# digital cable/vcr/timing problems. Anyway around this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2004, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155 "2004-01-12T11:09:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/1 "2004-01-12T11:09:22Z")
Ok heres the deal. I’m trying to get my vcr to record shows while I’m not at home. The problem is though since I have digital cable I have to route the cable throgh the actuall cable box. Which means when I set the vcr to record shows I set IT to record on channel three then set the cable box to whateveer channel it is I’m trying to record on. Now, if I just want to record one show on one channel I have no problems but I DO have problems if I’m going to be away and I want to record two different shows on two different channels because I wont be there when it comes time to change the channel on the cable box. So is there anyway around this? I have Comcast cable if that make a difference. Geniuses that they are you’d think they would put a timer on the cable box itself to take care of this problem. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/2 "2004-01-12T11:29:09Z")
Probably not a solution in your case, but some VCRs and set-top boxes do indeed have a connectivity option, allowing the user to program a number of timed recordings on different channels in the same way as you can with terrestrial TV. Alternatively, if your cable box has an IR remote, it _ought_ to be possible to construct a device that would allow a computer to switch channels at a specific time. I’m not sure if any such device actually exists though… ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/3 "2004-01-12T11:37:58Z")
You can get universal remotes which have timer options on them so you can get the remote to do various things at certain times of the day such as change channels, turn the VCR on, start recording, turn the Aircon on before you get home, start the dinner, make the bed etc. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/4 "2004-01-12T11:56:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Probably not a solution in your case, but some VCRs and set-top boxes do indeed have a connectivity option, allowing the user to program a number of timed recordings on different channels in the same way as you can with terrestrial TV. > > \*\* Thanks for the feedback \*\*Mangetout \*\* but hte point I was trying to make is that since its DIGITAL cable I can’t do that. I HAVE to use the cable box in order to get a signal. Its not just a matter of having a cable ready vcr. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/5 "2004-01-12T12:09:58Z")
SHAKES when I had digital cable there was a “reminder” option built into the digital cable box that would change the channel unattended. I think **Mangetout** was referring to the capability some boxes and VCRs have, where the VCR controls the cable box via serial link. Anyway, if your equipment doesn’t have those features, **1920s Style Death Ray** ’s suggestion of a universal remote with built-in timer is probably the easiest solution. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/6 "2004-01-12T12:11:46Z")
That’s what I meant; some VCRs have a cable link option for controlling the set-top box - I’m not sure if there’s a single standard for it though, and how widely supported it is. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/7 "2004-01-12T12:21:24Z")
Duh, please forgive my ignorance… ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/8 "2004-01-12T12:24:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyway, if your equipment doesn’t have those features, 1920s Style Death Ray’s suggestion of a universal remote with built-in timer is probably the easiest solution. Forgot to add, The dude at Radio Shack told me there was no such thing. Is he full of crap? I guess I should try google now… ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/9 "2004-01-12T12:44:43Z")
Well they’re not cheap, but [here’s one](http://www.avalongadgets.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=011&PROD=1043397799). You might be better off checking to see if your cable box has a serial input on the back, and then getting a vcr that can control it. Or get a tivo, which can control almost anything with an IR blaster, but that’s more money still 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/10 "2004-01-12T15:17:28Z")
The digital cable box should have a feature to add the program you see in the onscreen guide to the VCR Timer. If you select this feature, when the time rolls around for that program, the cable box will turn itself on and tune to that channel. Since you’ve set your VCR up to tape at the same time for channel 3, you’ll record fine. We do this all the time. We also have Comcast. It works great. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/11 "2004-01-12T15:40:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Moto \* > \*\*The digital cable box should have a feature to add the program you see in the onscreen guide to the VCR Timer. > > If you select this feature, when the time rolls around for that program, the cable box will turn itself on and tune to that channel. > > Since you’ve set your VCR up to tape at the same time for channel 3, you’ll record fine. > > We do this all the time. We also have Comcast. It works great. \*\* I tried this too… No dice! Apparently the Comcast here is Dallas needs to get some better cable boxes. Grrr!! ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-vcr-timing-problems-anyway-around-this/224155/12 "2004-01-13T05:31:38Z")
Just checking, but on my Comcast digital cable system here in Maryland, I select the program guide, and move to a future program, then press Enter. I’m given three options: - Set a reminder timer for that show - Tune to that channel immediately - Set a VCR timer for that show You can’t do that?