I'm not sure if this is the appropriate thread to post this, but I think it is so here goes:

I live in an apartment which provides basic cable tv via rf through the wall. I have purchased a home entertainment system and a projector, but the one thing I am missing is a DVD player. I'm planning on buying a DVD player but I'm having trouble on which one I should buy given my situation. The thing is, I was hoping to hook up the cable tv via the wall to the rf input on the DVD player and get tv that way. But, does that mean I need to hook up my receiver or projector to the dvd player via the rf output in order to be able to watch tv? My receiver does not have an rf input or output nor does my projector. Is it possible to just connect the cable tv to the dvd player into the rf input and then have component cables hook up to my receiver to get tv or do I need to also connect my projector or receiver through the rf output. If that is the case, is there anyway to get around this or what?

Any help would be appreciated.

First question are we talking DVD player or recorder?
Most players do not have RF inputs and outputs.
If you are talking recorder (with built in tuner) some of of them will up-convert, however for your projector you will need something to act as the tuner, a dvd recorder will do this if you go this route I would look for a new model with the ATSC,NTSC and Qam tuners built in.

Ah, yes. I should've made myself more clear and said DVD recorder. I couldn't find any normal DVD players that had the rf input/output, so yes a DVD recorder. And also, does a DVD recorder only record DVD's? That is, if I do purchase such a DVD recorder with a tv tuner does that mean I can't play and watch DVD's on it, meaning that I would also need to buy a DVD player?

And how will I know if the recorder that I buy will up-convert? Do the features usually state that it is up-converting or is there a term for this?

Lastly, I was planning on buying a DVD player/recorder for this specific purpose but I have a DVD/VCR player at home. I know that vcr players were used as tuners and have rf input/output, and I'm pretty sure that the one I have at home has the rf input/output. Could I simply just use that to act as my tuner with an rf coaxial hooked up from the wall to the DVD/VCR player and then component or composite cables hooked up to my receiver? Or would the player I have at home need to upconvert for this situation, also?

Sorry for all the questions but I appreciate your help. Thanks.

Ah, yes. I should've made myself more clear and said DVD recorder. I couldn't find any normal DVD players that had the rf input/output, so yes a DVD recorder. And also, does a DVD recorder only record DVD's? That is, if I do purchase such a DVD recorder with a tv tuner does that mean I can't play and watch DVD's on it, meaning that I would also need to buy a DVD player?

And how will I know if the recorder that I buy will up-convert? Do the features usually state that it is up-converting or is there a term for this?

Lastly, I was planning on buying a DVD player/recorder for this specific purpose but I have a DVD/VCR player at home. I know that vcr players were used as tuners and have rf input/output, and I'm pretty sure that the one I have at home has the rf input/output. Could I simply just use that to act as my tuner with an rf coaxial hooked up from the wall to the DVD/VCR player and then component or composite cables hooked up to my receiver? Or would the player I have at home need to upconvert for this situation, also?

Sorry for all the questions but I appreciate your help. Thanks.
You can play DVDs as well as record onto a DVD.

It is indicated on the box if it upconverts.

I have a combo unit and do precisely that, utilizing the composite output.

Since you have a combo unit with RF in and out I would try that, but you probably won't be happy with the results (personal taste).
At a minimum I would feed my projector with composite cables (rca yellow).
If you purchase an upconverting DVD recorder make sure the upconverting outputs (from recorder) are compatable with your projector.

So, if I buy a DVD recorder with rf and hdmi inputs and it is upconverting, does that mean I will be able to connect an rf coaxial cable from the wall to the recorder, and then an hdmi cable from the recorder to my receiver, and in turn connect an hdmi cable from my receiver to my projector and be able to watch tv shows?

If you purchase a newer DVD recorder it will have an RF input that can decode analog (basic) cable and the unscrambled QAM channels (digital).

If it is an upconverting recorder it will have DVI or HDMI outputs to feed your display, however you may not be happy with the results of upconverting analog cable!
I would also connect one of the analog video connections (S or composite) and compare.

I've purchased an upconverting dvd recorder with an rf input and an hdmi output so yeah I'll be going that route. Thanks for all your help, though. I really appreciate it.

Oh and also, you said that I wouldn't be happy with upconverting from an analog cable? Is it better to feed analog all the way to my projector instead of upconverting to hdmi? I thought that it would be better to upconvert to hdmi, no? I've just been getting into all of this fairly recently so I'm not exactly sure what the upconverting from an analog feature entails? Care to explain, please? =)

Just try both upconverted and non upconverted!!