A / V club geeks - give advice!

In My Humble Opinion
1

Ok, I can’t believe that this is stumping me, but I simply cannot get my VCR and tv to match up.

I have a split off my roommate’s cable feed. I know it’s working because it was working for a video card I had in my computer. I plugged it into a Mitsubishi Hi-Fi VCR I got used. That is running coax to an old tv I got used.

None of the channels show anything much better than really bad broadcast quality, although it’s not just broadcast channels. ESPN and CNN are in there too.

The VCR is set to channel 4. I thought I could then use the VCR remote to change channels, leaving the tv on 4, as my old roommates did with their VCR and tv.

I know this is one of those lame problems that you’re unable to view firsthand, but I’m out of things to think of and try. What could be wrong that I can jiggle or fix?

2

How well does this VCR play tapes to the TV? If the playback is lousy, you’ve got either a bad VCR, bad TV or bad cable between them.

Playback’s OK? How about the cable going to the VCR? Can you swap it with another?

Hit the VCR/TV button on the VCR. On older VCRs, this was a very common “Confuse the user” item.

You’re sure the VCR is set to put a signal out on channel 4? Sure the TV is set on channel 4? Have a try with channel 3.

Is there a switch on the VCR or TV labeled something like ANT/CABLE/HRC? If so, try all positions. Shouldn’t make a difference down at channel 3 or 4, but you never know until you’ve tried it.
They used to call me the A/Venger. :cool: