Quote:
Originally Posted by
wajo 
Your answer might be in this... your mention of "downstream" and signal "split 9 ways" is confusing cuz, if each component is getting a direct signal feed thru the splitter(s), and they're separately connected to the TV, there's no "downstream."
However, downstream suggests you might have the HDD-DVDRs running their output signal THRU the VCRs, which to me is problematic.
As rgazzara suggested, you can test this problem by connecting both HDD-DVDRs directly and SEPARATELY (one at a time) to the incoming cable TV coax... no amps, splitters, etc.... and then on to your TV and see how a channel scan works then... a good starting point.
I should have said that I have 9 devices through several split points. First of all, when I first hooked up the cable modem - first in line from the wall - my wife reported that her VCRs had gotten "fuzzy" on the higher frequency channels including 'Lifetime' at channel 65, and if I didn't do something about that, the cable modem would have to go. Yikes!
So, I inquired at RS and was directed to their inline amp which I placed first in line. This resulted in a subsequent call to the cable company because the modem kept dropping out, requiring a remote reset from the cable office. Finally a rep came out and was able to determine that the signal was too strong and he added a splitter BEFORE the cable modem, with the one line going to the modem pre-amp and the other going into the amp to feed the A/V equipment. This was prior to having the DVDRs.
At that time, I had two 4-way splitters (hereafter splitter A and B) thus:
SPLITTER A
INPUT: From amp
OUT1: To TV - Panasonic TC32LX60 with analog/digital/QAM tuners
OUT2: To Philips single-disc recorder - analog tuner
OUT3: To Lite-on LVC-9006 DVD recorder/VCR - analog tuner
OUT4: To splitter B (4-way)
SPLITTER B
INPUT: From splitter A (above)
OUT1: To VCR/DVD player 1 - wife's
OUT2: To VCR/DVD player 2 - wife's
OUT3: To VCR/DVD player 3 - daughter's
OUT4: Vacant (capped)
The above WAS the configuration until August 2007 and everything worked fine and dandy. Then I acquired my DVDR3575H in August 2007. I then gave away the Philips single-disc out of frustration and placed the 3575 on splitter A, OUT2, where it worked fine in analog or digital antenna mode, but never would lock in any digital channels from the basic cable.
After joining this forum this year and discovering that the Magnavox 2160 would "play nice" with the Philips in the same room, I jumped at it, and added a simple 2-way splitter BEFORE the 3575. This 2-way feeds only the dynamic duo.
I was excited during initial setup to find the 2160 tuned in all the digital channels, and so I set up ONE program to record as a test that night. Arriving home from work the next morning, I found that it had not recorded and had indeed dropped all the channels. I've never been successful at tuning them in again.
Both machines tune in the digital channels OTA via antenna.
I've since tried the "hang by a thread" test and I had either a fantastic signal or nothing at all. Yesterday, I tried your suggestion to go directly into the 3575 and 2160 one at a time before splitter/amp, and still have the same problem.
Right now they are both connected through a single splitter BEFORE the amplifier.
I'm guessing here, but it looks like I may need an attenuator to weaken the signal for the DVDRs. I will look that up to see where I can get one locally, perhaps RS? Just in case it's relevant, all the above equipment is less than 3 feet from the cable wall outlet.
