# copying a video sans remote control
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-a-video-sans-remote-control/295602
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 21, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-a-video-sans-remote-control/295602 "2005-03-21T18:19:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-a-video-sans-remote-control/295602/1 "2005-03-21T18:19:11Z")
I’m in the middle of copying some videos (VHS to VHS) and my remote control died on me. The manufacturer is sending me a new remote, which is going to take 7-10 days in the mail.
With the VCR that’s missing the remote, I can’t set the line input to L1 or L2; I can only change the channels (the other VCR includes L1/L2 as part of its channel options but this one doesn’t). I checked with tech support, and they say there’s no way to select L1 or L2 without the remote.
Does anyone know if there’s a way to copy the videos anyway? I tried setting both VCRs to the same channel (channel 4) but it didn’t work.
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-a-video-sans-remote-control/295602/2 "2005-03-21T19:23:57Z")
Well, you only need to set the line input on the VCR that’s actually _recording_, right? So, just make the “can’t-set-line-1” VCR the “play” VCR, run your RCA cable from its “out” ports to the “in” ports of the other one, and set the other one to L1. Problem solved, no?
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-a-video-sans-remote-control/295602/3 "2005-03-21T19:26:21Z")
Alternately, instead of using the RCA cables, you can use the coaxial cables.
Keep both VCRs set to put out on channel four.
Hook them up this way:
ANT OUT on “source” VCR --\> ANT IN on “record” VCR
ANT OUT on “record” VCR --\> ANT IN on TV
Put the TV on channel 4, and make sure both VCRs are set to “VCR” (assuming they have a TV/VCR button on the machine itself.)
Press play on “source” VCR and record on “record” VCR, and you’re good to go.
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### Author:  [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-a-video-sans-remote-control/295602/4 "2005-03-21T20:23:36Z")
Hmm, I always thought that both VCRs had to be set on the same line input to make the copying work.
The coaxial cables are the ones with the little prong doohickey inside, right? (not the yellow/black/red twined together?)
Thanks for the suggestions!
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-a-video-sans-remote-control/295602/5 "2005-03-21T21:08:46Z")
Nah, a playing VCR will output the signal on the RCA “out” jacks no matter what channel (or line) the VCR is set to. The “line” thing tells it to watch its line for _incoming_ signal, but for output, it doesn’t care. So, just use the one with the dead remote as the “source” and the other as the “object”.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copying-a-video-sans-remote-control/295602/6 "2005-03-21T21:12:07Z")
Or go to Walmart and get a [universal remote](http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2625057&cat=4538&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3964%3A163399%3A4538#long_descr) for $12, set the code for your VCR, and you are back in business.