Got new tv

[photolady]

HDTV LCD 32". Need help connecting RCA cables.

I have on the back of my Sanyo three inputs for RCA cables. We're on cable here. I need to know which connections to use. The three inputs are as thus: Video 1, Video 2, and Video 3. After I connect the RCA cables, how do I make sure the signal will be read from the vcr to the tv? Do I chose Video 1 with the remote?

[Train]

VCR/DVD player?

I run a short coax to the vcr and another from the vcr to the tv.

When the vcr is off, the signal passes through to the TV, but when I play a movie, it cuts the signal and the movie is played.

Just select the video input you want and all should be fine.

[photolady]

That's how I have it connected now, Train. What I wanted to do what go from VCR to TV via RCA cables. I tried to do this just about an hour ago and I get a "no signal", so I went back to using the original set up, coaxil to coaxil. The reason I wanted RCA cables is because the feed in makes the tv fuzzy and I was told RCA cables would fix that.

[Train]

I have to go into the tv controls and change from antenna to digiatal then select teh input.

Your's maybe different.

[fink]

coax has video and audio combined and is, as Train suggests, usually selected in two ways.. input number and antenna vs cable.

single rca (composite has video only and audio needs to be patched separately).. it's slightly better than coax so long as the rca patch cable isn't too long (less than 8-10 feet is ok)

Component (three rca cables is the best way and when watching a dvd or good quality signal (not a tape, see below) the difference is very noticable. (again audio needs to be patched separately)

S-video is ok too.. better than coax or composite but not quite as good as component.

Worth noting is that although regular audio/stereo rca cables will work there are higher quality video rca cables made for the video patch. They're a bit more expensive but will make some difference in quality esp if the cables are longer than 3 or 4 feet.

Also worth noting is that the vcr/dvd combo output in all machines is set up so that only the dvd can be viewed using the 3 RCA/component outputs. To view a vcr you need to use the composite or coax inputs.

That could be why you aren't seeing anything.

[photolady]

Did you do that before you hooked up the cables? I tried changing it after I hooked up the cables, but it wouldn't let me change anything. I guess that was because I wasn't getting a signal.

[photolady]

My cables are RCA cables. This is one 6ft long cable with Red, White and Yellow color coded with 24K gold ends. All one cable. The package says Stereo A/V cables.

You mentioned that single rca, what are the colors for that? I'm used to color coded things, not guess which cable goes where. LOL Doesn't matter as I said, my cables aren't single, there are three ends, each one the color above.

I bought these at RadioShack and told them what I needed them for, this is what they sold me. Were they wrong in the choice they made?

However, I still haven't tried what Train said yet.

[fink]

Did you do that before you hooked up the cables?

Doing what? Not sure I know what you mean. You can chanage the cable/antenna input for coax only since that's the only medium that can carry both types of signals. If you're using the component cables then it's a direct input to the tv... with no other switchable input options.

[fink]

That sounds like it a stereo audio cable with one video cable attached.. stereo a/v means stereo audio and single video.

It should still be ok to get things working for now but only one of those may actually be a higher quality video cable. (sometimes a store will say that one of the cables is made for video but it's actually just another audio cable.

You can usually tell because the video cable is a bit thicker and stiffer that the two audio cables.. red and white is audio, yellow is video in those circumstances.

[photolady]

I was talking about what Train said he did. Switched to Digital as his input but he didn't say when he changed it, before hooking up the cables or after.

Are my cables component or composite?

The VCR/DVD also has S-video as well as the tv, but the S-video on the vcr is only for watching DVDs.....and I need this so I can use VHS also.

[photolady]

I guess I need to return these and get the right cables. I used a credit card to pay for them so I shouldn't have any problems with the return.

Let me ask this then. The cables I need are component not composite? and they need to be for video not stereo?

The problem with that is, that component on this VCR/DVD is the same as mine was I had in Tx. Component only works with the DVD not the VCR portion of this unit. I am not sure that made any sense either. or if it has any effect on connecting to the tv.

[fink]

Are my cables component or composite?

If the outputs on the back of the dvd/vcr machine are labeled as something like RGB or RGBy then it's component and each single rca output carries a smaller part of the video signal and three cables are needed just for video. (and two for audio.. total of 5 rca cables)

If it's a single rca for video then it's composite and you only need one video cable (and one stereo audio cables) to hook up to the matching inputs on the tv. (total of 3 rca cables)

Composite and component are not compatible so you need to look carefully at the labeling on the tv and player.

[fink]

I wouldn't worry about the cables too much for now.. you can use any of them to get it working. once you figure out which ones you need then you can return them if necessary or buy more.

[fink]

Have a look at this pic...




top section is s-video with separate audio

next is coax.. audio and video combined

next is composite.. one video and two audio

at the bottom is component and two audio.

(this pic shows two of everything so don't let that confuse you. It's all I could find quickly)

So, if you're running composite then the cable you got from radioshack is probably ok. 3 rca is all you need in total and it seems to be what you have/need.

If you want to run component you'll need 2 more video quality rca cables but it sounds like that's not what you want.

[photolady]

I found a manual for my tv. I didn't get one when I bought this as I bought it used. But Sanyo had the manual. And I'm using my nephew's vcr/dvd player and he says he has the manual for that somewhere and will look for it for me.

So, I'll take these cables back and get the right ones.