Set vcr to channel 4 instead of 3

If the TV has a scart then you don't need to tune it. All you need do is connect a scart to the VCR and TV. Then when you want to record anything, set the VCR to an AV setting instead of channel 1 etc. You need to set it to the one with the scart, as the VCR will have more than one AV looking at it's picture. You then just press record. You won't be able to change channel, or the VCR will record that channel instead.
If this is a problem, get a freeview box and just have it connected direct to the VCR.
If the TV has only one scart, you can get one of these boxes below.

Hi chris If you mean that the tv has to be on channel 4 instead of 3 then look at the back of your vcr , there is a swich to select the output channels 3/4.
Hope this help

Its hard to work out without looking at your cables. I assume the problem started when the freeview box got set up. I would guess that the aerial cable is now in the set top box instead of the vcr as the vcr sounds like it is unable to record when there's no signal (a common feature) so there shouldn't be a fault with the vcr,

just unplug the aerial from the set top box & plug it back into the vcr. Ch 1 2 3 4 should be back on vcr but set top box wont have any Ch.

most set top boxes have an aerial output, so you'll need another aerial cable, plug this into the aerial input on the vcr & ch 1 2 3 4 will be there but these will be analog (if your area has stopped analog transmission thats the prob rite there)

If you plug the matching cables from the set top box into L1 on vcr you'll be able to record digital tv as L1 use a signal from another tuner eg set top box, dvd player whereas the vcr channels 1 2 3 4 use the vcr's built in analog tuner. so it shouldn't be a biggie another cable should fix it,

Hope this is helpful, ask if you need more info

With the VCR connected to DirecTV, you're not picking the channel with the VCR anymore. You're picking the channel on the DirecTV receiver, and the VCR will record on channel 3 or 4 (if you've hooked the receiver up using the RF output to the VCR) or through its line (A/V) inputs if you're using those. The tuning range of the VCR is completely unimportant.

With your new system, though, there's one big drawback. Since the VCR is always set for channel 3 or 4, or its line input, and you're changing channels on the DirecTV receiver, you can't program the VCR to record several different channels if you go out. You won't be home to change channels on the receiver, so the only channel you'll be able to record is whichever one you've selected before you go out. Remember the VCR is taping the output of the satellite receiver, and not the satellite channel directly. If you record on some channel other than the receiver's output channel, there won't be anything there. All you'll get is snow or a blank screen.

With your setup, the VCR gets its input from the cable box output, which will be on either channel 3 or 4. It depends on how you've set the box. The channel you are watching on TV or want to record is picked on the cable box.

The VCR will only ever see a channel 3 or 4 signal, so it must stay on that channel. That means when you record, set the VCR to record on channel 3 or 4, the box OUTPUT channel. The biggest mistake people make when they have a cable box is to set the VCR to record on some channel other than 3 or 4, and the result is snow. There's nothing on any other channel for the VCR to record. You also need to have the cable box turned on and set to the channel you want to record if you set the VCR for timer recording. That's another pitfall people meet.

This should get your recording going.

The short and simple solution is to tune the VCR to the channel that the cable box is set to (4), and then tune teh TV to the VCR's output channel (3). If you do this you should be able to see the Cable channel through the VCR tuner and then record. Any other solution would require figuring out how to set both the VCR and the cable box to the same channel, but it sounds as if you have ruled out any possibility of being able to do that.

You have to use the RCA plugs on the back of the converter box and the tv (red,yellow and white). Or you can attach the antenna wire to box and then attach the wire that comes with the converter that is listed as to the tv and instead attach it to the antenna in on the vcr. The converter box will determine which channel your vcr will get a singal to record from. Your VCR for every program will be set to channel 3 or 4 (depending on what your converter box is set to broadcast on). Make sure the power saver on the converter box is turned off as if you want to record a program in say 4 hours, if the converter box turns off in 2, your vcr will have nothing to record.

I ran seperate coaxible cable to the tv from vcr and unplug the tv converter box everytime I want to watch the vcr. You can also use the RCA cord to send the signal from the vcr to the tv and use the input signal to watch your recorded programs. I had static showing up everytime I played it through the second converter box thus I solved it by running a seperate coax line. I don't know if you will have this problem, just wanted you to be aware.

tune in the AV channel on the VCR to the TV and save the settings, then you should be able to record your programmes


kind regards

Turn on power to TV, and DVD/VCR, set TV to channel 3 or 4
Insert video cassette
Select desired channel by using CH/TRK
Set the desired recoring speed (SP or EP)
Press REC once
Press STOP to stop recording.

Timer Recording,
Press Menu and the Main menu will appear.
Use up and down arrows to choose the Timer record menu
Press Select/Enter to go to the Timer Record menu.
Use arrows to choose the program no. (1-8)
Use down arrow to choose Month option
Use arrows to choose the desired month
Use down arrow to choose the Day option
Use arrows to choose the desired day
Use down arrow to choose Start Option
Use arrows to choose the desired start time
Use down arrow to choose the Stop option
Use arrows to choose the desired stop time.
Use down arrow to choose the Channel option
Use arrows to choose the desired channel (Channel, Line1 or Line2)

Cable users: If you have Cable TV and used Cable Box in Connecting Antenna/Cable TV to DVD/VCR using a cable box converter, you must set the channel in this step to match the cable box output channel (usually 3 or 4). Change channels on the cable box instead of the DVD/VCR

Are you sure the reciever is coming through the vcr.? are you hooking it up through a/v on vcr?
if so hook from a/v out from directv to a/v in
jacks on back of vcr. and turn vcr on a/v channel
to record it. you will see the picture as you record it. if the vcr isn't on a/v channel it won't record it
If you use ch 4 or 3 to record it you
hook up directv to cable in on vcr and you
have to turn vcr on that channel and see it coming
through it you have to push a button on satlette
remote to make it come on the vcr on the channel
or it will record snow. and you have to push
another button on vcr remote if you haven't
already to get the vcr on ch 4 or 3 on your tv
or if u got it through a/v turn tv to a/v channnel.

just beacuse you see the picture coming through
your tv doesn't mean it going through your vcr
you could be just seeing it through the tv only.
you will see the vcrs graphics or vcr channel number on your
tv too along with the directv channel if it's hooked
up right. notice the vcr won't record it's own
graphics or channel number on the screen but it will record the directv's graphics. and it won't record the tv's own grapic channel number either.
to make sure it's right you will see 3 graphics on
your tv the own tv's channel number or a/v
the directvs and the vcr's channel number or a/v
on your tv if you see these you know it's hook up
right.