How to Hook up a VCR & DVD to a Modulator & Analog TV

An old TV set may not have all the connection ports you need.

Older analog TV sets may not have input ports for RCA composite cables--the cables with the yellow, white and red plugs--that are the minimum-quality cables used by DVD players and other devices. An option is to connect the DVD player to your VCR's input as a go-through, but this can affect the quality of your DVD's picture. The best option is to use an RF modulator that will connect both the VCR and DVD player to the TV set.

Things You'll Need

• VCR
• DVD player
• RF modulator
• TV set
• 3-4 RF coaxial cables
• RCA composite cable

Instructions

1. Connect the DVD player's output to the RF modulator using RCA composite cables. Use the DVD's yellow, white and red composite ports, not the red, green and blue component ports that many DVD players also have.

2. Attach the VCR's output to the RF coaxial input port on the modulator; use a standard RF coaxial cable that connects to the cylindrical, threaded connector port. The modulator's input port should clearly be labeled, and it is usually the one on the left among the two RF ports.

3. Connect your TV's source, be it your cable/satellite receiver or antenna, to the VCR's input using another RF coaxial cable. If you have an antenna with a digital converter, connect the antenna to the converter's input and the converter's output to the VCR.

4. Link the output port of the RF modulator to the TV set with one more RF coaxial cable.

5. Set the modulator's channel switch to Channel three or four. This is channel the TV must be tuned to in order to watch the DVD player.

References

• Sam Matthews; Home Theater Specialist; Best Buy, Arlington, TX
• Svideo.com - How to Hook up Your RF Modulator