I am no longer able to record tv programs using my converter box.

Most Goldstar VCRs only have an analog tuner. (TVs do not often have an option to output their video to another device.)

So first what is the source of the TV program? If it is an OTA analog or CATV cable. Set up the VCR normally by connecting the incoming signal cable to the VCR and then use the coax out to the TV. Scan for channels and set the VCR to record the desired program. (Either use the timed record or one touch record method.)

If your source is digital, you will need a set top box (either a digital to analog converter or cable box). To split an incoming OTA signal between your TV and the converter box, you can use a switch or a splitter. (A splitter will give lower signal strength to both the TV and the converter box.)

Depending on the box, you can either connect a coax cable from the box to the VCR and then to the TV or composite video from the box to the VCR. If you use coax, set the converter to channel 3 or channel 4 and record that channel. Otherwise set the VCR to record Line 1.

To record, put in a tape with sufficient space available with an intact safety tab. For One Touch Recording, set the VCR to the desired channel and tape speed. Then press Rec. Press several time for a timed recording. For Timed recording, press Menu > Program. Press Select and move through the list to program day to record, the start/stop time, and channel, etc. When done, press Menu to save the setting. The timer light should come on (most VCRs will turn off).

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

There are 2 options-
Option 1
Connect the coax cables in the following order.
1 From the wall to the input of the converter box.
2. From the output of the converter box to the input of the VCR.
3. From the VCR to the TV input.

Here is how you record with this option.
1. Tune the converter box to the channel you wish to record.
2. Turn the channel on the VCR to channel 3 or program the VCR to record channel 3 this will record whatever channel you have your converter box set to at the time of the recording.

Option 2- (will not work on satellite)
1. From the wall to a 2 way splitter (made for digital cable. General rule of thumb with digital cable is gold does not usually mean good.)
2. One output from the splitter to the converter box and the other to the input of the VCR.
3. Connect an Audio Video (RCA (yellow/red/white cable)) from the VCR to the TV input.
4. Select the appropriate input on the TV for the VCR.

Here is how you record with option-
Tune the VCR to the channel you wish to record and push the record button or program the timer to record the channel and time that you wish.
Note- with this option you will only be able to record channels that you would receive without the converter box. Also each time that you split the cable line you loose part of your incoming signal and depending on how you house is set up this option could affect the quality of your digital signals on the converter box.

You need to set the vcr to channel 3 or 4 (whatever channel the digital converter box is set to broadcast on) to record a program. The digital converter box has to be set to the channel you want to record the show from.

You have to set the vcr to channel 3 or 4 (whatever the converter box is set to broadcast on). The signal to record has to come through the converter box. Since the VCR only has a analog tuner, it cannot pick up any digital channels on it's own.

You have to use the RCA plugs on the back of the converter box and the tv (red,yellow and white). Or you can attach the antenna wire to box and then attach the wire that comes with the converter that is listed as to the tv and instead attach it to the antenna in on the vcr. The converter box will determine which channel your vcr will get a singal to record from. Your VCR for every program will be set to channel 3 or 4 (depending on what your converter box is set to broadcast on). Make sure the power saver on the converter box is turned off as if you want to record a program in say 4 hours, if the converter box turns off in 2, your vcr will have nothing to record.

I ran seperate coaxible cable to the tv from vcr and unplug the tv converter box everytime I want to watch the vcr. You can also use the RCA cord to send the signal from the vcr to the tv and use the input signal to watch your recorded programs. I had static showing up everytime I played it through the second converter box thus I solved it by running a seperate coax line. I don't know if you will have this problem, just wanted you to be aware.

This is probably way too late an answer, but I just ran across your post. No TV made in 2002 has digital tuning, so you would need the converter box to watch off-the-air digital broadcasts.

To hook up the pieces, take the converter box output and run it to the VCR antenna input jack. Then run the output from the VCR to the TV's antenna input. Leave the VCR and TV both on channel 3 (or channel 4 if that's what you have the converter box output set for).

To watch TV, leave the VCR off and the signal from the converter will pass right through to the TV. You'll do your channel changing with the converter box, so the TV stays on channel 3. To record a program, just remember that the VCR will always need to be tuned to channel 3 (4), since it will have to be on the converter box output channel. Again, you pick the actual TV channel with the converter.

Note that this arrangement will allow you to program your VCR to record while you are out, but there are some limitations. You can't record things on different channels, since you won't be home to switch channels on the converter. The VCR is always recording on channel 3 (4), and the program you'll be recording is whatever channel the box is set for. If another program comes on on a different channel later, you won't be around to switch. But you could program different recording times on the same channel, anyway. You also can't record one program while watching a different channel, unless you had a second converter box.

Hope you can still use the information provided here. If this has been helpful, please take a moment to rate this a fixya. Thanks for asking here!

Unfortunately no, unless you get a second converter box. You're using the converter box to select channels, and it can only be on one channel at a time. With a second converter box, you might find you need a second antenna too (so you can get a signal on both channels). And you can't program your VCR to record on different channels (since it can't control the coverter box to change channels).

(This is a case of history repeating itself. When cable TV was new, and most TV's and VCR's weren't cable-ready, you needed to use the cable company's converter box. The same problems came up then too!)

Is it possible to record TV programming on a VCR when using a DTV converter? h1 = document.getElementById("title").getElementsByTagName("h1")[0];h1.innerHTML = widont(h1.innerHTML); Hi,

I had the same problem and found this answer that worked for me. Hope this does the trick for you.

Simple stated, your VCR must be set to channel 3 also. Check it out.

woody

1. You must have the VCR tuned to record on channel 3.
2. You must have the VCR connected to output signal of the DTV converter box. In other words, the converter box must be connected between the antenna and the VCR. So, the likely configuration you would use with a coaxial cable is antenna to DTV converter to VCR to TV.
3. You must tune the DTV converter to the channel you want to record prior to recording. The VCR won't be able to change channels on the DTV converter.
4. You will be able to use the timed record function on the VCR but you must adhere to steps 1-3.

If this sounds freakishly familiar to recording on a digital cable or satellite set-top box, you are right. It is exactly like recording a signal from a digital cable box or satellite receiver. While it may be inconvenient to perform the steps above, at least the option still exists to record on a VCR while using a DTV converter box.
Disadvantage of DTV Converter: You will lose the ability to watch one program and record another with the DTV converter. Sorry for the bad news.
The reason is the tuner. The VCR tuner is useless with digital except for recognizing channel 3. The digital converter is a single tuner item so it only receives one station at a time.

I need to leave my TV on channel 3 and set the converter to the channel I want to record. When programming for future recording, it's always from channel 3, not the channel I want the converter displaying.

cant you just turn the channel on your DCB and then record on the vcr?