# My DVD Won't Display On My Television **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 24, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dvd-wont-display-on-my-television/389194 "2007-01-24T02:35:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dvd-wont-display-on-my-television/389194/1 "2007-01-24T02:35:16Z")
I hooked up the coaxial from the DVD’s rf out to my tv’s rf in. I set to channel 4. I get nothing. I hook up the DVD’s RGB out to an old Commodore monitor, and I get DVD picture and sound. Praytell, why is it? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dvd-wont-display-on-my-television/389194/2 "2007-01-24T02:42:53Z")
Is the DVD player’s output set to channel 3 instead of 4? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dvd-wont-display-on-my-television/389194/3 "2007-01-24T02:45:41Z")
I don’t see a channel out switch on the thing. I tried channel 3 as well and didn’t see or hear any DVD output interfering with the channel 3 signal. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dvd-wont-display-on-my-television/389194/4 "2007-01-24T03:04:32Z")
How old is the player? It’s possible that the built-in RF modulator is shot. What make and model is it? Is it a DVD player only, or a recorder, as well? I’m mainly curious because I’ve almost never seen a DVD player with an RF output. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dvd-wont-display-on-my-television/389194/5 "2007-01-24T03:08:26Z")
It’s a Panasonic DVD recorder. I’m not sure of the model number and have misplaced the manual at the moment. It’s only a few years old and hasn’t seen much use. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dvd-wont-display-on-my-television/389194/6 "2007-01-24T03:20:44Z")
Go [here](http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vProdSupportHome?storeId=15001) and type in the model number from the back of the unit. Instruction manuals are available in PDF format. Looking at a few of them, it seems that the DVD recorders only output the playback to the composite audio/video outputs (the red, white and yellow jacks). The RF Out is apparently just a passthrough for the RF In. If your TV lacks these inputs, you’ll need an RF Modulator (about $20 at most electronics stores, like Best Buy or Circuit City). ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dvd-wont-display-on-my-television/389194/7 "2007-01-24T03:26:06Z")
Thank you. So I can’t do it because it can’t be done. That’s a bit of a relief. I was worried I was simply overlooking a button. I don’t recall if I took the RF modulator when I took the DVD and other goodies. I’ll probably go the cheap route and duct tape some RGB cables to the ceiling and just watch on the Commodore monitor.