How to set up DVD Recorder with Digital Cable Box?

kokootchke · 07-26-2009, 10:47 PM

Hello!

I have a question whose answer I've been trying to figure out for days but to no avail... I hope you guys can help.

I recently purchased a Toshiba DR570 DVD Recorder, which has a Digital Tuner and 1080p-Upconverter. I basically want to be able to record the old shows I have saved to my Comcast DVR box and the new ones later on. I have followed the instructions in the manual step by step but I cannot make the DVD recorder record something off the TV (digital cable) properly. At some point, I connected everything and I got a message on the TV screen (looked like one of those Comcast messages) that said about copyrights and added, "HDMI output blocked". I tried changing channels but this didn't help.

I then called Toshiba but they were pretty useless. After 60 minutes of talking on the phone with them and trying different connections from my cable box to my DVD recorder to my TV, they told me I needed to auto-program all the channels again and, given that that was taking a while, they hung up.

I also went to Best Buy and their "Home Theater specialist" told me how to configure all the cables, but that didn't work either.

The way I have it right now is as follows: I have my standard coaxial cable from the wall to my Digital Cable Box. Then the Best Buy guy told me I should buy a couple of RG6 coaxial cables (RG6 would improve the image, he said) that go from the Out of my cable box to the In of my DVD recorder, and from the Out of my DVD recorder to the In of my TV. I also have an HDMI connection going from my cable box to my TV directly (HDMI 1), and another HDMI connection going from my DVD recorder to my TV (HDMI 2). I have not plugged anything else, including any audio cables, but that doesn't seem to matter.

With this connection, I am basically able to watch my cable channels when I set the TV to HDMI-1 (which is the way I've always had configured my TV/cable, even before I got the DVD recorder). However, I cannot see any channels through the HDMI-2 connection. I am able to access the DVD recorder's menu when I'm on HDMI-2, but I can't see anything else and when I try scheduling a recording, I can't select a channel because I can't see any channels!

Can anyone help me?

At some point, using the standard RCA cables, I was able to record something but the image quality was VERY bad. Ideally, I would like to record in HD... but this doesn't have to be the case... if I could at least record in a decent picture quality, that would be amazing!!

Thank you very much, everybody..!!!!

DoctorCAD · 07-27-2009, 05:48 AM

Number 1, you will NOT be able to record in HD.

Number 2, a coax cable out of the cable box will NEVER get you HD, you would need an HDMI cable or a set of red/blue/green cables to even carry the HD signal.

Number 3, the Toshiba is NOT a HD tuner nor a HD dvd player, it only upconverts the DVD output to 1080.

kokootchke · 07-27-2009, 07:39 AM

Thank, DoctorCAD.

I now understand that I won't be able to record in HD, and that's fine. I just want to be able to record in some way that gives me decent quality. How should I plug my cables to achieve this? Using HDMI or component cables from my cable box to my DVD recorder is NOT an option because the DVD recorder doesn't have any HDMI or component inputs... only HDMI and component outputs.

The only inputs I have on my DVD recorder unit are the standard RCA and S-video ones, and the Antenna (where I plugged my RG6 coaxial cable)...

Thank you!

oljim · 07-28-2009, 08:35 AM

Run a S cable + red and white rca from cable box to the DVD input.

carosue · 09-01-2009, 10:36 AM

I have a Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder I have been trying to hook up to my directv dvr with no luck. I can play dvds but can't record anything. I used component cables and red and white audio cables from dvd recorder into tv then rca cables out from directv receiver into dvd recorder. Any help would be greatly appreciated

deadhead68 · 09-01-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carosue

I have a Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder I have been trying to hook up to my directv dvr with no luck. I can play dvds but can't record anything. Help!

How is the DVD Recorder connected to the directv dvr?

DeadHead68

**rbinck** · 09-01-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carosue

I have a Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder I have been trying to hook up to my directv dvr with no luck. I can play dvds but can't record anything. I used component cables and red and white audio cables from dvd recorder into tv then rca cables out from directv receiver into dvd recorder. Any help would be greatly appreciated

I assume you have hooked the input to the DVD recorder to the A/V (yellow-red-white) outputs of the Directv DVR. If so, then I'm pretty sure you will also have to set the output format of the Directv DVR to 480i. The A/V outputs are turned off when the Directv DVR is set to a HD output format. A real pain in the butt. I had to get a component video to composite video adapter for mine to advoid having to switch back and forth when I wanted to record. I've since gone to U-verse and I use a Hauppauge 1212 HD PVR for recording in HD to my PC.

carosue · 09-03-2009, 09:09 AM

Thank you rbinck!! The 480i did the trick. I now know who to ask when these problems arise. Thanks again. carosue

carosue · 09-03-2009, 09:33 AM

My directv is connected to my dvd recorder as follows: a/v (yellow-red-white) directv output to a/v (yellow-red-white) dvd recorder input. What I didn't realize was I had to change the format on my directv from 1080i to 480i.

07-26-2009, 10:47 PM	#1
kokootchke What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	How to set up DVD Recorder with Digital Cable Box? Hello! I have a question whose answer I've been trying to figure out for days but to no avail... I hope you guys can help. I recently purchased a Toshiba DR570 DVD Recorder, which has a Digital Tuner and 1080p-Upconverter. I basically want to be able to record the old shows I have saved to my Comcast DVR box and the new ones later on. I have followed the instructions in the manual step by step but I cannot make the DVD recorder record something off the TV (digital cable) properly. At some point, I connected everything and I got a message on the TV screen (looked like one of those Comcast messages) that said about copyrights and added, "HDMI output blocked". I tried changing channels but this didn't help. I then called Toshiba but they were pretty useless. After 60 minutes of talking on the phone with them and trying different connections from my cable box to my DVD recorder to my TV, they told me I needed to auto-program all the channels again and, given that that was taking a while, they hung up. I also went to Best Buy and their "Home Theater specialist" told me how to configure all the cables, but that didn't work either. The way I have it right now is as follows: I have my standard coaxial cable from the wall to my Digital Cable Box. Then the Best Buy guy told me I should buy a couple of RG6 coaxial cables (RG6 would improve the image, he said) that go from the Out of my cable box to the In of my DVD recorder, and from the Out of my DVD recorder to the In of my TV. I also have an HDMI connection going from my cable box to my TV directly (HDMI 1), and another HDMI connection going from my DVD recorder to my TV (HDMI 2). I have not plugged anything else, including any audio cables, but that doesn't seem to matter. With this connection, I am basically able to watch my cable channels when I set the TV to HDMI-1 (which is the way I've always had configured my TV/cable, even before I got the DVD recorder). However, I cannot see any channels through the HDMI-2 connection. I am able to access the DVD recorder's menu when I'm on HDMI-2, but I can't see anything else and when I try scheduling a recording, I can't select a channel because I can't see any channels! Can anyone help me? At some point, using the standard RCA cables, I was able to record something but the image quality was VERY bad. Ideally, I would like to record in HD... but this doesn't have to be the case... if I could at least record in a decent picture quality, that would be amazing!! Thank you very much, everybody..!!!!

09-01-2009, 10:36 AM	#5
carosue What is HD? Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 3	I have a Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder I have been trying to hook up to my directv dvr with no luck. I can play dvds but can't record anything. I used component cables and red and white audio cables from dvd recorder into tv then rca cables out from directv receiver into dvd recorder. Any help would be greatly appreciated Last edited by carosue; 09-01-2009 at 10:46 AM.

Similar Threads to How to set up DVD Recorder with Digital Cable Box?
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Major Issue With DVD Hard Disk Recorder	cgratti	SD DVD Players and Discs	7	02-19-2007 01:30 AM
Connecting DVD Recorder, HD TV and HD cable receiver	RNico	Cables & Connections	7	10-25-2006 07:46 AM
Can't control aspect with HD box	jennymcc	Cable Providers	10	01-26-2005 09:14 AM

07-27-2009, 05:48 AM	#2
DoctorCAD Direct TV Fresh Meat Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,197	Number 1, you will NOT be able to record in HD. Number 2, a coax cable out of the cable box will NEVER get you HD, you would need an HDMI cable or a set of red/blue/green cables to even carry the HD signal. Number 3, the Toshiba is NOT a HD tuner nor a HD dvd player, it only upconverts the DVD output to 1080.

07-27-2009, 07:39 AM	#3
kokootchke What is HD? Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	Thank, DoctorCAD. I now understand that I won't be able to record in HD, and that's fine. I just want to be able to record in some way that gives me decent quality. How should I plug my cables to achieve this? Using HDMI or component cables from my cable box to my DVD recorder is NOT an option because the DVD recorder doesn't have any HDMI or component inputs... only HDMI and component outputs. The only inputs I have on my DVD recorder unit are the standard RCA and S-video ones, and the Antenna (where I plugged my RG6 coaxial cable)... Thank you!

07-28-2009, 08:35 AM	#4
oljim High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 154	Run a S cable + red and white rca from cable box to the DVD input.

09-03-2009, 09:09 AM	#8
carosue What is HD? Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 3	Thank you rbinck!! The 480i did the trick. I now know who to ask when these problems arise. Thanks again. carosue

09-03-2009, 09:33 AM	#9
carosue What is HD? Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 3	My directv is connected to my dvd recorder as follows: a/v (yellow-red-white) directv output to a/v (yellow-red-white) dvd recorder input. What I didn't realize was I had to change the format on my directv from 1080i to 480i.