TV/HDCable/DVD/DVD-R

Loud & Clear

I would greatly appreciate anyone's expertise in this matter.

Here's the setup:

- HDCable box is connected to HDTV via DVI-D out to HDMI in.
The HDTV is set to Input 1 to view cable.

- DVD player in connected to HDTV via DVI-D out to HDMI in.
The HDTV is set to Input 2 to view DVD's.

All of the above work great.

Now I'm trying to integrate the DVD-R into the system. I don't know how to do it. My mind tells me that I would have to have the DVD-R also on Input 1, otherwise how could the DVD-R ever see the cable material to record it? Is there any way to do this?

AsSiMiLaTeD

so you have separate HD and DVR boxes?

Loud & Clear

I have a panasonic DMR-E55 DVD-Recorder. It's a separate unit with no internal memory. It's a writer/burner.

And I have digital cable via an HDCable box that is also a separate unit. It has a hard drive but no burning capability.

The problem seems to be having my HDCable box connected to my HDTV into a TV Input (in this case Input 1), as opposed to the old way with coaxial cable. I don't know if it's possible to integrate vcr's and dvd-r's into a system like mine, where cable is viewed through a TV Input.

The old way was pretty simple, with running the cable out of the wall and into the 'in' on your vcr, then 'out' of the vcr and into the cable 'in' on your TV.

I wonder if I could run an S-Video cable out of the cable box and into the DVD-R player. But then how would I connect the DVD-R player to the TV so that I could see the on-screen info while I'm recording?

I'm definitely confused.

PolkThug

Does Input 1 on the television include both HDMI and component? If so, run your DVR via component.

On my Hitachi, Input 1 has both DVI and a component connection assigned to it, so I run my HD cable box to DVI, and my Xbox is connected to the component portion of that "input". Which ever device is on, the TV detects it.

Regards,
PT

Loud & Clear

Ok, but the desired result here is to be able to view the cable programming that's connected via DVI-D/HDMI, and have the opportunity to record it also. I want to be watching something, and then to be able to push record on my DVD-R; like you can with a traditional vcr setup.

More and more I'm thinking that this just doesn't work, and that if my cable box is connected to my TV via an input, as opposed to the traditional coaxial cable connectors, that I won't be able to record.

TheReaper

What other outputs does your cable box have?

I have a Pioneer box hooked up as follows:

1) Cable Box component video and digital audio -> reciever -> component 1 on TV

2) Cable Box S-Video and analog L/R -> computer (where I record) -> component 2 on TV and L/R analog CD in on receiver

This allows me to record on my computer whatever I am watching on the cable box. My cable box simultaneously outputs to Component, S-Video and composite, it also outputs audio simultaneously to digital and 2 L/R analog audio outs.

Loud & Clear

There are component outputs, an S-Video output, and composite outputs.

TheReaper

So try an extra component or the S-Video out on your cable box to your DVR along with an analog L/R audio. Then connect your DVR to your TV on an un-used S-Video input or component if you have one. To see if your cable box outputs simultaneously to all outputs.

TheReaper

Another little trick if you get things to work and are using composite or S-Video. I have my cable box aspec ratio set to "4:3, squeeze 16:9". This only affects the S-Video and composite out (not the component), so when I record HD programs they are squished like an Anamorphic DVD. So when I play them back, they expand to full width on my 16:9 TV.