Hi all,

I husband and I are setting this model up, and having trouble understanding what the difference is between hooking the DVDR up with a Splitter alongside cable box or after the cable box. Right now we have the coaxial cable from the wall, then a splitter, with one coaxial cable to the STB, and one to the DVDR. However, it seems as though we need to select the DVDR as a source just as we would have to switch to the source to view the DVD player that was previously there. When we switch to the DVDR as a source, we can view channels that it has tuned from the coaxial cable, which aren't many. And then using the DVDR remote, we can view and record what is playing on the set top box by switching its source to the input the STB is hooked up to.

Does that make any sense all? ;)

If we hooked up Coax--->STB--->DVDR, wouldn't the DVDR tune the same channels that the STB does?

I hope this makes sense, let me know if I could clarify.

Thanks,
Gina

Yes, the STB first makes the 3576 a slave to it.

Here's a post with info on basic connections, then click the link at the bottom of that page for more subjects you might need help on later, like Scanning for channels, setting timer programs, dubbing, etc. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12298409&postcount=10)

If you have more questions, it might be better to post in that thread where many 3575/76 users go for help or info.

What does that mean though? A "slave"? I have been reading your posts on the setup and operation of this unit, and I swear without them I would still be looking at the box. I barely know what S-video is, lol! ;) Could you maybe explain it in 3 year old layman's terms? What I guess I need to know is how the unit will behave if we hook it up with the STB first in line as compared to going thru a splitter first.

Thanks for your help any futher advise.
Gina

What does that mean though? A "slave"? I have been reading your posts on the setup and operation of this unit, and I swear without them I would still be looking at the box. I barely know what S-video is, lol! ;) Could you maybe explain it in 3 year old layman's terms? What I guess I need to know is how the unit will behave if we hook it up with the STB first in line as compared to going thru a splitter first.

Thanks for your help any futher advise.
Gina
With the 3576 behind the STB, it can only receive whatever signal (channel) the STB is on, making it a "slave" to the STB. The top coax connection on the 3576 receives your cable signal and feeds its tuner with it AND sends it on to whatever component is behind it on the coax chain. The next downstream components, like your STB and TV, won't even know the 3576 is there cuz the coax "passes" the raw cable signal thru amplified, but untouched, even if its HDTV. The 3576 doesn't have to be on to watch TV normally.

A DVDR isn't like your old VCR which sends its internal signal (tuner and tapes) to the TV thru its coax. Nothing internal on the 3576 (menus, tuner, HDD or DVD) is sent thru the coax (ANT Out) on the 3576.

To see anything internal, you have to have a "line" connection from the 3576 to your TV, then select that TV input to see something from the 3576. That line connection can be whatever type your TV has:
Composite - Y/W/R RCA.
S-Video - Black cable with round metal fitting on each end with 4 small pins inside.
Component - Red/Green/Blue RCA made for "Component" signal
HDMI - special cable with small flatish end and multiple pins inside.
S-Video and Component cables transmit only video, so they both need W/R audio cables as well to the same input you connect the video cable to.

If your TV has all four types, you can connect them all if you want and switch TV Inputs between those connections.

With the coax going from 3576 -- STB -- TV, you'll end up with 3 tuners operating independently, so you can record something on the 3576 and watch something else on the STB or TV tuner.

AND, the coax signal is amplified slightly thru the coax "passthru" of the 3576 coax connection, so people have reported an approx. 20% better pic on their TVs... one said he "got a new TV!"

The reason you don't want to use a splitter is (1) the 3576 coax in/out loop IS A SPLITTER, so why split before the built-in splitter, and (2) a splitter loses at least -3.7dB in signal strength, whereas the 3576's built-in splitter (the "coax passthru") AMPLIFIES the signal slightly, making a "dramatic" difference in PQ and channel sensitivity in many systems.

Maybe this'll help some?

It is sometimes hard to answer technical questions because we are not sure what the intended end result is. The use of a splitter would allow you to run the cable line to both the DVDR and cable box. The Philips DVDR, like most DVD recorders, passes the coaxial signal so a splitter is not necessary. VCR's do not pass the signal so you need a splitter to hook up two devices.

Hook up the coaxial cable to the DVDR in and the out to the cable box. Run a scan with the DVDR and it will lock in the digital and analog channels not scrambled. The cable signal will loop through to the cable box allowing you to view all the cable programming.

Having done that I am not sure what the benefit is? You will be able to record from the DVDR and watch the cable box. If you record from the cable box that is what you will be watching. Until you perform a scan you won't know if there is any benefit to this type configuration.

If not, hook up the coaxial cable to the in on the cable box and the out to the TV. Then run an A/V cable from the cable box to the DVDR. I hope this helps.

We got a philips dvdr 3576 about a month ago because of the the switch to digital and because we wanted to digitize and record a load of vhs tapes that we brought from Germany . For those interested the anolog signal is piped through and converted to ntsc through a samsung multiformat vcr and the setup works fine. We have so far been very happy with the recorder, the conveniences, and the picture of the digital signal. I use the analog signal to be digitized and recorded first to hard drive because it makes editing and selecting easier. Then I dub the material to dvd where I am using dvd+r discs.
In this process I have now twice enountered a recording error with the message
Rrecording error Can not record on this disc E 3 28041000
Does anyone know what this cryptic message means and whether this is to to some possible operation error on my part. The issue became frustrating today. After I encountered this error the previous night, I saw that the recorder was off when I got back from work and after switching it on it was going through the very initial setup procedure (like setting language etc.). During automatic tuning it then got stuck at some digital channel (96?). I could get it out of this mode but the all the setup was gone (timer programming..).:mad:
Any clues anyone?

Sorry, just saw that this is the wrong thread.

AOVHS

You may have a bad DVD+R. Try another disc and see if the recorder will dub the video from the hard drive to the blank DVD.