Telewest, TV, DVD and VCR setup ...help !

tommy_tfunk · 27-04-2005, 08:23

Hi there,

I just got Telewest digital, and have been trying to connect this with my TV, DVD and VCR with little succcess, I just can't seem to get them to work in perfect harmony !! Can anyone help, I've read a number of threads but no-one seems to have the same setup / inputs outputs. I've tried every possible daisy chain combination (so it seems !!)

Basically, I'd like to be able to watch my Telewest Digital TV, record (with the VCR) the channel the STB is set to. (Would be a bonus if I could also watch the terrestrial channels (BBC1 ,BBC2, ITV, C4 and Five) whilst recording digital and vice versa - I have an external aerial on the roof for this)
And finally I'd like to be able to watch DVD's without the STB interferring with the picture. I think my main problem is due to my TV having only 1 SCART input. (it's rather old !!)

I have 3, 21 pin scart cables, a couple of aerial cables and a scart thing that takes 2 scart inputs at 1 end, and goes to one scart output at the other. I don't think this is a switcher, as when 2 pieces of equipment are connected, both seem to transmit at the same time causing nasty viewing results !!

Here is a list of my equipment / inputs / outputs etc:

TV - Samsung CI-5373T
Scart Input (AV)
TV aerial input (coaxial - female)
(There is also a connection at the front of the TV for an RCA type AV input, which takes priority over the rear inputs when both are used)

DVD - Pacifiic DVD-1002W
Scart (TV)
Coaxial Out (female)
Audio Out (L and R)
S-video out
Video Out 1 (yellow, female type)
Video Out 2 (yellow, female type)

Video - JVC HR-J270EK
Scart AV1 (In / Out)
Scart AV2 (In / Decoder)
Coaxial TV aerial in (female)
RF Out (male)
Satellite control - for extra kit which I don't have. Think the VCR controls the STB so it can video any channel whilst your out

Telewest STB - Explorer 4000DVB
Scart (TV)
Scart (VCR)
Coaxial TV aerial in (female)
RF Out (male)
Cable in (connected to Telewest wall socket)
Audio (L and R)

Any help would be much appreciated......
Thankyou !!!

MovedGoalPosts · 27-04-2005, 09:10

Firstly

to cable forum

I think your Scart Adaptor 2 into 1 is probably one of the problems. You want to be able to switch manually or automatically between the different signals. However you now have three SCART based devices all trying to connect into one TV. That won't go. You need to get a new scart multiadaptor with at least three inputs to one output (get a four way one for future proofing for when one day someone want's a games console

Wiring now becomes simple with the adaptor.

Scart Adaptor output > TV Scart in

STB output (TV) > Scart Adaptor input #1
DVD output > Scart Adaptor input #2
VCR Scart AV1 > Scart Adaptor input #3

STB output (VCR) > VCR Scart AV2 (in/decoder)

Now comes the clever bit with the coaxial aerials. Get yourself one of those "y" splitter things available most DIY type stores.

STB coax out > Y splitter
rooftop aerial > Y splitter
Y splitter tail (single side) > TV

If you wish you can loop the aerial feed via the VCR, coaxial in and out but theres no point including the DVD in that as you would inevitably use the DVD's scart for playback for the best picture.

You need to ensure the STB, DVD and VCR do not transmit their signals on the coaxial over the same channel frequency, whether or not they are connected via coaxial. They are close enought toeach other to potentially cause interference.

tommy_tfunk · 27-04-2005, 09:33

thankyou MGP, brilliant post.

I followed it all apart from the last two paragraphs.
Assuming I have it all set up as you described (including 4 way scart multi adapter and "y" splitter")

How do I then loop the aerial feed via the VCR ? By just taking the rooftop TV aerial to VCR coaxial in, then VCR coaxial out to one end of the "y" splitter ?
What would be the benefit of doing this ? (sorry am very dim when it comes to stuff like this)

and, how can I ensure that the STB, DVD and VCR do not transmit their signals over the same channel frequency.

Thanks once again
Tom

MovedGoalPosts · 27-04-2005, 11:11

OK, looping the aerial:

Take the coaxial out of the STB to the Y splitter
Take the rooftop coax into the Y splitter

From the tail (single) of the Y put the connect to the VCR input (aerial)

From the VCR output connect coax to the TV.

Benefit of connecting the VCR in this way enables you to record terrestrial programmes (BBC1 & 2, ITV Ch4 and Five) whilst watching the STB channel (usiing the SCART connection). Alternatively you can still watch a terrestrial TV programme (coaxial) while recording the STB (scart).

When purchasing a Y splitter make sure that it will allow 2 feeds into one. They were intended as "splitters", not "mergers".

You don't want to loop the coaxial from one appliance to the next to the next too often. You can get drop of signal strength.

As for checking the signal channel being used for coaxial, unplug the Scart leads. and the rooftop aerial from any Y splitter
Connect the STB direct to the TV via coaxial. Tune the TV to the STB's output, as a new telly channel say no6
Disconnect the STB and connect the VCR by coaxial. If the TV gets a picture straight away on channel6 the VCR is on the same channel as the STB. Check your VCR manual for how to change this. Tune the TV to the VCR frequency, as a new channel on your telly say No7.
Unplug the VCR, connect up only the DVD via coaxial. Check that channels 6 & 7 don't get a picture. If one or both do you need to change the output frequncy of the DVD. Tune the DVD to a spare TV channel say 8.

Now you can plug it all back in properly as posted earlier.

tommy_tfunk · 27-04-2005, 19:15

well, I've been out to Maplins, bought the required scart multi adapter, and "y" aerial splitter

followed your instructions ..... and ........... it all works perfectly !!

MTG, thanks ever so much for your help, I'm now going to sit down, relax and watch the footy

thanks once again for your kind help and easy to follow instructions

tom

mrymt · 01-06-2005, 12:32

My TV doesn't have any input/output plugs at all (I'm tyring to hook up a dvd player). Is there some sort adaptor I can get?

Acropolis · 12-06-2005, 13:35

MGP, i woud like to know why you suggested using a "Y" splitter, when there is no need at all for one, you could just run the ariel straight into the STB, then from there to the video, and then to the tv and this would have exactly the same effect, without giving another set of connections to go wrong, minimal loss of signal, and another thing to fall out. The "Y" splitter is not needed at all.

Mrymt, if your tv has no input/output plugs on it at all, then there is no way on earth you are ever going to get it working with anything, as it has no way of getting a signal to it. If you explain what you mena a bit better then may be able to help.

MovedGoalPosts · 12-06-2005, 13:58

Without the "Y" splitter, if I am recording something from Cable, I am stuck with the cable channel on the main TV. The Y splitter allows me to watch say BBC1 while recording something dodgy from cable.

To be honest I don't suffer any noticeable lack of TV signal quality on the bedroom TV (but that's only a 14" portable). Yes using the co-axial signal on the main TV is not so hot, but it's only rarely that I watch that way.
__________________

Myrmt

to Cable Forum

I presume you mean your TV does't have and scart or phono sockets, but your DVD player only has Scart / Phono leads. The simple option would be for you to buy a newer TV. You would get a better picture display simply due to the improved connectivity SCART offers.

If you must use coaxial, I'm sure there will be adaptors available that can convert a Scart into a co-axial signal, and then you will be able to daisy chanin your standard aerials in the normal way. I know simething of this type was supplied with my X-Box a couple of years ago.

A quick google came up with this:
http://www.beststuff.co.uk/labgear_m..._modulator.htm
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/rfmod2.htm

Acropolis · 12-06-2005, 14:04

If you take the "Y" splitter out of the set up and connect the main ariel into the cable box, then the rf from the cable box to the rf in on the VCR, then the rf out to where ever you want to run it, ie - tv's then it will do the same as having the Y splitter in, just a lot more simply.

MovedGoalPosts · 12-06-2005, 14:18

Acroplois, Ok, I'm at slightly crossed purposes here, didn't realise an old thread had been resurrected. By coincidence I'd just been posting in another aerial connectivity thread.

You are correct, the Y splitter is not essential in the location I originally posted in #2 above. You can daisy chain. For some reason I must have been confused with my own home system where I do need a splitter as I have two separate TVs, one up, one downstairs. Please see this post: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...32&postcount=6

shaiboy_uk · 13-06-2005, 14:08

Hi,

I'm hopefully getting Telewest installed this weekend.

Can anyone tell me what the best way would be to setup the following:

Daweoo TV - with 2 scarts
Tevion DVD Recorder - with 1 input scart and 1 output scart
Sharp Video recorder - with 1 scart
plus
The STB that telewest will supply, whatever that will have on the back of it.

Cheers
Shaiboy_UK

Jules · 13-06-2005, 16:03

You are going to need a scart adaptor Shaiboy then follow the instructions above

MovedGoalPosts · 13-06-2005, 16:05

Sahiboy, You are only going to be able to do this reliably with some Scart multiadaptors - ie 2 scarts into one out connection. Even then you mauy have issues with devices autoswitching their channels by seeing the wrong component as being on. That's all to do with the scart lead auto switching plug 8.

Your VCR SCART, is that in and out, or out only? Do you record much on it now, or do you use the DVD for recordings? I suppose the big question is whether you can do without, or would be happy to accept a loss of quality by using the coaxial arial connectors rather than SCART for the VCR?

My way of doing this would be:
STB #1 > SCART > TV #1
STB #2 > SCART > DVD in
DVD out > SCART > TV #2

STB RF > Coaxial > VCR
VCR RF > Coaxial > TV

If you must connect the VcR by SCART then amend the above to read
DVD out > Scart > multiconnector in #1
VCR > Scart > multiconnector in #2
multiconnector > scart > TV #2

fivecups · 18-07-2005, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acropolis

MGP, i woud like to know why you suggested using a "Y" splitter, when there is no need at all for one, you could just run the ariel straight into the STB, then from there to the video, and then to the tv and this would have exactly the same effect, without giving another set of connections to go wrong, minimal loss of signal, and another thing to fall out. The "Y" splitter is not needed at all.

Mrymt, if your tv has no input/output plugs on it at all, then there is no way on earth you are ever going to get it working with anything, as it has no way of getting a signal to it. If you explain what you mena a bit better then may be able to help.

My STB only has one RF connection so I think the Y splitter would be required.

chazzyb · 20-08-2005, 13:56

Hi there,

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU!

to Rob_C for your post. I was experiencing the same problem as tommy_tfunk and your answer sorted things for me. I've been searching for a solution for over a year, as Telewest were of no help to me whatsoever. The engineers that installed my Broadband gave up really quickly and left me to figure things out on my own. Yours is the first solution that actually worked.

So, thanks again mate.

Chaz