I am trying to hook up a Panasonic DMR-EH75V and a vcr to a Philips PH61153 video selector, so that I can continue to use the vcr while trying to understand how the DVD recorder works. I am using a 20" tv, with a video and mono audio input, only on the front. I can play tapes on the vcr, but when I use the vcr tuner, I get a blank, blue screen. When I turn off the vcr, the cable signal comes through ok. Any ideas? This selector is supposed to work with any tv, vcr, etc.

Also, the Pan instructions say that you have to set up TV Guide, even though you are not going to use it, if you want schedule recordings. So, if want to record some programs, while I am away from home, I have to set up the TV Guide first, even though I don't use it? It sure is a lot easier to schedule recordings on my old vcr. This Pan seems so much more complicated than a vcr.

Steve

Silly question but, you do have cable wire going to the vcr don't you? And connected correctly? Sorry, had to ask.
From your post, it sounds like you should have
-cable from wall into 75. Run the enclosed short cable wire from 75's output plug into the vcr's input plug..
-Run yellow video/white audio wire from 75 to selector
-Run coaxial cable wire from vcr output plug to selector

And as for the TV Guide, yes you will need to set it up, even if you do not wish to use it. Manually setting a timer recording requires it to be set. Just set it up, and leave it off completely for 24 hours-no turning on to peak to see if all data has loaded, no nothing. OFF for 24 hours.
As I said, you can still manually et timer recording without using the guide.

According to the selector instructions and diagram, you connect the main coax cable directly to the Rf inputs and outputs on the selector, not to the vcr or dvd.

Sounds odd...Cable from wall into selector, then from selector to dvd and vcr, then another set of wires from each of those back to the selector and then on to the tv? never had a selector.. You mentioned you can play tapes on the vcr, can you see the feed from the recorder as well?

The diagram shows the main cable going from the wall to the rf input on the selector, then another coax cable going from from the selector rf output to the tv. No coax cable going going to the vcr and dvd, just audio and video wires for the audio and video outputs and and inputs. I can play tapes on the vcr, but no cable signal comes through on the tv. If I turn off the vcr, then the cable signal comes through. So, I can play tapes, but the vcr tuner wont work, with the selector.

Steve

The diagram shows the main cable going from the wall to the rf input on the selector, then another coax cable going from from the selector rf output to the tv.

No coax cable going going to the vcr and dvd, just audio and video wires for the audio and video outputs and and inputs.

I can play tapes on the vcr, but no cable signal comes through on the tv. If I turn off the vcr, then the cable signal comes through. So, I can play tapes, but the vcr tuner wont work, with the selector.

Steve
... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: The vcr and dvd recorded aren't displaying the tv signal, because.....wait for it...

they aren't getting a tv signal to display... :D
You will need a signal splitter. Runs about $3.00 at Walmart or Radio Shack.
Try running the coxial cable wire from the wall, to the splitter. Then run from cable from one of the splitter's outputs to the dvd recorder. Run a second line from splitter to the selector. From selector run wire to tv.
Then connect the short piece of cable wire that came with [the dvd rcorder] from the dvd recorder's silver output jack, into the vcr.

I'm not an expert using selectors, and this setup still feels wrong [as I read what I've written], but you should get tv signal to your recorder and vcr this way.

The function of a selector is to be able to switch from one component to another with an older tv that has only one rf jack and audio inputs.
Ideally, you should run the cable from wall to the components first, then from there to a selector and then to the tv...If you can, try it that way first.
Cable from wall to splitter.
From splitter to dvd recorder and vcr.
Output rf's from dvd rec and vcr to selector
Selector to tv.

That should provide tv to both units, allowing you to record tv on the 75 while watching something on the tv, or playing a tape or recording on the vcr at the same time, while still watching a diffent channel on the tv.

I hope I haven't confused you further. If so, post more inquiries...Someone else will see your thread, and will help out. :o

.You will need a signal splitter.

The EH75V has an RF (coaxial) output, so first try daisy-chaining everything together via the coaxial inputs/outputs: cable from wall to the input on the VCR, then from the output on the VCR to the input on the EH75V, then from the output on the EH75V to the input on the TV. Or you can go to the EH75V first, then the VCR, then the TV. If the VCR comes first, make sure to use the "TV/VCR" button to put it "TV" mode so it passes all the channels through, and not just whatever channel the VCR is tuned to (on channel 3 or 4).

You may find that the EH75V doesn't pass the cable signal through when it's turned off. I have that unit, but I don't use its coax input or output so I can't tell you in advance. In that case, get a splitter like Westly-C suggests. One output of the splitter should go to the VCR, then to the TV; the other output should go to the EH75V. I assume your VCR does pass the cable signal when turned off, because you've been using it before this.

Thanks for the replies. So far, I have only the vcr hooked up to the Philips selector, just to see if it would work.
When I turn off the vcr, the cable signal comes through.
When I turn it back on, I get a blank or blue screen, but if I play a tape, it works. The Philips selector instruct
ions say that it is supposed to act as your signal splitter.
and RF modulater. You are supposed to use only 2 coax cables.
One from the wall to the selector input, and one from the selector output to the tv. There are separate audi and video outputs and inputs for each device (vcr,dvd,etc.)

Steve

The selector allows your TV to automatically receive the signal from up to 4 components. It does not allow your DVD and VCR to receive each other's signals, nor does it allow these components to receive the cable signal.

When you connect something into the video/audio input jacks of your VCR, the only way to see what is coming in to the VCR is by setting the VCR's input selector to LINE 1 or LINE 2 (depending on which input is being used). The VCR's tuner is not getting a signal, which is why you see a blue screen. When you turn the VCR off, the selector automatically switches to send the broadcast signal to the TV, allowing you to watch TV.

If you want to have a broadcast signal go into your VCR, you will have to split the signal from the wall to go into the selector, VCR, and the DVD Recorder (you can use the DVD Recorder's RF passthrough as a splitter).

Thanks. The selector has only one coax input. If you split the signal,before it gets to the selector, what do you plug into this single input? I may be wrong, but it appears that that you are supposed to connect the cable from the wall into this single coax input. If you splt the signal, what goes into this single coax input?

Steve

Also, if you use a splitter, can you record 2 different programs on 2 different channels, at the same time, on the vcr and dvd. If not, how could you do this?

Steve

I wonder why these Amazon reviews don't mention the need for splitter?

http://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Video-Selector-RF-Modulator/dp/B000165AOY

Also, if you use a splitter, can you record 2 different programs on 2 different channels, at the same time, on the vcr and dvd. If not, how could you do this?

Steve
Yes you can, since each unit is getting the tv signal from their incoming cables...

So, after thirteen posts, can we assume that the thread title is inaccurate, and the problem is not with the EH75?

I just got a new splitter, which I will try over the weekend . I am still not sure how to connect the various wires and cables, and how the Philips video selector fits into the situation. I think you go from the wall cable to the splitter, then to the vcr and dvd, then to the selector, then to the tv, but I am not sure on which inputs and outputs to use and how they connect.

Steve

Someone mentioned that you can use the DVD Recorder's RF passthrough as a splitter. What does that mean? Also,the selector, vcr, and dvd all have both audio/video inputs /outputs and coax inputs/outputs. Do both types have to be connected on each component?

Steve

you need to tell us exactly the kind of hookup you're trying to aim for.
also describe the back of your philips selector.

No cable box. The back of the selector has 3 sets of audio/video inputs, one set of audio/video outputs, one set of coax inputs/outputs.

so how do you want your setup to work?

does your tv support composite/s-video beside RF?

You have two separate problems.

First, you have to distribute the cable signal from the wall to the VCR, the DVDR, and the TV. Each of these devices has a tuner, so each of them should receive the cable signal. The simplest way to do this is to daisy-chain the devices via their coaxial inputs and outputs. The VCR and the DVDR each split the incoming signal, keeping some of it for their purposes and sending the rest out via the coaxial output. (You've been using the VCR this way, by connecting its coaxial output to the TV's coaxial input, right?) The Philips selector box doesn't enter into this at all.

Second, you have to get the audio (red/white) and video (yellow) outputs from the VCR and the DVDR into the TV's single set of audio/video inputs. This is where the selector box comes in.

The attached diagram shows my suggested setup. A picture is worth a few dozen words, at least. :) AV = audio/video connection.

I don't want to bud in where I don't belong, but that's a very good diagram, jtbell.... That's how I would suggest making the connections too....
Take care everyone....

Thanks for the replies. jtbell, using your diagram, can I record 2 different programs at the same time?

Steve

jtbell/jasta,

Good diagram, but I would suggest swapping the VCR and DVDR in the diagram. In other words have the coax go from the wall to the DVDR then to the VCR then to the TV. The reason being is that the DVDR will provide a pure pass through of the coax signal (i.e., no DVDR playback signal is passed via coax on the DVDR), whereas the VCR will provide a video output via RF channel 3/4 during playback/recording and that will interfere with channel reception on the DVDR (and the TV). With this setup, jasta, yes you can record two different analog channels at the same time one on the vcr and another on the DVDR. You will, however, be limited to watching watever channel the VCR is recording if you want to view the COAX/RF input on the TV because the VCR will output to RF Channel 3/4 during recording. Otherwise you can use the selector to select the line input to the DVDR AND line input on the TV and watch whatever channel the DVDR is tuned to.

Good point. It's worth noting that you also need to take into account the TV/VCR button on the VCR's remote. In the "TV" setting, the VCR passes the incoming coax signal (with all its channels) to the coax output. In the "VCR" setting, the VCR takes whatever channel it's tuned to, re-modulates it onto channel 3 or 4, and sends just that channel (the "new" 3 or 4) through the coax output.

This sort of thing is why I prefer to use a splitter, so I don't have to worry about the settings on one device when I want to use another one. I think this DVDR (the EH75V) just acts as a passive splitter as far as the coaxial signal is concerned, but I think I've read that some DVDRs need to be turned on in order for them to pass the signal through, in which case it would be a good idea to split the incoming signal three ways.

The downside of using splitters is that the cables behind the A/V cabinet(s) are messier. :p

Thanks again, for the replies. I will try some of these ideas. I have a couple of 2-way splitters, one plain metal, from Wal-Mart(3$), and one gold, from Radio Shack(9$). I wonder if it would be more simple to not even use this Philips selector?

Steve

You want to have three signal sources coming into your TV - 1. Broadcast signal. 2.VCR 3. DVR. If you have enough inputs on you TV, you don't need a selector. If your TV has 2 sets of line inputs, you would hook the DVR into one of them and the VCR into the other. You would use the RF connection for your broadcast signal. However, if you only have 1 line input, you would need a selector so that the TV can receive the signals from both the VCR and DVR without having to swap cables all the time. If your TV doesn't have any line inputs, you need the selector because it acts as an RF modulater - converts a line signal into an RF signal.

I have a question about recordings I have made with my DMR-EH75 on the harddrive and transferred to disk. Is the picture breaking up on the recorded disk more likely to be a bad disk or something going wrong in the recording process? What was recorded to the harddrive seems OK when played back. The pixalating is only on the disk copy.

Are you using high-speed copying or real-time copying? A high-speed copy simply copies the file from the hard disk to the DVD so there shouldn't be any change in picture quality. A real-time copy basically "plays back" the recording on the hard disk and "re-records" (re-encodes) the resulting video onto the DVD, which does cause some loss of quality. The MPEG-2 encoding process always loses information, so for best results you should do it only once, when you first record to hard disk.

Are you using high-speed copying or real-time copying? A high-speed copy simply copies the file from the hard disk to the DVD so there shouldn't be any change in picture quality. A real-time copy basically "plays back" the recording on the hard disk and "re-records" (re-encodes) the resulting video onto the DVD, which does cause some loss of quality. The MPEG-2 encoding process always loses information, so for best results you should do it only once, when you first record to hard disk.

It was a show recorded at XP speed and copied at high speed. I know it should give me an exact copy of what is on the harddrive, but what I'm trying to figure out is if I have some bad disks or something more serious.

It was a show recorded at XP speed and copied at high speed. I know it should give me an exact copy of what is on the harddrive, but what I'm trying to figure out is if I have some bad disks or something more serious.
What brand of discs did you use?

I think it's the discs. I was using Magnavox discs, so I bought some Philips discs. I copied an XP recorded show at high speed that I had just trashed with a Magnavox disc on a Philips disc and not one bad spot in the whole show. So the Magnavox discs went in the trash.

So I guess there is something to some discs being better than others. I just thought people were just being overly picky. I just bought the EH75 and the Magnavox disk were the first discs I had used, so that's why I was concered that it might be a problem with the recorder.