OT: Good VCR and AB Switch?

We got my dad a DVD player for Christmas, but our family still has a pretty
big collection of VHS tapes so he would like a newer VCR to go along with
it. The problem is that the TV has only one aux video input (s-video). We
had to disconnect the old VCR, which was an antique anyway.

I guess we can't connect the DVD directly through a typical VCR thanks to
Macrovision. So what would be a good VCR, or probably more importantly, a
good, but relatively inexpensive, AB swtich to get? It would need to have
at least s-video and RCA audio inputs.

Patrick Michael

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 22:33:17 -0600, "Patrick Michael"
<> wrote:

>We got my dad a DVD player for Christmas, but our family still has a pretty
>big collection of VHS tapes so he would like a newer VCR to go along with
>it. The problem is that the TV has only one aux video input (s-video). We
>had to disconnect the old VCR, which was an antique anyway.
>
>I guess we can't connect the DVD directly through a typical VCR thanks to
>Macrovision. So what would be a good VCR, or probably more importantly, a
>good, but relatively inexpensive, AB swtich to get? It would need to have
>at least s-video and RCA audio inputs.

Have you tried: VCR --> DVD Player --> TV ? That should work.


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-Jon Purkey - <)
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Jon Purkey

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 22:33:17 -0600, "Patrick Michael"
<> wrote:

>We got my dad a DVD player for Christmas, but our family still has a pretty
>big collection of VHS tapes so he would like a newer VCR to go along with
>it. The problem is that the TV has only one aux video input (s-video). We
>had to disconnect the old VCR, which was an antique anyway.
>
My guess is the TV does have a single aux input, but it's a shared
composite/S-vid, which means you can't hook up 2 sources to it, and
the S-vid takes priority. If so, you do in fact need a switch box or
limit the VCR input to the antenna in via the VCR RF out.

Would using the RF only out with the old VCR be an option for viewing
tapes? The difference in picture quality between a composite and RF
out on a smaller set may not really be noticeable with a VCR.

>I guess we can't connect the DVD directly through a typical VCR thanks to
>Macrovision. So what would be a good VCR, or probably more importantly, a
>good, but relatively inexpensive, AB swtich to get? It would need to have
>at least s-video and RCA audio inputs.
>
You can get S-vid switch boxes that include analog L/R switching as
well. Search the web or go to Radio Shack. If you want a decent VCR
with a S-vid out consider a Super VHS model. JVC, for one, still
makes them. If you want to get a less expensive Hi-Fi VCR with only a
composite out, you could use that with the RF out or get a composite
to S-vid converter and then use the switch box.

Finally, another option would have been a combo VCR/DVD player instead
of separates.

Gary E
--
|Gary A. Edelstein
| (remove NO SPAM and .invalid to reply)
|"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Walt Kelly's Pogo

Gary A. Edelstein

On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 11:51:43 -0500, Jon Purkey <>
wrote:

>On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 22:33:17 -0600, "Patrick Michael"
><> wrote:
>
>>We got my dad a DVD player for Christmas, but our family still has a pretty
>>big collection of VHS tapes so he would like a newer VCR to go along with
>>it. The problem is that the TV has only one aux video input (s-video). We
>>had to disconnect the old VCR, which was an antique anyway.
>>
>>I guess we can't connect the DVD directly through a typical VCR thanks to
>>Macrovision. So what would be a good VCR, or probably more importantly, a
>>good, but relatively inexpensive, AB swtich to get? It would need to have
>>at least s-video and RCA audio inputs.
>
>Have you tried: VCR --> DVD Player --> TV ? That should work.
>
I've never seen a standalone DVD player that has an input. Home
theater in a box units with built in players may have some sort of vid
switching and DVD/VCR combo units have an input like a VCR - which
would be subject to Macrovision problems. DVD recorders also have
inputs. Gary E
--
|Gary A. Edelstein
| (remove NO SPAM and .invalid to reply)
|"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Walt Kelly's Pogo

Gary A. Edelstein