I know this tv has digital capabilities, so i don't need to get the digital box, what do i need to watch my local channels? i have directv but does not include local channels (ie. fox, abc, nbc).

The DMR-ES25 does not have an ATSC tuner; it has an NTSC tuner. See page 54 (Specifications) of the manual at the bottom of the left column (television system). You need to add digital to analog (ATSC to NTSC) OTA converter box between the antenna and the DVD recorder. Next, you will set the converter box to the channel you wish to record and set the DVD recorder to record on a composite input (Line in) or channel 3/4 depending on how you set up the converter box.

The only remaining analog broadcasts are a few low-power stations. Unless you live close to one of these transmitters, your DMR-ES25 will not be able to tune in any channels. Make sure that you find a converter box with composite and/or RF out if you wish to use the DVD recorder. There are some currently available ATSC tuners that have built-in DVR capabilities. These might also work for you. However, many of the cheap units fail quickly.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

I don,t where you live & therefore I don't know which transmitter you will be picking but this sounds as if your local transmitter has now stopped transmitting the analogue signal. You maybe aware from a lot of advertising that this form of signal will be getting turned off in different areas around the country so unless you have cable or a digi-box or a digital TV then you will not receive any signal. As you have the Virgin box you will still receive channels 1 to 5 on digital but not on analogue.

you could try waiting or .. make sure you tv is in "digital" not "analog"

You will not be able to record local station from a DTV converter connected thru a directv receiver unless there is a a/v input on the directv samsung receiver. Also check the user manual for this receiver if recording from an external source such as a DTV converter box is possible. The answer to seperating the DTV converter box from the directv samsung receiver is possible if your tv has multiple inputs. Try connecting the DTV box to the RF input and the directv samsung box to an a/v input then change inputs using the tv remote. you will need an av cable (yellow/ red/white) for the directv box and a rf jumper cable for the DTV box.

I don't know what flat screen tv you have,but you must be aware of the coaxial input behind the TV.It could be analog input,digital input and OUTPUT!!
Anyway,if you connect your basic directv box to your digital input,it will not serve you any purpose to get HD channels and you don't have the HD directv box.The TV will not display digital channel for you because if you use coaxial input to TV,you should be under either channel 3 or 4 and be sure either channel had been saved under memory.In order to change channels,you will need to change it from your directv box.
JUST LIKE a VCR connect to TV.TV will be under channel 3 or 4,and you will change your channels from the VCR.Don't forget to scan all the channels from the VCR!
solutiondoct

your locals may be broadcasted on a a different satellite (directv uses 7 different ones). when u travel, your dish on your rv might be capable of receiving the satellite that broadcasts normal programming. the dish on your home may look a little different and picks up more than one of the satellite signals. also these satellites are in different locations

You might try useing a higher bandpass diplexer

This is an Analog TV - you will require converter box.
go here to order it: https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

jl

I don't understand why you would bother to scan channel when you have directv or dishnetwork???
directv or Dishnetwork required their units in order to watch any channel,which means:
A. Depending on your TV setting,if you use RF connection from your basic directv to the tv,you would have to leave the TV on Ch.3 or Ch.4.to view the rest of the channels,you have to change it from the directv or dishnetwork box. You are NOT able to scan the rest of the channels from the TV,bottom line!!
If you have comcast or your local cable provider,once you have activated,you could use the RF signal coming out from the wall plate straight to the tv and go to TV auto programming,it will auto scan the available channels for you.
Don't waste your time on directv.
If you are thinking about recording from your BASIC directv or dishnetwork box, you would connect SAT. signal from the wall plate to the directv box,then use composite video/audio output and connect straight to your VCR/DVD player under composite video/audio input. Now you could record the viewing channel to the VHS.
Good luck!

First, whether or not you can do this will depend on cable box useage, and how the VCR is hooked up. In the earlier days of cable TV, & off-air reception, this was a simple task. If you have a satellite receiver box or cable box which is used to tune the channel, rather than using the TV itself or the VCR tuner, then recording one channel while watching another may not be possible. While I don't know the capabilities of newer sat/cable boxes, older ones sent just one signal out to the external equipment (TV etc.) That one signal (channel) is all that is available. If you received a manual with the sat/cable box, see if it says anything about this issue. That being said- if you don't use a sat/cable box, but instead use your TV or VCR to select the channel you are watching, then assuming the VCR is hooked up inline with the TV, just setting the VCR/TV option to TV will pass all channels through to the TV, and you can then use the TV to select whatever channel wished, while the VCR is recording something else. Hopefully I haven't confused you. If another contributor has some additional info on the capabilities of sat/cable boxes of today, please read their contribution.