite well. it is a new jvc with some kind of button called 'input' which apparently accomodates this kind of thing. the problem that i have is that i can't make heads or tails of the remote box and i have pressed the wrong button and can't find which one to press again.
also, i had a y cable included with the dvd..no help!
thanks for the reply.

[JaxBeachBoy]

nope, there is copy protection on most DVDs, you cannot run it through a VCR.

to clarify...you CAN hook it up, and select the video option, but the signal will be messed up.

it will not work with a PS2 either(I have tried)

the powers that be are afraid you will simply place a tape in the VCR, and record the signal coming through the video in jack

[AWB]

I had similar problems. Related to copyrighting DVD movies.

My solution had a double benefit. I bought a 4-to-1 switchbox from Radio Shack. One input is from the DVD, one is from the VCR and satellite, one is from my PlayStation, and the other is for my digital videocam.

[GuanoLad]

Is nobody reading what Harry is saying - it DOES work (for his particular setup), he just pushed the wrong button on his remote and now he's lost.

Unfortunately, to answer the question we would need to know what buttons he has, and what the screen is doing now.

Sounds to me, though, that you've changed the channel away from the 'input' and onto the regular channel 0. Or something.

[Casey1505]

You need an RF Modulator. You can pick one up at Radio Shack, Wal Mart, etc, for under $30

[handy]

Rf modulator? I don't think thats what they use in the UK, but a special cable.

Anyway, yes, you can run your signal through a vcr. I do it on my better machines. The macrovision copy protection comes in when you try to copy something. It depends on your machine specs.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Originally posted by GuanoLad
Is nobody reading what Harry is saying - it DOES work (for his particular setup), he just pushed the wrong button on his remote and now he's lost.

Unfortunately, to answer the question we would need to know what buttons he has, and what the screen is doing now.

Sounds to me, though, that you've changed the channel away from the 'input' and onto the regular channel 0. Or something.

The VCR may also have a "rear input" setting. Fiddle with the channel up & down buttons with the DVD player on and you should find it.

[gruntz#1]

Check to make sure what "chan" your vcr is on. Most vcr's have a "Line1 or Line2" below chan 1. Figure out which one your DVD is hooked up to. Or, buy an RF Modulator. It is basically a small box with multiple inputs (of the Red, White, and Yellow varity) and one co-axial output. This will allow you to run the dvd straight into your older tv. Another option is to buy a tv built within the last 5 years. Most of them have at least one input beside co-axial.

The Cable Guy

[Richard Pearse]

When it's not working, what does it do? Eg blue screen, picture but garbled, white noise.

BTW I have my Xbox running through my VCR and it works just nicely thanks. To make it work I have to push the "input" button on the remote to change the VCR channel to "Line 1".

[Lute Skywatcher]

Originally posted by handsomeharry
the dvd is a sony

Is it a Sony DVP-S560D? If so, that may be the source of your trobles. This model has a design problem, a sub-standerd fuse that causes to not play most DVDs. Some people fix this by bypassing the problem fuse.

[Max Torque]

The VCR is a new JVC? Hm. I've owned several JVC VCRs, and in my experience they don't have an "input" button on the remote. To get to the inputs, change the VCR to channel 2. From channel 2, push the "Channel Down" button. You should see two channels (possibly more) below channel 2, labeled "F-1" and "L-1". "F-1" is the channel for the front RCA inputs, and "L-1" is for the rear inputs.

[35340]

Originally posted by Max Torque
The VCR is a new JVC? Hm. I've owned several JVC VCRs, and in my experience they don't have an "input" button on the remote. To get to the inputs, change the VCR to channel 2. From channel 2, push the "Channel Down" button. You should see two channels (possibly more) below channel 2, labeled "F-1" and "L-1". "F-1" is the channel for the front RCA inputs, and "L-1" is for the rear inputs.

It can vary. They can be called "input" or any number of things (all of which just fell out of my head) ... they could also be called auxuillary channels, etc.

[kunilou]

This is what I did.

Connect the video and audio output cables (the ones with the RCA jacks) from the DVD into the line input jacks on the VCR.

Set the VCR input to "A/V In" (also called "line in" or "Aux")

Set the VCR output to Channel 3 (or 4, whichever works in your area)

Set the TV/VCR switch to "VCR"

Set the TV to Channel 3.

And everything works fine.