TV, DVD, VCR, Stereo, Digital Cable Connections
05-15-01 | 04:24 AM
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I'm lost trying to get a TV, DVD, VCR, Stereo and Digital Cable box all hooked up and working. Sorry if this is a dumb question...am trying to surprise the hubby with the new DVD and set-up. Is this even possible? My cable TV company wouldn't even deal with the question ("we don't support blah, blah, blah, whine, whine"). I can get 4 working (without the DVD connected to anything or without the VCR connected to anything), but want to avoid having to manually move plugs around depending on whether we want to use the DVD or VCR. DVD is a Sony DVP-S560D. Digital cable box is a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000. VCR is a Sony SLV-775HF. TV is a 1999 Sony 27" Trinitron. Stereo may be the problem: a dinky Aiwa CS-NA222 cd/cassette/radio combo with the 2 extra surround sound speakers. What am I missing? Can someone give me the "dumb blond" step-by-step instructions? Or point me to where I can find them? Am I missing something I need to buy? (If so, no problem). Any and all suggestions much appreciated. Thanks.
05-15-01 | 09:23 AM
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05-15-01 | 09:26 AM
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How many Video inputs does your TV have? You can tell pressing the (TV/VIDEO) button. It should scroll like Video1, video2, video3, etc. Does it have S-Video, composite video(yellow RCA jack) or component input(red, green and blue) input. Does your TV have PIP?
Your stereo might not work if you want to get DD5.1 sound. This is the sound that come out of the DVD player. Does your stereo have an optical (black type plug)or a digital coaxial input(orange color jack).
Can you describe your stereo some more. You might need to buy a new one with some speakers and a sub if you like.
Your stereo might not work if you want to get DD5.1 sound. This is the sound that come out of the DVD player. Does your stereo have an optical (black type plug)or a digital coaxial input(orange color jack).
Can you describe your stereo some more. You might need to buy a new one with some speakers and a sub if you like.
05-15-01 | 09:55 AM
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From: Chicago
Just a guess:
CABLE, VCR, TV are one set of connections. Using the antenna connections and RF screw-on coaxial cables (RG6) take the incoming cable and go in the cable box, out of the box to the VCR, out of the VCR to the TV antenna input.
CABLE TV WIRE -> CABLE BOX -> VCR -> TV
That will give you cable TV and VCR, and your TV will probably have to be on channel 3/4.
Now, the DVD player and stereo are a separate matter. Assuming that your TV has the bare minimum inputs, they would be the yellow, red, and white "composite video" inputs. Assuming that your stereo system has the bare minimum inputs, it will have an audio input labeled "AUX" or something.
You can purchase a "audio/video" cable with all three cables together, but you will probably want to buy a red/white stereo audio cable and a separate video cable (75 ohm RCA-type video, available at any electronics store). You will connect the yellow video output on the back of the DVD player to the TV video input.
Then, you can connect the red/white audio output on the DVD player to the AUX audio input on the stereo. To watch DVD, put the TV on "Video Input" and turn the stereo on to "AUX". You will have DVD picture and surround sound.
DVD PLAYER VIDEO -> TV
DVD PLAYER AUDIO -> STEREO
That would give you a bare minimum surround sound setup. Without more information, this is pretty much the only setup I can suggest. You will get sound from the TV for cable and VCR, and surround sound for DVD. All instruction manals should come with multiple diagrams giving you a variety of connection options, so if you get stuck, refer to the manual.
If you have more TV video inputs and more stereo audio inputs, you can set up digital cable and a VCR in a variety of ways, but this setup will get you through the initial phase. After that, he can change the system around however he wants.
[EDITED TO CHANGE RG59 TO RG6.]
[Edited by DigIt on 05-15-01 at 10:10 AM]
CABLE, VCR, TV are one set of connections. Using the antenna connections and RF screw-on coaxial cables (RG6) take the incoming cable and go in the cable box, out of the box to the VCR, out of the VCR to the TV antenna input.
CABLE TV WIRE -> CABLE BOX -> VCR -> TV
That will give you cable TV and VCR, and your TV will probably have to be on channel 3/4.
Now, the DVD player and stereo are a separate matter. Assuming that your TV has the bare minimum inputs, they would be the yellow, red, and white "composite video" inputs. Assuming that your stereo system has the bare minimum inputs, it will have an audio input labeled "AUX" or something.
You can purchase a "audio/video" cable with all three cables together, but you will probably want to buy a red/white stereo audio cable and a separate video cable (75 ohm RCA-type video, available at any electronics store). You will connect the yellow video output on the back of the DVD player to the TV video input.
Then, you can connect the red/white audio output on the DVD player to the AUX audio input on the stereo. To watch DVD, put the TV on "Video Input" and turn the stereo on to "AUX". You will have DVD picture and surround sound.
DVD PLAYER VIDEO -> TV
DVD PLAYER AUDIO -> STEREO
That would give you a bare minimum surround sound setup. Without more information, this is pretty much the only setup I can suggest. You will get sound from the TV for cable and VCR, and surround sound for DVD. All instruction manals should come with multiple diagrams giving you a variety of connection options, so if you get stuck, refer to the manual.
If you have more TV video inputs and more stereo audio inputs, you can set up digital cable and a VCR in a variety of ways, but this setup will get you through the initial phase. After that, he can change the system around however he wants.
[EDITED TO CHANGE RG59 TO RG6.]
[Edited by DigIt on 05-15-01 at 10:10 AM]
05-15-01 | 10:17 AM
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From: Seattle
Originally posted by DigIt
Just a guess:
Using the antenna connections and plain old RF screw-on coaxial cables (RG59, available anywhere) take the incoming cable and go in the cable box, out of the box to the VCR, out of the VCR to the TV antenna input.
Just a guess:
Using the antenna connections and plain old RF screw-on coaxial cables (RG59, available anywhere) take the incoming cable and go in the cable box, out of the box to the VCR, out of the VCR to the TV antenna input.
05-17-01 | 02:47 AM
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Thank You! Thank You!
Dearest Gentlemen (I'm assuming):
Thanks so much for all your help. Wow. Awesome! I never expected such great advice. A few answers:
The TV has "bare minimum" composite video inputs (yellow/red/white) and the stereo, too, is basic - one "Aux/Video" input (no optical or digital coaxial). TV does not have PIP (picture-in-picture, I assume). No S-video on TV.
Thanks Digit! Your set-up is working (I was soooo close to having this one right). Still wish I could get stereo surround sound through our cheap Aiwa for TV/cable/VCR, but realize I have to accept sound through TV for now. It's more important to have the better sound for the DVD anyway. In general, sounds like we'll need to do some major upgrading to our sound system to accommodate everything. We also have been considering a new wide-screen TV too (hmmmm ... home theater type system??). Will leave this to husband's expertise. Any suggestions for this new equipment from you experts will, of course, be much appreciated.
Thanks so much again all!
[Edited by cschust on 05-17-01 at 12:57 AM]
Thanks so much for all your help. Wow. Awesome! I never expected such great advice. A few answers:
The TV has "bare minimum" composite video inputs (yellow/red/white) and the stereo, too, is basic - one "Aux/Video" input (no optical or digital coaxial). TV does not have PIP (picture-in-picture, I assume). No S-video on TV.
Thanks Digit! Your set-up is working (I was soooo close to having this one right). Still wish I could get stereo surround sound through our cheap Aiwa for TV/cable/VCR, but realize I have to accept sound through TV for now. It's more important to have the better sound for the DVD anyway. In general, sounds like we'll need to do some major upgrading to our sound system to accommodate everything. We also have been considering a new wide-screen TV too (hmmmm ... home theater type system??). Will leave this to husband's expertise. Any suggestions for this new equipment from you experts will, of course, be much appreciated.
Thanks so much again all!
[Edited by cschust on 05-17-01 at 12:57 AM]
