Partial Cable When I connect this TV to a coax cable line (not through a converter box) it only gets a signal through the first 16 channels or so, but it should be getting many more. An older Zenith on the same line gets everything.

You will need a digital to analog converter which you can get at Radio Shack, Best Buy and most big box retail outlets or online. Your Coby is most likely analog and will require the digital signal to be converted to an analog signal from the digital converter box to the TV. UNLESS the digital converter box has analog (round connectors on the back) then you just need an analog RCA cable (which you can also get almost anywhere even your local CVS/Walgreens) to make the connection.

Following input output are provided

Inputs: 1 RF

Outputs: 1 composite video, 1 analog audio L/R, 1 RF

Most Goldstar VCRs only have an analog tuner. (TVs do not often have an option to output their video to another device.)

So first what is the source of the TV program? If it is an OTA analog or CATV cable. Set up the VCR normally by connecting the incoming signal cable to the VCR and then use the coax out to the TV. Scan for channels and set the VCR to record the desired program. (Either use the timed record or one touch record method.)

If your source is digital, you will need a set top box (either a digital to analog converter or cable box). To split an incoming OTA signal between your TV and the converter box, you can use a switch or a splitter. (A splitter will give lower signal strength to both the TV and the converter box.)

Depending on the box, you can either connect a coax cable from the box to the VCR and then to the TV or composite video from the box to the VCR. If you use coax, set the converter to channel 3 or channel 4 and record that channel. Otherwise set the VCR to record Line 1.

To record, put in a tape with sufficient space available with an intact safety tab. For One Touch Recording, set the VCR to the desired channel and tape speed. Then press Rec. Press several time for a timed recording. For Timed recording, press Menu > Program. Press Select and move through the list to program day to record, the start/stop time, and channel, etc. When done, press Menu to save the setting. The timer light should come on (most VCRs will turn off).

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Is the incoming signal OTA or cable? (If cable, is it analog (CATV) or digital (QAM)?)

Most TV's do not have a video out but you should check your TV. Assuming the usual TV with no video out, then you will need a set top box to record any program other than analog signals (CATV or a low power OTA option). The VCR only has an NTSC (analog) tuner.

For an OTA signal, take the coax from the antenna to a digital-to-analog converter coax in, then coax out of the converter to the coax in (tuner) of the VCR. Then set the VCR to channel 3 or 4. Set the switch on the converter. (Some VCRs will record Line In or Input, so you could use the composite out of the converter to the VCR.) Then coax out from the VCR to the coax in on the TV and set the TV to Channel 3 or 4 as well. Set the switch on the VCR. (Alternatively use the composite (A/V) out on the VCR to the composite In on the TV and set the input to AV1 (or whatever the TV calls the input). Digital cable will be set up like the OTA, except for using a cable set top box instead. You may want a splitter to allow for watching one program while recording another. In that case, put the splitter before the set top box if the TV has the digital tuner. Otherwise put it after the set top box. In both cases, you will need to use the AV (composite out) on the VCR to the TV.

For analog cable, take the coax cable and connect it to the VCR's coax in. Then connect the coax out or AV out to TV.

Set the VCR to the desired station and press REC. For timed record, enter the menu and set the time to start and end the recording as well as the channel. If you are using a set top box, set that to the desired station and then press record. (Leave the VCR set to Line in or channel 3 (4) as needed.)

Manuals for some JVC vcrs are here: http://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?categoryId=CATG0002&productId=PRD4600001&archive=true . A manual for a similar model will help since they all connect the same way. However the HR-D18OU is not in the list.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Here is the easiest way...

1. Connect coax cable from the wall to the "Cable in" on the cable box.

2. Connect a coax cable from the back of the TV to the "To TV" output on the back of the cable box.

3. Tune your TV to channel 3

4. Plug the power cord into the back of the cable box and into a power outlet.

5. If you do not have a picture call Comcast and ask them to send a signal to activate your new box.

6. Enjoy your new programming.....

Good Luck...

There are 2 options-
Option 1
Connect the coax cables in the following order.
1 From the wall to the input of the converter box.
2. From the output of the converter box to the input of the VCR.
3. From the VCR to the TV input.

Here is how you record with this option.
1. Tune the converter box to the channel you wish to record.
2. Turn the channel on the VCR to channel 3 or program the VCR to record channel 3 this will record whatever channel you have your converter box set to at the time of the recording.

Option 2- (will not work on satellite)
1. From the wall to a 2 way splitter (made for digital cable. General rule of thumb with digital cable is gold does not usually mean good.)
2. One output from the splitter to the converter box and the other to the input of the VCR.
3. Connect an Audio Video (RCA (yellow/red/white cable)) from the VCR to the TV input.
4. Select the appropriate input on the TV for the VCR.

Here is how you record with option-
Tune the VCR to the channel you wish to record and push the record button or program the timer to record the channel and time that you wish.
Note- with this option you will only be able to record channels that you would receive without the converter box. Also each time that you split the cable line you loose part of your incoming signal and depending on how you house is set up this option could affect the quality of your digital signals on the converter box.

What you all need to do is get away from a coax cable connection. If you have a cable box, or satellite box, take the coax cable off and use red, white, n yellow rca composite cables to connect your recievers to the tv. if you dont have a cable box, either get one, or get a converter box and use a tuner outside of the tuner within the unit. The tuners in those tv's are built to show you when you experience signal fluctation(which is normal with a coax cable) and thats why the box keeps popping up on its own. good louck to you all with this problem

Your FIOS box is typically a Motorola Digital Cable Tuner. In order to record from the VCR your FISO will have control of the tuner, not the vcr. If your FIOS has two video outputs on it for video (av connections), one should be plugged into you tv set and the other should be plugged into the VCR input. Your cable tuner will have to be set for the channel you wish to record ahead of time while the VCR tuner has to be set to record the line input at whatever time you wish to record. If your FISO has one video output line (av connections), your VCR has to be set to channel 3 when you record (provided that is the channel your FISO box is set for when viewing TV over the coax cable) and you will have to attach the coaxial output from the FISO into the coax input of your VCR.

The only way around this is to get a splitter and split the coax line so that the FIOS is connected to the coax as it is now and the VCR is connected to a seperate line using the coax input, however using this configuration will prevent you from recording digital channels. If you have a cable ready VCR, it will probably only recognize channels up to 150.

If you really want to get it to record digital channels without the hassles find out if Verizon has a FISO box with DVR to it or connect a Tivo to your FISO. Tivo will tune the FSIO when it records and it's very user friendly to use.

The TV is set to antenna mode or over the air mode rather than the cable mode. You should be able to navigate through the menus to change it to cable mode. That should resolve it.
Dan