Recording on my DVR or VCR

Hi Toodawgs,

Are you referring to a Cox DVR, a TiVo DVR, or a 3rd-party DVD-Recorder? If your DVR is a TiVo, what model/series do you have?

How is the mini box currently connected? Follow the diagram found in the Cox Support article "Connecting Your Cable to Other Devices" and let us know if it helps. Also, make sure your VCR and mini box are set to the same channel.

I am having the same problem. I have a DVD/VCR player and like to record shows when I am out. Its a third party player, not a cox one. The recorded show goes in and out and jumps around like my tape is really bad, but its not. In fact other shows are on there that I had recorded before I got the mini box and they play just fine. The VCR is connected to the mini box and the TV. I tried taking the cable off from it to the mini box to see if that would help..it doesn't. I forgot to say I did set it up like that link you have said to do. I found that last week and did it, but still unable to record a good picture. I have to use my TV remote to go to TV to watch the recorded show, but like I said its a mess. :(

Becky said:

Hi Toodawgs,

Are you referring to a Cox DVR, a TiVo DVR, or a 3rd-party DVD-Recorder? If your DVR is a TiVo, what model/series do you have?

How is the mini box currently connected? Follow the diagram found in the Cox Support article "Connecting Your Cable to Other Devices" and let us know if it helps. Also, make sure your VCR and mini box are set to the same channel.

Becky,

I wonder if this problem is similar to the aspect ratio problems that the Evolution mini-boxes have, but the Cisco mini-boxes do not. Maybe you should start asking the make of the box on all mini-box related problems.

I was ignorant of analog copy write protection so I googled it and found a interesting page. Seems NTSC is 525 resolution but only displays 480 lines of code, using the rest for CC, SAP and in this case, copy write protection. I wonder if the tuner inside the mini box is only out putting 480i via coaxial, basically throwing away the rest. Do you notice if CC still works through the TV(not the box)? If not, that might proof it.

http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs181/projects/1999-00/dmca-2k/macrovision.html

If so, maybe get around it by going HDMI to some kind of converter. Either component or composite, depending on what inputs your PVR has. I would be interested in what Cox has to say though. Are there any video output settings in the Mini box?

Thanks Becky, but I don't get that error message because I cannot record using my DVD so I am not getting that message. This part of toodawgs first post is what I am referring too when I said I was having the same problem: "Ever since I installed the new mini-boxes when I try to record to the VCR I get a picture that's not worth watching." 

Then toodawgs started focusing more on recording with the DVD in later posts.

 I have the same problem with the VCR when I record. (I have a DVD/VCR.  Whatever I record though, jumps all over the place, goes to black and white and just messes up so badly you would think I had a really old worn out tape in the player....yet other shows I recorded on it before installing the mini box play just fine. I work alot of evening so I miss evening shows I want to watch. I can watch most of them the next day on Hulu but there are a few I can't like NCIS....which now on their website they want you to pay to watch it. I already pay cox to get that channel, shouldn't have to pay twice to see it which is why I want to be able to record it.

I have tried recording with the TV and VCR on channel three (cox mini box set on channel 3), while its on HDMI 1 so I get the nicer clearer digital picture...tried recording with the TV set on 'TV.'..both play back a horrible picture like I described before. :(  Tried recording with the TV set on AV but get nothing. Tried unhooking the cable that goes between the mini box and VCR, that didn't work either...nothing is helping, which is why I am on here. Thanks for your help!

ok thanks!

Any ideas yet Becky on how I can record a show using my VCR?

Hi Julie38,

I just posted a reply on the thread found HERE. 

We’ve engaged our video engineers to test this so we can determine a course of action. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear back from the video team!