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**Chris** · 25-04-2005, 17:02

We have a helpful forum member called Altis who has a wiring diagram he's posted from time to time, that shows you how to connect your TV, VCR and STB together so that you can record cable tv programmes. I'll have a browse round the forum and see if I can find the link to it, unless he gets here first and posts it himself.

As for the question 'can you', yes you can, but it is sadly true that you can only tape the same programme that you are watching. This is because both your TV and your VCR are relying on the signal from the Telewest STB and the STB can only output one cable channel at a time.

The only possible caveat to this is if your Telewest box has what's called an 'analogue pass-through'. It's easy to tell if it has. Is there an RF-OUT socket on the back of it? If there is, wire that directly to the VCR's RF-IN aerial socket, and then the VCR's RF-OUT to the TV's aerial in socket, and you should be able to tune both the VCR and the TV's channels 1-5 to the five terrestrial analogue stations and pick them up by switching channels directly on your VCR and TV without having to switch channels on the Set-Top Box. That is only part of a solution though, because it only allows you to watch one of the five analogue terrestrial channels while recording a digital cable channel.

Without an analogue pass-through, the only way to watch one of the five terrestrial channels whilst recording a cable channel (or vice versa) is to have a roof-top aerial. And it sounds like you can't have one of those thanks to your landlord.

25-04-2005, 17:02	#3
Chris Trollsplatter Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 38,596	Re: using a VCR with telewest cable service We have a helpful forum member called Altis who has a wiring diagram he's posted from time to time, that shows you how to connect your TV, VCR and STB together so that you can record cable tv programmes. I'll have a browse round the forum and see if I can find the link to it, unless he gets here first and posts it himself. As for the question 'can you', yes you can, but it is sadly true that you can only tape the same programme that you are watching. This is because both your TV and your VCR are relying on the signal from the Telewest STB and the STB can only output one cable channel at a time. The only possible caveat to this is if your Telewest box has what's called an 'analogue pass-through'. It's easy to tell if it has. Is there an RF-OUT socket on the back of it? If there is, wire that directly to the VCR's RF-IN aerial socket, and then the VCR's RF-OUT to the TV's aerial in socket, and you should be able to tune both the VCR and the TV's channels 1-5 to the five terrestrial analogue stations and pick them up by switching channels directly on your VCR and TV without having to switch channels on the Set-Top Box. That is only part of a solution though, because it only allows you to watch one of the five analogue terrestrial channels while recording a digital cable channel. Without an analogue pass-through, the only way to watch one of the five terrestrial channels whilst recording a cable channel (or vice versa) is to have a roof-top aerial. And it sounds like you can't have one of those thanks to your landlord.