Can't View TV Program When Recording With VCR

I just purchased a Philips DVD/VCR, Model No. DVP3345V/17, for use
with my Samsung LCD TV, Model No. LN-T3253HX/XAA and Cox digital cable
system. Everything is okay except that, when I try to record a TV
program, I get a blue screen. However, I can record the program and it
plays back fine (both picture and sound). What do I need to do to be
able to view the program that I am recording? Thanks.

 

You're gonna have to tell us how this whole thing is wired. Cable directly
into DVD/VCR? Cable into a cable STB? DVD/VCR -> TV....how? Etc....

 

Okay, and thanks for the response. The cable is outputting to an RF
modulator (necessary because my TV has only a coax input), the
modulator is outputting to the TV, and the DVD/VCR's audio/video (red,
white, and yellow plugs) outputs are connected to the modulator's
audio/video inputs.

 

Nothing going to DVD/VCR *inputs*?

You say "The cable is outputting to an RF modulator (necessary because my TV
has only a coax input.)" The RF output of your cable box is connected to the
RF input of the modulator?

I'm confused. I'm not familiar with RF modulators that have RF inputs. And
since the DVD/VCR's composite A/V outputs (red, white, yellow) are connected
to the modulator's composite inputs, there's no composite inputs available
for input from the cable box.

Suggestion: cable box A/V (composite) outputs to modulator A/V inputs.
Modulator RF output to DVD/VCR RF input. VCR RF output to TV RF input.

Methinks you're failing to tell us something here.

 

This is a trivial matter. The antenna (or cable cable) connects to the RF
intput, the RF output goes to the TV's RF jack. Simple. (I can't believe
you're having trouble with something so simple.)

The VCR shoulid have a switch that lets you choose between the antenna
signal and the VCR signal. That's it. If you can't view other channels while
recording, you're doing something wrong. And it's something very simple
"wrong".

 

The setup that I have is described here:
http://hometheater.about.com/cs/dvdlaserdisc/a/aadvdrfmoda.htm

So, the steps are:

"First: Just plug your cable/vcr output into its cable input
connection of the RF modulator and the DVD player into the RF
modulator's AV inputs.

"Second: Connect a standard cable from the RF modulator to your TV.

"Third: Select either the channel 3 or 4 output on the back of the RF
modulator."

You seem to be suggesting that a connection is needed with the DVD/VCR
A/V inputs. But, if that's true: (1) Why doesn't the above website
mention it? and (2) How is the VCR managing to record if the
connections are wrong?

 

You seem to be suggesting that a connection is needed with

As long as the antenna or cable cable is connected to the VCR's RF input,
the VCR will record, regardless of whether the rest of the setup is
"correct".

 

Please pardon me, I am nobody from nowhere. If this doesn't

No need to. I say dumb things once in a while, and I haven't left. Yet.

That applies to playback through the TV's RF input, not to recording.

The subject line reads: "Can't View TV Program When Recording With VCR". The
modulator isn't needed for this. The tuner in the VCR and the tuner in the
TV receive the same antenna or cable signal, and can receive any channel.

 

Okay, guys, problem solved -- at least for my purposes. It turns out
that my TV does have A/V inputs -- they were hidden by the way the TV
was positioned on the wall. I therefore removed the RF modulator from
my set-up, connected the TV directly to the cable box, connected the A/
V cables that came with the DVD/VCR from the cable box outputs to the
DVD/VCR inputs, and bought an additional set of A/V cables at Radio
Shack to connect the DVD/VCR outputs to the TV inputs. Now,
everything is working fine. Thanks so much for your assistance,
although I'm still puzzled as to why my initial set-up worked the way
it did. Is it because the VCR and RF modulator are analog and my TV
set is digital?

 

Ah, the OP said he had digital cable (and I assume a digital STB.) So, the
TV tuner (his TV was old) *can't* receive any channel. Neither can the VCR.

 

No.

 

Is it because the VCR and RF modulator are analog and my TV

You're kidding, aren't you?

 

VCR.

Okay, but then how was he able to make recordings?

 

Don't ask me. I couldn't get him to tell me to what the *input* of his
DVD/VCR was connected. I'll assume it was modulated, and the DVD/VCR was
tuned to the same channel as the modulator output. But anything is possible,
considering he didn't realize his TV even had A/V inputs. Sigh...

 

I told you in my second post what the set-up was: The inputs of the
DVD/VCR weren't connected to anything. However, the VCR could still
record -- it's just that I couldn't view what I was recording.