I have too many TV boxes (not to mention each associated power adapter)! I am hoping some SDoper can confirm the order in which I connected the following which seems logical to me:
a) FROM CATV outside source TO cable TV converter box
b) FROM cable TV converter box TO VCR input
c) FROM VCR output TO digital game console input (multimedia box)
d) FROM multimedia box output TO TV input.
Note: The multimedia box lets one switch between mulitple game controller inputs to output for viewing on the TV screen.
Is there some heirarchy? Obviously, the CATV converter box is #1, but is VCR #2 by default? Of course, the TV is always last in the sequence! I hate to have to tear this all apart and try again! Anyone have a clue if this is the correct sequence? Sheesh! :rolleyes:
Seems fine to me.
Let me ask you this…why are you asking, is something not working? As long as you can get a signal from each source up to your TV, you’re golden.
Also, you are setup properly to record TV on your VCR.
To Joey: Obviously I cannot get a signal from each device to the TV! And
To the General Masses:
Does the order of connection really matter? Presently, it appears my TV can only get 4 channels which seems to correspond (unless by coincidence) to the four channels on the media converter. If I swap the VCR and media converter, will it make any difference (assuming I do not want to record my game performance)?
My entertainment center is so cramped for space, you cannot appreciate what a pain in the ass switching a few cables around is, so I really need some good advice!
It seems right, but typically you would have the CATV->Cable Box->VCR/DVR->TV and then the Game Console would go to another input on the TV. If your TV doesn’t have another input, the VCR might.
Take a look at your TV and see if there are any other inputs, if there are use one of them for the game console, if not, see if there are any other inputs on the VCR you can use.
That’s my guess for the moment.
Also, and I’m just guessing now since I can’t see the setup, but you’ll probably want to make sure that everything is set to channel 3 and the only thing you’re changing the channel on is the cable box.
Say, maybe you hit on something! My TV is older with just a RF connector input for cable or (what was) rabbit ears. While I am running game inputs into the VCR, I am ALSO running CATV cables through the game console’s RF connectors (in/out). Is this overkill??? I recall the game console’s instructions not being very clear.
No, without using the RF connectors on the multimedia box, I get nothing. OTOH, then why am I running RCA connector wires from the multimedia box to the VCR? Why does it need both the RCA abd CATV cables???
I think if we’re really going to figure this out we need to clarify something…are multimedia box, game console and media converter the same thing?
I assume they are.
Also, I’ve found, the sooner you can get rid of the Coax cables, the better. That is, if you can run coax to the cable box and then RCA cables the rest of the way it’s just that much easier. Any time you’re dealing with coax stuff you’re almost always messing with channel changing (each peice of equipment will want to know what channel the signal is coming in on if the coax is an input and what channel to output it on if it’s an output. That’s why I mentioned earlier that everything should be set to channel 3).
If it were me, I’d run coax to the cable box, then RCA to the VCR. Then RCA to the TV. Then I’d run an RCA cable from the game console to the TV as well if there was another input on the TV to use, if not, I’d run it to the VCR and use the VCR to switch between the two inputs.
For clarity, are there any model numbers/manufacturers listed on any of these components? That would let us know exactly what the equipment is, and may help get answers.
FYI - About the multimedia box:
While (a) a knowledgeable friend confirmed I do not need to connect both RF and RCA cables, it is odd that (b) the multimedia box still will not send a signal to the TV (with all inputs and outputs correct.)
Sorry, I am just seeing this question. I’ll have to dig for it as everything is so crammed into my entertainment center, it is hard to get to. In short, let me table these questions for now. Comcast has to come out because the cable signal is too weak, so they’ll have to see what’s up. If they really botch things up, I’ll be back with more questions!
a) Sorry for being rather loose with the terminology. Ok, I guess “multimedia box” is the right term? A media converter, technically, changes from copper to fiber. This is not the case. My device allows one to toggle between up to four inputs, such as four different game consoles (i.e., Wii, Xbox, etc.)
Hmm, I wonder if I even need the dang mulitmedia box! At one time, I had even older equipment. Now, why couldn’t I go direct from my Wii’s RCA cable (i.e., Wii outputs) and go directly into the VCR/DVD “inputs”??? (I only have one game console!)
b) Thanks for this tip on using coax cables sparingly, but I’m limited by my equipment. I can’t afford to start upgrading everything.
I think we need to work backwards.
Let’s start with the multimedia box. That’s the game console as well if I understand. Can you get a game to show up on the TV?
(We are going to work from the TV back to the wall to find where the signal is interrupted and go from there.)
That’s probably going to be easiest. The less equipment the better. If for no other reason it makes troubleshooting easier when you don’t have a giant rats nest of wires to deal with.
Well, now, maybe I should back up. I’m familiar with media converters for data and telephony that convert copper to fiber optics, and vice versa. Hence, based on this definition, if I threw around the term “media converter” in this thread, it was clearly the wrong term!
As for the fiber optic connection with home entertainment, let’s not even go there!
We’ll have to table this discussion as it is getting late. In short, though, using co-ax, I can get the TV to recognize the game console and the VCR/DVD. It won’t recognize the cable box, but the problem may be a weak signal. Comcast is coming here later in the week to diagnose the weak signal.
Well, that’s a good sign if you can get it that far back. You can try plugging the coax bypassing everything and going from the cable box right into the TV to see what happens, but if you’re not overly concerned, wait for Comcast. A crappy signal, that goes through a bunch of boxes is probably not going to look so hot on the other end.
