If I connect antenna coax to the tv in on my dish receiver, can I get ota programming on my non-digital signal ready tv with out a stb?

Hi Patrick,

You must have a UHF / VHF antenna connected to the antenna input of the TV to scan for digital channels. Most new TV's have a threaded, round 75 ohm coax cable connection for this - but yours might even have connection consisting of 2 small screws to connect a 300 ohm twin lead antenna cable instead. Use which ever yours has.

If you are using this input for the input of a cable TV "set top box" (STB), satellite STB, or similar, you will likely only find a single analog channel (Ch3 or Ch4) after a scan as the scan will only find the output of the STB - which is usually on Ch3 or Ch4 - and not be able to scan the STB channels.

Additionally, the antenna input of the TV will only provide a standard definition picture if connected via coax cable from the STB. It will only provide a high definition picture if connected to a UHF / VHF antenna and a broadcaster is close enough for its signal to be received by the antenna. The way to obtain the best possible picture (high definition) when using an STB for tuning channels is to use an HDMI cable between the STB and TV. An HDMI cable will provide the very best picture and audio signals from the STB to the TV; all over a single cable and is the recommended practice.

I hope this helps!

Partial solution: I have had rabbit ears sitting on my roof, somewhat tied in with my dish, for close to two years. It's just a matter of running a coax out.

Do you mean the Samsung DVD-VR500E? The following steps should work for most DVD recorders. (In the US, you use the AV Input with an RCA composite cable or the RF input.)

If you get a digital-to-analog converter (set top box) and your current antenna provides the OTA signal at your location, then yes you will be able to record a digital program. Connect the set top box to AV1 or AV2 (the SCART inputs). Then use the Input Sel (under PR mode) to select the input. (Alternatively, connect an RF modulator to get the signal to the coax input from the STB to the recorder.) See page 75 of the manual for the DVD-500E for details on setting the input for recording: http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/200410/20041023105238671_00500A-VR300E-XEU-E-B.pdf . Some DVD recorders only record on the TV (coax) input. In that case, you will need a set-top box with a RF out or an RF modulator but you can still record the digital program.

A dual tuner set top box will let you watch one program and record another if both the TV and the recorder are connected to the STB. If your TV has a digital tuner, you can split the incoming antenna signal to go to the set-top box and the TV. (Then you can also watch one program and record another.)

I prefer to use a switch instead of a splitter to reduce the signal loss. However, this forces me to record the program that I am currently watching. Since most of my recording is for time-shifting, this doesn't cause me a problem.

This site, http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/pages/products/stbs/stb_search_results.asp , has a list of reviews of set-top boxes for the UK. I know in the US, it is harder to find new converter boxes. However, they frequently show up in the used market as people replace their older TVs. This may apply in your region as well.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Is the incoming signal OTA or cable? (If cable, is it analog (CATV) or digital (QAM)?)

Most TV's do not have a video out but you should check your TV. Assuming the usual TV with no video out, then you will need a set top box to record any program other than analog signals (CATV or a low power OTA option). The VCR only has an NTSC (analog) tuner.

For an OTA signal, take the coax from the antenna to a digital-to-analog converter coax in, then coax out of the converter to the coax in (tuner) of the VCR. Then set the VCR to channel 3 or 4. Set the switch on the converter. (Some VCRs will record Line In or Input, so you could use the composite out of the converter to the VCR.) Then coax out from the VCR to the coax in on the TV and set the TV to Channel 3 or 4 as well. Set the switch on the VCR. (Alternatively use the composite (A/V) out on the VCR to the composite In on the TV and set the input to AV1 (or whatever the TV calls the input). Digital cable will be set up like the OTA, except for using a cable set top box instead. You may want a splitter to allow for watching one program while recording another. In that case, put the splitter before the set top box if the TV has the digital tuner. Otherwise put it after the set top box. In both cases, you will need to use the AV (composite out) on the VCR to the TV.

For analog cable, take the coax cable and connect it to the VCR's coax in. Then connect the coax out or AV out to TV.

Set the VCR to the desired station and press REC. For timed record, enter the menu and set the time to start and end the recording as well as the channel. If you are using a set top box, set that to the desired station and then press record. (Leave the VCR set to Line in or channel 3 (4) as needed.)

Manuals for some JVC vcrs are here: http://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?categoryId=CATG0002&productId=PRD4600001&archive=true . A manual for a similar model will help since they all connect the same way. However the HR-D18OU is not in the list.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

For OTA or CATV signals, you need to daisy chain the coax from the source (antenna for OTA) to the coax input on DVD recorder and then the coax out to the coax input of the TV. If you have a set-top cable box with an incoming CATV signal, it should be connected between the DVD recorder and the TV.

The unit can tune in and record 480i (SD) ATSC (OTA digital), NTSC (OTA analog), analog CATV and digital CATV channels.

A satellite receiver or a non-CATV cable box should get the incoming signal first and then have their composite video output (A/V) connected to the DVD recorder composite video input and then their coax (RF) output (if present) gets connected to the TV. For these, you would record from the IN1 or IN2 (press Select Input) instead of selecting a channel. Then connect the composite video out on the recorder to the TV's composite video in.

Digital signals are either enough to tune in or give no signal. So check that your antenna is correctly oriented for OTA.

Separately, you can connect the video signal when playing DVDs via composite (good signal) out and component out (better signal) out to the TV's matching input. For the component video, the sound is carried on a separate cable. Then set the TV to the input source.

In the case of wanting to watch a VHS tape while taping to a DVD, do not use the Component video source, set the TV to Input 1 (composite).

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells
(you can get a copy of the manual here: http://tv.manualsonline.com/manuals/mfg/panasonic/dmrez47v_dmrez475v.html )

NO. An RF modulator and your digital-to-analog (DAC) TV converter are 2 different devices. The DAC will convert over-the-air (OTA) digital television signals from your antenna to analog NTSC format so your older analog TV can receive OTA broadcasts. The RF modulator converts base-band video (composite cable/RCA connector, or S-Video cable connector) to channel 3 or 4, so you can watch video/audio on your set. To use both the RF mod. and the DAC converter to the same TV, use an A/B switch for F-connector coax, or follow the directions for the RF modulator to make the correct connections.

The CC is provided to DISH (and all cable/satellite companies) by the network that creates the programming. Usually, live TV (like news, sports, etc) is the most jumbled because of the time it takes someone to transpose what is being spoken as it is being spoken. If this is a network that is available OTA (via antenna), verify that the issue is not happening when you are receiving the signal from somewhere other than DISH (if you cannot receive an OTA signal, try at a buddy's house that uses another cable provider). If the problem occurs via OTA or other providers, contact KIRO to have them improve their CC service. If it only happens when viewed with DISH, contact DISH, who will then resolve the issue with KIRO (usually a lag time in signal transmission from the provider).

You shouldn't need to. You should get your local channels from Dish on the low channel numbers, like 2 through 70.

Hi there Phil...... this switch from analog to digital has lots of folks scratching their heads. Fortunately I have some great news for you. The signal coming from the Dish network does not need a converter as it is already digital.

You should have your system setup in the following manner below:

You also will only be able to receive the HD locals with a HD OTA antenna. It is possible that you will need to turn the satellite off in this room to view the OTA's effectively.

Also you should use a splitter as depicted in the picture by the red boxes to combine signals of this frequency. The blue box is the diplexer on the incoming satellite feed and the black box is the seperator that most dual tuners use. If yours does not utilize this device you will have another cable coming from the outside of the house to the back of the receiver. The location of the ports on the back of the receiver in my diagram may differ in position on your receiver so obviously connect them to the proper port. I hope this ressolves the issue and there is no need to seperaate the signal at the remote tv as it will only be a duplicate of the same signal you have connected already as OTA and the TV2 backfeed are of the same frequency range.