RCA TV from 1989 will play VCR

I am assuming you wish to record what is playing on your TV to the VCR and not just asking how to record on a VCR, which is much easier, just put your cable from your antenna/cable box on the vcr and pick a channel from antenna or use channel 3 or 4 for cable box and press record. To watch TV with or without recording connect VCR output (Either coax or Composite) to same type input on the TV. If this is your question, then comment if you have trouble and I will get more detailed. This is a good video on doing this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgb7uoLIaQE

So if you want to record what is playing on your TV to the VCR, you must have a TV OUT on the TV. The only types of TV OUT that I have seen that would match to a VCR are either coax or RCA.

If the TV OUT is coax just connect one end of coax cable to the TV OUT on the TV and connect the other end to the Antenna/Cable IN on the VCR. Play the program on the TV and record on the VCR usually on either channel 3 or 4. Unless you have the VCR set up to play on another TV you will just have to use trial and error (record on one channel and playback on TV to see if you recorded anything, is so that is right channel, if not, then try the other one.) to find out which.

So, on to recording the signal from a TV on a VCR. If the TV OUT is Composite (RCA jacks, yellow, red, and white or black) you will need some RCA (Composite) cables. They may be labeled patch cords or dubbing cables at the store. That is if you can find them. I don't know if they are still being sold as a video accessory. If not just use RCA audio cords.

There will be two plugs on each end for mono sound recording and three for stereo sound recording. You will have to have audio or L & R audio, and video OUT on your TV and audio or L & R audio, and video IN on your VCR. Plug the yellow cable end into the video OUT on your TV and the yellow on the other end into the video IN on your VCR. Do the same for audio. I have always seen yellow as the color for video, but audio is sometimes white and sometimes black, and in stereo audio right is usually red, but left can be either white or black. With a little luck the cable plugs and TV and VCR IN & OUT jacks will match in color. If sound is mono the is nothing to get wrong. If audio is stereo the worst that can happen is the sound for right side will play on the left and sound for the left side will play on the right. As long as red is used for right it should be correct.

If there is only one set of input jacks on the VCR, the VCR input will probably need to be set to 'Line In'. If there are multiple sets of input jacks they should be labeled 'Input 1', 'Input 2', etc.. The VCR input setting will need to be set to the input you plugged the RCA cables into. The jacks you plugged cable ends into should be labeled. The setting for input on the VCR and TV should match the label on that device.

Now turn on the TV and put it on what you want to record. Do this before it comes on if you want to record all of it. Having set the VCR on 'Line In' or on the correct input, just press record on the VCR. Leave the TV on while recording.

As long as the TV is on and going to play something you want to record, you can set the timer on the VCR to record it, but instead of setting a channel you will choose either 'Line In' or the input number you are using.

This should always work to record a show on the TV when the signal is coming in through a coax cable from an antenna or cable box. But there are some TVs that only send that signal to the TV Out jacks. So if you are watching something from another source, like another VCR, a DVD player, or a video camera on TV on the TV and try to record that you will only record the incoming signal from the antenna or cable box.

In that case just connect the other VCR, the DVD or the camera to the recording VCR and play it on the one using the OUT jacks and record on the VCR using the Input jacks. This should make a better recording too. You can see what is happening by using the OUT jacks on the VCR and connecting the cable from them to the IN jacks on the TV and selecting the 'Line In' or 'Input 1, 2 etc.' matching where you plugged the cable from the VCR in on the TV.

Summary:
Device playing what you want to record is the: SOURCE
1. Using RCA dubbing cables plug them into the OUT jacks on the source and the IN jacks on the VCR.
2. Set the VCR input to the setting that matches the label on the jacks in which the RCA cables are plugged.
3. Play the program on the source and press record on the VCR to begin to record it.
Note: Leave the TV on if that is the source.

If you have any questions I assume I will get a notification if you leave a comment and I will be happy to answer.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!,
Ron

Hook the converter box cables to the input RCA jacks on the back of the VCR, then hook the output RCA jacks to the input RCA jacks to the TV, Keep the VCR on channel 3 or 4, on the TV in menu scroll through the source settings to find the what source the vcr is using

A VCR records by capturing a signal sent out of your TV on an out jack (yellow RCA), and the sound is picked up by the Red and White RCA out jacks. These signals must be connected to your same color in jacks on your VCR. The VCR is then set to Ch 3 or 4 (your choice) that contains a RF (Radio Frequency) circuit that collects the signals from what ever channel you are viewing on your TV, out the mentioned jacks down to your VCR. and maganitize the tape when you punch record on your VCR. See http://www.ehow.com/taping-vcr-to-vcr/ to learn how to use a VCR

make sure the tv vcr button on the vcr is selected to vcr and that you have the tv on channel 3 or 4. try pushing the tv vcr button a few times back and forth on channel 3 then on 4. if that doesnt work try hooking the vcr up to the tv with the rca jacks. they will be yellow, white and red or maybe only two from the vcr yellow and white. hook them up the the correct input on the tv and change the input on the tv. if that doesnt work, your vcr may be done.

You need a set of RCA AV dubbing cables (available at fine electronics stores everywhere), and a couple VCRs. Plug the cables into the "A/V Out" jacks on the back of the VCR that will be playing, and into the "A/V In" jacks on the VCR that will record.

Also on the recording VCR, use a regular coaxial cable to attach it to a television.

Now, set the TV to 3, fire up the VCR's, and set the recording VCR's TV/VCR toggle to VCR. Also on the one that is recording, set the channel to "INPUT" or "AUX" or something like that. (You're telling it to record what it sees coming from the jacks you plugged the cables into.) Then hit Play on the other machine. You should be able to see your tape playing back. If you do, you have followed these directions correctly, and you're ready to make your dub.

HINT: The first few feet of tape are often prone to dropout and generally sucking. Record a minute of black before making your dub. Mark this on the tape or tell them when you turn it in. They will be impressed.

If you have an old vcr hook the dvd player to the inputs on back of the vcr (RCA jacks) Run a coax cable from the "out" on the vcr to the back of tv. Turn the tv on channel 4 or 3 then put a tape in the vcr and push record then pause it. Or if the vcr has a tv/video button you can push or activate it and it should allow the dvd to play through to the tv.

You don't say what kind of tv,model,etc. or if the tv tuner is 'solid state', push button, knob type channel changer.
If you REALLY, REALLY have to use the tv through the vcr.place the signal [antenna, cable box, cable antenna (signal) in vcr RF input.place a blank vhs tape to record, use the RCA jacks[AUDIO & VIDEO] in back of the VCR to INPUT of TV video & audio ( if you have then ) While you are recording, you will be able to see the tv program.
p.s. place the TV\VCR switch to vcr.

!st) The antenna INPUT::RF (black wire usually from "cable TV", "Dish TV", even ANTENNA air wave reception,etc.) into INPUT of VCR\DVD, OUTPUT of VCR\DVD to TV RF input.
2nd) If you have INPUT\OUTPUT to what are called " RCA " jacks on your TV, on the front or on the back, then any & all output jacks from VCR\DVD goes to INPUT\OUTPUT of the TV.
In other words:: output of audio on VHS\DVD to input of audio on TV( RCA jacks). Output of video on VHS\DVD to input of video (RCA jacks)
Hope this helps

Usually one connects a RF [cable tv, Dish tv, antenna ] cable to the INPUT of VCR & a RF cable output to tv (antenna )INPUT .The reason is that if you are watching TV reception (Cable, Dish, etc) and you want to watch VCR tape, just push the tape in and it should start playing picture.
From what I understand that you are trying to say:: [ YOUR NEW TV ! ] you MUST connect to the RCA jacks, CABLE S with RCA plugs that come out of the VCR to the new TV [ INPUT & OUTPUT] jacks .When you ["" use input botton on VCR remote"" ] you are using a DIFFERENT input signal. You are not letting the TV know that you are changing the signal from RF(antenna, Cable, Dish,etc)to the RCA signal ["" I use my input botton on my vcr remote""]

The proper hookup is antenna or cable into the VCR RF/antenna input, then VCR RF/antenna output to the TV RF input. The hookup you describe means no signal is getting to the VCR.

With some TVs, there can be Video and audio output jacks which can be hooked to the video and audio jacks of the VCR. However this would likely mean you could only record the channel being watched, and, the TV would have to be on.