Home audio &amp; video forum: Why can VHS play cassettes but can't record?

how to record

by macg992 - 4/13/12 4:27 AM

In Reply to: Re: recording by Kees_B

That was fast! though I didn't really understood some of it...

1) the HDMI cable is for a dvd, I don't know if that had anything to do with my VHS not recording but I thought I'd include anything I changed.

2) I use the audio/video cables(red,white,yellow kind?...) that came with the VHS and I just bought new ones. I pretty much did the same thing I did with the old tv(put cables in matching color input..). The Sony VHS I have has 4 input 'lines' (from my understanding), 2 at the back & 2 at front and I decided to put extra cables just to make sure. I figured the front was just extra and decide to put 2 pairs of cables at the back that says line 1 & line 2. I can play tapes but can't record. It worked fine with my old tv.

I don't know what a SCART is used for, I just use the same kind of things that came with the VHS 10 years ago(basically the cables and 'AC IN' plug). The only thing I upgraded was getting LCD TV and getting HDMI for dvd. I don't know why it's not working now though, I can only guess either my VHS is too old or the LCD TV I just bought is too new. Thanks for the fast reply.

-Hillbilly

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Re: VHS

by Kees_B - 4/13/12 4:34 AM

In Reply to: how to record by macg992

Usually, those red/white/yellow cables are output only. So now check your 'understanding' of the recorder by studying the user manual.

Video recorder and TV are mostly independent. The recorder doesn't need a TV to record. It only uses the TV for output so you can see the contents of the tape (and possibly the recorder menu on the TV screen).

If you connect everything as it was with your old TV it should work.

Kees

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working but doesn't record

by macg992 - 4/13/12 5:17 AM

In Reply to: Re: VHS by Kees_B

I read the user manual and did the exact same thing I did with my old tv, still doesn't record (does record but appears very hazy), but just plays. My vhs is an old model and doesn't have a recorder menu. I'll just buy a new one. thanks anyway...

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Re: buying a new recorder

by Kees_B - 4/13/12 5:27 AM

In Reply to: working but doesn't record by macg992

I wonder if you can still buy a VHS-recorder. Practically all recorders nowadays are DVD (use rewritables for what you don't want to keep) or hard disk recorders (or a combination).

Better have a good talk with the sales person.

Kees

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Answer Best answer as chosen by user macg992

Reading the thread so far,

by samkh - 4/13/12 9:51 AM

In Reply to: Why can VHS play cassettes but can't record? by macg992

you may have had an old TV which supplied output signals via R-W-Y terminals that you connected to VHS and did recording. Don't know what TV model you had but that is my speculation.

You won't find any HDTV nowadays doing that. Besides, HDTV nowadays are digital, not analog, so no analog signal output anywhere, even inside the TV. They can take analog input signals and convert them to digital output on screen that's all.

You can connect the TV signal (RG cable) directly to the VHS and record using the VHS tuner, provided you can receive analog TV signals. Some cable companies, eg. Comcast, still provide analog casts. Otherwise you have to get a digital-to-analog converter for about $50, then hook its R-W-Y terminals to the VHS R-W-Y inputs.

Good luck.

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