How to Connect a Cable Box to a TV, VCR and DVD

Hook up a TV with cable, a VCR and DVD player using composite cables.

Setting up a cable box to work with a TV, VCR and DVD player requires three sets of composite audio-video cables to interconnect the components. Most television sets are equipped with at least three sets of AV jacks for hooking up different types of equipment; only two jacks are needed to set up a cable box with two AV components. A remote control for the TV is also a useful convenience for switching between the VCR and DVD player, and watching programs on cable.

Things You'll Need

• 3 composite AV cables

Instructions

1. Hook up the three colored plugs (white, red, yellow) on one end of a composite cable to the matching AV OUT jacks on the back of the cable box. These cables will carry the programming signal to the VCR and ultimately to the television.

2. Plug the other ends of the cables into the Record or AV Input jacks on the VCR's back panel, matching the plug colors to the jacks.

3. Connect a second set of composite cables from the VCR's Playback or AV Output jacks to a set of AV input jacks on the back of the TV. This connection sends the programming signal from the cable box to the TV for watching shows. It is also used for playback of recorded videotapes.

4. Plug the third set of composite cables from the DVD player's AV output jacks to a free set of AV input jacks on the TV.

5. Set the TV either to channel 3 or 4, depending on the VCR model.

Tips & Warnings

• Pressing the "Input" button repeatedly on the TV remote control will toggle the set between tyhe VCR and the DVD player connection for watching shows from the cable box or tapes from the VCR, or viewing discs with the DVD player.

• Disconnect all equipment from the electricity while connecting cables.

References

• Columbia ISA: How to Hook Up a Cable Box to Analog TV
• Columbia University: Cable TV Connection Guide