How to Record From a DVR to a VCR

Digital Video Recorders have become the standard for television scheduling and recording, but the DVRs only have so much space. Users who want to keep their television shows stored in a VHS library can actually connect their VCR to a DVR and store programs directly on there. This makes it a lot easier for people who prefer VCRs and do not want to deal with the hassle of a VCR timer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Coaxial cables
• RCA cables

1. Place the VCR on top of the DVR. Keeping the two components close together makes it easier to connect cables and allows access.

2. Look at the back of the DVR. DVR devices typically have three coaxial cable inputs. Two of these inputs for the cable lines run from the wall to the DVR box. The third is the direct connection to the television.

3. Connect a coaxial cable from the "Out to TV" into the "Cable" coaxial port on the VCR. Set both the DVR and the VCR to either channel 3 or 4 on the back of the machines.

4. Power on the satellite TV and the VCR. Test the connection by pressing the VCR/TV button on the VCR. If the DVR is properly pictured the connection is fine and the DVR is now linked through the DVR.

5. Place a blank tape into the VCR and test a recording by just hitting the record button. Record a few minutes of the current program and then stop the recording. Rewind the tape then play back what you just recorded to make sure everything worked properly.

Alternative Connection

6. Connect the DVR directly to your television through the cable line.

7. Connect three RCA cables from the output on your television to the input on your VCR.

8. Set your VCR to the correct input channel that the RCA cables are plugged into.

9. Record anything that appears on the TV. Test the taping before you continue to record.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your DVR manual to see it suggests any VCR connection tips.

[mmbetz]

on 10/16/2009 The 'Alternative Connection' will give better results. The first set of instructions will degrade the video by having the DVR modulate the video to RF, and then demodulate it back to video. These steps will always degrade the video. The best choices, in order of quality: 1) HDMI to HDMI (presuming the DVR and the VCR have such connections; 2) Component Video (R/G/B) Out on the DVR to Component Video In on the VCR; 3) S-Video Out (sometimes called S-VHS out) to S-Video in; 4) Video out (sometimes called Comp Vid) to Video In.