501 & VCR

[LKG]

Can someone give me a clue on how to interface
my VCR to the 501? I currently get my local channels OTA and would like to record one once in a while. My installer has gone out of business, so I can't ask him. Thanks.

[Mark Holtz]

(tech support cap on) Uh, how do you have your 501 hooked up to your TV?

If it's what I suspect, you have the A/V outputs of the 501 hooked up to the only A/V inputs on your TV. You may have to get a switch box to switch between various A/V outputs. These switches cost $20-30, but allow you to switch between devices. The way I have mine set up.....

Input 1-VCR (my VCR input is hooked up to my 501 output, but it could also be hooked up to an antenna)
Input 2-DVD Player
Input 3-501 output
Output - TV

[scooper]

An Audio/Video Receiver can also do the switching, as well as provide MUCH better sound than the crappy TV speakers.

[HTguy]

Originally posted by LKG
Can someone give me a clue on how to interface
my VCR to the 501? I currently get my local channels OTA and would like to record one once in a while. My installer has gone out of business, so I can't ask him. Thanks.

If you have a Hi-Fi VCR the normal way would be to connect one set of the A/V outputs of the PVR501 to the "Line In" (They may be labled "AUX In") jacks on the VCR using a "dubbing cable" with white (L), red (R) & yellow (V) plugs. If you switch the INPUT of your VCR to "Line In" ("L1" or "AUX" depending on the model) with the "Input" or "Input Select" button (JVC does it by CH \/ below Ch 2 to "AUX") you should see & hear the DISH program on the VCR as if you had it on a local Ch. (Don't forget to switch your TV and/or AV rcvr to VCR.)

If you have a "mono" VCR don't use a Y-adaptor or you won't get stereo sound out of the other A/V outputs of the 501 either. Just route your antenna to the "Ant In" connector of the 501 and then connect the "To TV" connector on the 501 to the Ant input of the VCR & set the VCR to Ch 3.

Now dig down into the menus of the 501 (MENU, 6, 1, 7 for VCR SET-UP) and find the code # for your VCR in the little white book that came w/the remote. It should be the same # used to make the RC work the VCR. You'll know you're good when you run the test & see your VCR record what's on the screen, then stop & rewind.

Now you can tell the 501 to record on the VCR instead of the PVR and you can transfer recorded events from the PVR to videotape.

But to record your locals either turn off the the 501 or hit the TV/Video button in SAT mode to pass the locals to the VCR on their regular Ch#'s. (Don't forget to switch the input of your VCR back to ANT for locals!)

Got it?:cool: