VCR / digital cable box / two channels at once

[archcommus]

My parents just got digital cable from Comcast (SD, no DVR). Previously they used a VCR to record one channel while watching another without a splitter. I'm assuming this worked by the VCR doing its tuning, recording, outputting to the TV, and then the TV re-tuned to its own channel.

Well, I know the VCR can somehow be hooked up with this digital cable box, and I know recording can work, but I'm wondering if it's still possible to record one analog channel while watching another analog channel with this setup, for example SD ABC and SD NBC simultaneously. I've read the VCR can't be upstream of the cable box since this would interfere with upstream communication to Comcast. So, if the VCR is between the cable box and the TV, and the cable box controls the TV's channel, it seems I wouldn't be able to do two channels at once.

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[PurdueRy]

You won't be able to do it without a 2 tuner box. The way it worked before is similar to a bus in a computer. You had the broadcast signal going into the VCR and back out then into the TV. The best way to think of this is that this connection is uninterrupted. No processing takes place between the input into the VCR and the output(via a coax connection).

Because both TV and VCR receive the same broadcast signal, each can use their tuner independently of one another. This allowed you to record one channel which you watched another.

But, in this case, you can no longer use the standard NTSC tuner built into most VCRs. QAM tuner might allow you to pick up digital stations on your TV without a cable box, but the VCR doesn't have that tuner.

About the best you could do is use an output from the cable box to run into the VCR(composite or possibly S-video) and record via that. Then you could connect an antenna to your TV to receive local digital stations. If your TV then had a video out, these could be recorded if connected to a different video input on your VCR.

EDIT:

If your TV has a QAM tuner and can tune to all the digital cable stations, then you could watch TV off that and use the cable box as an addition tuner which feeds the VCR.

 

[Muadib]

My first idea is to talk them into getting a dvr. It's just the way to go, because it's so easy. If thats not an option, then you will first need to see if they still get channels without the box. If they do, then you will need a splitter to split the line so that both the vcr & the cable box can get a feed. You dont say what tv they have, so I'm going with what will work with all sets. You now need a A/B switch that will allow you to switch between the cable box & the vcr going to the tv. It will be a bit of a pain, but it will work.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Muadib
My first idea is to talk them into getting a dvr. It's just the way to go, because it's so easy. If thats not an option, then you will first need to see if they still get channels without the box. If they do, then you will need a splitter to split the line so that both the vcr & the cable box can get a feed. You dont say what tv they have, so I'm going with what will work with all sets. You now need a A/B switch that will allow you to switch between the cable box & the vcr going to the tv. It will be a bit of a pain, but it will work.

The VCR won't be able to tune to the incoming digital cable signal. It will need an output from a cable box and to let the cable box do the work.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: Muadib
My first idea is to talk them into getting a dvr. It's just the way to go, because it's so easy. If thats not an option, then you will first need to see if they still get channels without the box. If they do, then you will need a splitter to split the line so that both the vcr & the cable box can get a feed. You dont say what tv they have, so I'm going with what will work with all sets. You now need a A/B switch that will allow you to switch between the cable box & the vcr going to the tv. It will be a bit of a pain, but it will work.

The VCR won't be able to tune to the incoming digital cable signal. It will need an output from a cable box and to let the cable box do the work.

Yes, I know, but they will be able to record the channels they had before they got the new box. I'm pretty sure Comcast doesn't have a dual tuner box for digital cable, unless you get the dvr. At least they don't offer one in NJ. My solution will at least give them the option to be able to dual record the basic stations.

 

[archcommus]

Thanks, guys. The DVR may be an option, but for how much they'd use it we're just not sure if it's worth the extra $9/month. An important thing to note here is that I'm only concerned with recording analog stations, not digital. They have an SD console television with the basic coax and composite inputs, so the digital channels are really only for additional viewing, not required for the things that are also on analog. I know for sure that an analog tuner (VCR, TV) can still tune analog stations through the feed just as before. So, I think Muadib's suggestion may be correct: split the feed, run one to the box, and another to the VCR. The VCR can then do its own recording while the box tunes for the TV. In fact, I don't even think an A/B switch is required, because the VCR is a VCR/DVD combo which is connected to the TV via composite. I think the composite can be used even for watching tapes, not just the DVD. Or no?

So would that setup do the trick?

 

[Muadib]

Yes, your setup will do the trick. You are right, you won't need the A/B switch, just split the feed.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: archcommus
Thanks, guys. The DVR may be an option, but for how much they'd use it we're just not sure if it's worth the extra $9/month. An important thing to note here is that I'm only concerned with recording analog stations, not digital. They have an SD console television with the basic coax and composite inputs, so the digital channels are really only for additional viewing, not required for the things that are also on analog. I know for sure that an analog tuner (VCR, TV) can still tune analog stations through the feed just as before. So, I think Muadib's suggestion may be correct: split the feed, run one to the box, and another to the VCR. The VCR can then do its own recording while the box tunes for the TV. In fact, I don't even think an A/B switch is required, because the VCR is a VCR/DVD combo which is connected to the TV via composite. I think the composite can be used even for watching tapes, not just the DVD. Or no?

So would that setup do the trick?

Yup provided that you only want to record the analog channels that is the easiest method.