Xref: utzoo rec.video:14176 sci.electronics:13663 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!mcdphx!PQE1.phx.mcd.mot.com!vfg2 From: vfg2@PQE1.phx.mcd.mot.com Newsgroups: rec.video,sci.electronics Subject: Re: A simple (?) problem. Message-ID: <13464@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com> Date: 20 Aug 90 22:53:12 GMT References: Sender: listen@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com Reply-To: vfg2@PQE1.phx.mcd.mot.com Followup-To: rec.video Distribution: na Organization: Motorola Microcomputer Division, Tempe, Az. Lines: 52 In article neeraj@learning.siemens.com writes: >THE PROBLEM: The only TV signal that I get at my home is through a cable >connection. The setup is the following: > Cable input ---> Cable box ---> VCR ---> TV. >The VCR is set to channel 3. If I have to program my VCR to record something >from cable channel 23 at 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM (say), I do the following: > >My VCR (Panasonic VHS PV-4800), to the best of my knowledge, is NOT "cable >ready" so I can not get rid of the cable box. > >I can think of the following possible solutions: > >1. Are there any programmable cable boxes available? If these boxes have a >clock and can be programmed to send different channels at different times my >problem is solved. How much do they cost? I've never seen a programmable cable box, but I've seen programmable remotes that can change channels at preset times. Radio Shack carries one for about $100, identical to the Memorex I've seen at dept. stores. This will only work if your cable box has remote control, of course. You'll have to program the VCR and the remote, and make sure the remote is aimed at the VCR before you leave... >2. Can I buy some gadget that will convert a "non-cable ready" TV/VCR into a >"cable ready" TV/VCR? If so I can get rid of my cable box completely. Sort of. Radio Shack carries a device that will shift the cable box's channel 3 output up to a UHF frequency, so you can watch the lower cable channels on your TV or VCR and switch to the UHF channel to see what the box is tuned to. cable--------splitter------device------vcr-------tv |__cable box__| Channels 2-13 will go through to the VCR unchanged, while whatever the cable box is tuned to will appear on some unused UHF channel. This will only do the trick if both shows that you want to record unattended are not above channel 13, though. The picture quality might leave something to be desired, too... I'd buy a newer VCR and deep six the cable box, especially if you are not using it to unscramble premium channels... I only use my box to unscramble; it is switched out otherwise. How old is that VCR? Many older models were cable ready but came pre-tuned to just 2-13 (with the little tuning knobs for each channel - what a headache!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dan Quella, vfg2@PQE1.phx.mcd.mot.com International Feel / Interplanetary Deal / Interstellar Appeal / Universal Ideal --------------------------------------------------------------------------------