fra's profile

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4 Messages

Tuesday, December 29th, 2015 7:39 AM

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Older VHS and DVD Player

After I installed my new Digital mini box , my VHS and DVD player will not work no matter what I try

New Contributor

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4 Messages

10 years ago

TiffanyR said:

Hello Fra,

Can you confirm that your set-up matched below?

Connecting to a VCR or DVD Recorder

 
The following rules must be followed in order to watch cable television using this connection type:

  • The VCR / DVD recorder and TV must both be set to channel 3 or 4 depending on your local area.
  • If using a mini box, the switch on the back should match the channel set above.
  • The mini box or digital receiver must be on.

highlights VCR player connection without splitter

  1. Connect the coax cable from the wall to IN on the mini box or digital receiver.
  2. Connect the coax cable from the OUT on the mini box or digital receiver to IN on the VCR / DVD recorder.
  3. Connect the coax cable from the OUT on the VCR / DVD recorder to IN on the TV.

New Contributor

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4 Messages

10 years ago

That was the first way I tried to do it. That did not work. So I installed a 2-way cable splitter from my cable coming out of the wall, one going into the new mini-box and the other directly into the in on the VHS and DVD player and the out to the tv, I still can't get it to work ??? Help

Valued Contributor

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1.7K Messages

10 years ago

1st, get rid of the splitter, that isn't going to work.  Once the digital transition is complete you can't connect directly to the cable.

How is the VCR/DVD player connected to the TV?  I will assume coax going forward, if a different connection, please post.

Now, let's run a test without the VCR/DVD player.  Connect the cable from the wall to the input of the minibox.  Connect the coax out of the minibox to the TV.  Set the switch on the minibox to either channel 3 or 4, tune the Tv to the same channel.  Does this work?  Please wait and let the minibox update and authenticate if necessary.  If it is working continue, if not, please post.

The above is working, now remove the cable from the TV, leave it connected to the minibox output, and connect it to the input of the VCR/DVD player.  Connect another cable from the output of the VCR/DVD player to the TV.  Set the tuner on the VCR/DVD player to the channel selected on the back of the minibox.  Set the TV to the channel the VCR/DVD player is outputing on.  You should now have the setup in Tiffany's diagram.  Does this work?

Valued Contributor

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1.7K Messages

10 years ago

BTW, this is the Internet forum, maybe a Mod can move this thread to the TV forum, thanks.

New Contributor

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2 Messages

10 years ago

Adding to Fra's question:  Our old VHS & DVD player and TV are all ANALOG.

Does the Mini Box convert Digital to Analog?

Note: searched cox/forums for analog and found nothing on how old analog devices will handle all digital cox.

Plus: we got Cox back when because Cox supported old analog devices. 

Sounds like cox will no longer support old analog devices.

Valued Contributor

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1.7K Messages

10 years ago

Calhouny, yes, the minibox provides both analog, via the coax output, and digital via the hdmi port.  Cox still supports old analog devices.

Moderator

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1.1K Messages

10 years ago

fra,

I'd recommend AllenP's steps and get back to us with an update. Thank you.

New Contributor

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2 Messages

10 years ago

Al!  Thanks!

Good to know we can still get channels as long as the channels don't go digital - we've lost Turner Classic Movies and a few others,

Valued Contributor III

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2.8K Messages

10 years ago

And...how are your VHS and DVD player wired to your TV?

New Contributor

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4 Messages

10 years ago

I installed the way everyone said, but of course it does not work. My older VHS and DVD player will work if I undo the mini-box and install the cable out of wall into back of VHS and DVD and into my TV. I love that all the channels are Digital and fill up my full screen. I can't believe no tech type person out there can't help me figure this out! HELP ?

Moderator

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4.3K Messages

10 years ago

Hi Fra,

I'd like to get a few more details so we can get to the bottom of this for you. With the mini box and VCR/DVR connected per the above diagram, what happens? Do you get a black screen or an error message on the TV? Do any of your channels work? Take a look at the mini box that you are trying to connect to your VCR/DVR. Is the model name Evolution, or Cisco?

With the coax cable from the wall connected to the mini box, and another coax cable connecting the mini box to the VCR/DVR, what kind of cable(s) are you using to connect to the TV? Make sure that both the VCR and the mini box are set to channel 3, and that the TV is on the correct input.

Your answers to these questions will help us diagnose what is happening. Thanks!

Valued Contributor

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1.7K Messages

10 years ago

fra said:
I installed the way everyone said, but of course it does not work. My older VHS and DVD player will work if I undo the mini-box and install the cable out of wall into back of VHS and DVD and into my TV. I love that all the channels are Digital and fill up my full screen. I can't believe no tech type person out there can't help me figure this out! HELP ?

What do you mean, "of course it does not work"?  Did you test using the minibox straight to the TV like I suggested last week?  Is the minibox working correctly when you do that?

If the minibox is working and you have it wired per Becky's diagram, it must be your channel settings.  Don't forget, with the minibox in the system, you can only change channels with the minibox and it's remote.  The VHS & DVD player and the TV must be on fixed channels (3 or 4) depending on how the minibox & VHS & DVD player are set.  If everything i set correctly, it should work.

New Contributor

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5 Messages

10 years ago

The solution you suggest records only the channel that the mini box is currently set to view. Since you cannot change channels on your DVD or VHS, it does not appear that it is possible to view one channel and record another one (unless you use Cox's recording equipment and pay an additional charge). That was what I was told when I called Cox and asked about this issue. I hope Cox will address this issue and revise their programming so that it will once again be possible. Thank you.

Valued Contributor

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1.7K Messages

10 years ago

You are absolutely correct, Ben.  The minibox only has 1 tuner so you can only tune to one program at a time.  If you want to record one while watching another, you would need 2 miniboxes or a multi-tuner STB from Cox.

New Contributor

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5 Messages

10 years ago

AllenP said:

You are absolutely correct, Ben.  The minibox only has 1 tuner so you can only tune to one program at a time.  If you want to record one while watching another, you would need 2 miniboxes or a multi-tuner STB from Cox.

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