Hi,
New to AVS, so it's nice to meet everyone here :)
I'm not much of a electronics person so please bare with me :confused:

My question is about a Samsung dvd/vcr recorder model #DVD-VR375.
This particular model does not have a tuner which is one of my many questions about how to get this to work properly for taping shows from my tv?
The recorder comes with an "IR Blaster Cable" that is supposed to hook up to the back end of the recorder and then placed in front of a set top box (which I do not have yet). I am uncertain what type of set top box to purchase since my tv has basic cable? Being the electronics nerd that I am... I thought that maybe hooking up a converter/tuner box would work, but it did not. I am in this dilema of keeping this unit since it was a Christmas gift and now the company is going out of business anyways so I can not return it for a refund. Anyways... this "IR Blaster Cable" is rather odd since I am so used to dealing with dvd, or vcr players with built in tuners. Any help would be much appreciated on what type of set top box to purchase with this unit (what options do I/don't I need with the set top box) since I don't want to spend an arm and a leg for this to work.
One more thing that you may need to know... I'm not looking for a set top box that I need to use with a home entertainment unit, gaming, or internet. Just something simple so that I can tape tv shows onto my new recorder.

Thank You

I am uncertain what type of set top box to purchase since my tv has basic cable?

Who is your cable provider? If it's a major US cableco, like Comcast or TWC, they won't let you buy a box. You'll have to rent one of theirs. If you're in Canada, places like Futureshop have them for many specific cable providers.

I think the IR blaster might work with your TV's infrared sensor, but I've never used one.

I have Comcast cable.
My neighbor purchased a box through them, but gets charged $5.00 a month for using it. Is that really necessary rather than just purchasing one?

I don't think he purchased it. I'm pretty sure he's just leasing it ($5.00 a month is fairly standard, give or take a few bucks.) Either that or some unscrupulous Comcast employee made off with some of his cash. ;)

Seriously, though, yes, you have to rent their boxes. I've never heard of a major cable company actually selling boxes, and the box makers (Motorola, Scientific Atlanta, etc.) don't sell them to anyone but cable companies.

The only Comcast exception I know of is the DCP501 DVD player/AV receiver unit that has a built in digital cable box. I don't think Comcast ever sold it directly, but you can buy them through Amazon. It's a pain to activate, weighs a ton and is a couple years removed from being state of the art, but that's the only "cable box" I've heard of people buying and activating.

If you know of a way people can buy cable boxes legitimately in the US, you'd have some very interested people on this forum waiting to hear how you did it.

Honestly, you bought totally the wrong recorder for your signal system: if this was a recent purchase, see if you can return or exchange the recorder. The salespeople in stores often do not explain things properly. The tunerless recorders are intended for use by people who have cable or satellite decoder boxes, and for no one else. The little transmitter controls the channels on the decoder box, which acts as a tuner for the recorder. Since tuners compatible with our new digital broadcasts are very expensive, its a waste of money for people with decoders to pay for a tuner in the recorder they'll never use: thats why there are some tunerless models in stores. "Boxless" basic cable can't get a lot of the more desireable cable channels like TCM or the sports channels on it: the cable company requires the decoder box to provide those "cool" channels. When you agree to rent the decoder box, you should automatically get access to quite a few more channels than you now get from the bare wire. Ask your cable company if this is true: you may decide the box rental is worth the cost after all.

If not, you will need a DVD recorder that has a built-in ATSC/QAM tuner. This functions much like your TV tuner does in pulling the channels off the bare cable wire coming into your house. Because the new DTV broadcasts beginning next month are technically tricky to pull in, a good tuner adds substantial cost to the recorder, so you need to choose a recorder with a decent track record such as the Panasonic EZ-28 or Phillips 3576 or Magnavox H2160. These machines are not nearly as cheap as your LG was, figure $180-280 depending on model and whats on sale that week. Unfortunately the members of this forum have learned from hard experience that "you get what you pay for": cheaper recorders with tuners are indeed available, but they don't work right and gave many of us a headache. Stick to the three models I mentioned, and you should be OK. That, or rent the decoder box from your cable vendor.

(Note you CANNOT use one of the cheap $50 conversion boxes on sale at many stores for cable: these only receive off-the-air "antenna" channels. "Boxless" cable requires a tuner built into the recorder.)

Thanks for your replies.
Since there is no way to return it I guess I'll have to call Comcast and get one of their boxes.
I did mean to say that my neighbor was renting the box from Comcast rather than he purchased it.

Any issues with hooking up the IR Blaster Cable to a Comcast box?
The instructions are vague in the manual... all it tells is to place it approx. 1" away from the sensor.

Any issues with hooking up the IR Blaster Cable to a Comcast box?
The instructions are vague in the manual... all it tells is to place it approx. 1" away from the sensor.

The IR Blaster just sends remote signals to change channels. It shouldn't be a problem, assuming you get the correct code programmed into the DVDR. It would be a good idea to program a recording, and watch to see if it works correctly. Occasionally, you may find a signal will get garbled by a reflection, or something. That can be cured by moving the blaster a bit.

Thanks for your replies.
Since there is no way to return it I guess I'll have to call Comcast and get one of their boxes.
I did mean to say that my neighbor was renting the box from Comcast rather than he purchased it.

Any issues with hooking up the IR Blaster Cable to a Comcast box?
The instructions are vague in the manual... all it tells is to place it approx. 1" away from the sensor.

If you have an old vcr, you could use it's tuner to feed the tunerless dvd recorder. From your 1st post, I'm assuming you do not subscribe to any pay channels, or the digital cable tier. So, just use a vcr, running the cable from the wall to a 2 way signal splitter first, then run cable wires from the splitter, sending 1 line to the vcr, and the other to the tv....
from the vcr's output RF silver jack to the back of the dvd recorder. Then from there, use the yellow video, red/white audio cables from the recorder to the tv. The dvd recorder's signal will be viewed on the tv's Line Input channel (L1, L2).
This will allow you to record to the dvd recorder whatever channel the vcr is tuned to, while watching a different channel on the tv's tuner.

You will then be stuck having to program both the vcr and recorder to come on at the same time (keeping a tape inside to make use the vcr powers on and switches to the proper channel). But you won't have to waste money renting a box from Comcast.

If you have an old vcr, you could use it's tuner to feed the tunerless dvd recorder. From your 1st post, I'm assuming you do not subscribe to any pay channels, or the digital cable tier. So, just use a vcr, running the cable from the wall to a 2 way signal splitter first, then run cable wires from the splitter, sending 1 line to the vcr, and the other to the tv....
from the vcr's output RF silver jack to the back of the dvd recorder. Then from there, use the yellow video, red/white audio cables from the recorder to the tv. The dvd recorder's signal will be viewed on the tv's Line Input channel (L1, L2).
This will allow you to record to the dvd recorder whatever channel the vcr is tuned to, while watching a different channel on the tv's tuner.

You will then be stuck having to program both the vcr and recorder to come on at the same time (keeping a tape inside to make use the vcr powers on and switches to the proper channel). But you won't have to waste money renting a box from Comcast.

I was thinking about this at one point, but the only thing I have is an older model SHARP vcr (with tuner). After looking in the Samsung manual for 4 digit codes... it does not list anything for SHARP products. Is it posible to get the code somehow for this vcr? The model number for it is: VC-A504

Thank You

You don't need to set any code for the Sharp or use the IR blaster if you can't or don't want to.

You should be able to program the timer in the VCR to go on and switch to whatever channel you want it to by itself.

Then you would also set the timer on the recorder to synch up with it.

You don't need to set any code for the Sharp or use the IR blaster if you can't or don't want to.

You should be able to program the timer in the VCR to go on and switch to whatever channel you want it to by itself.

Then you would also set the timer on the recorder to synch up with it.

Thank You for your reply :) I know that I would not need to punch in a code for the older model SHARP vcr, but I will need one for the SAMSUNG to do the "easy set up" within the commands :confused: since it does ask for it. The SAMSUNG asks for a 4 pin code from either your cable supplier, or the unit that your hooked up through when you go through the set up. So I imagine that I would need the code for the SHARP vcr wouldn't I, or would it be the code for the tv set brand that I am using???

If you can't bypass that screen you could just put any code in, that or try unplugging the IR blaster, maybe then you can bypass the code part.
Since the VCR would be tuning the channels by itself you don't need the IR blaster at all. Again if it was sending out a wrong code that would be OK you don't want it to function anyway.

If you're going to use your VCR as the tuner, the easiest thing to do is go back to your Samsung and redo the "setup". Click on the "Easy Setup" option and when the screen shows the prompt "do you want this recorder to control your set top box?" click on the answer "no". That should bypass it asking you for any codes. You would simply not plug in the transmitter and do as others have mentioned: keep a tape in the vcr at all times, rewound to the beginning, with the VCR record speed set to SLP (6hr) to make sure any timer recordings don't cut off prematurely. You would then set the timer on both the VCR and your Samsung. Plug your cable wire into the VCR so it can tune the channels, and connect the line outs from the VCR to the line ins of the Samsung.

You need to have a tape in the VCR because if you don't it won't turn on at the appointed time and feed the proper channel to the Samsung. Rewind the tape after each timer session. Of course if you'll be at home during the program, or don't need the VCR to switch channels for multiple events, you can just leave the VCR turned on and set to the proper channel. This way you only have to bother setting the timer on the Samsung, or just hit the record button if you're sitting there anyway.