My older GE tv has error message unusable signal when hooking to cable box

In settings you have to run auto scan to find signal.
Should work for both TV's

I can;t keep my DISH satillite to turn on. when I turn the tv on and hook up the cales i get unusable signal and blue screen

What to do if you have an all snowy picture (blue screen or the TV displays unusable signal-no signal or no sync)
1 – If you are using a digital cable box or satellite receiver (make sure it’s on) and be sure your TV is set for either CH3 or CH4 (which ever you usually view it on). If you usually view it through video inputs (video1 or 2 etc.) make sure the appropriate input is selected.
If you still don’t get a signal see if you get picture using the DVD or VCR (if available) if you do than plug the satellite or Dig. Box temporarily into the place of the DVD (unplug DVD) you may have to use some A/V cables (RCA yel./red/wht like the ones on the DVD) to hook to the tv from the sat./dig. box. If you get a signal then the sat./dig box is ok. If not the Sat./dig box is not sending a signal and is either defective or needs to be rebooted (unplug wait 5 min try again).
2 – If you are using standard cable or antenna (source) if possible check that the source is good by connecting to another TV. Otherwise try running the source into a VCR and then out to the TV using video inputs (RCA yel./red/wht like the ones on the DVD) and then selecting the appropriate input. Try seeing if the VCR plays using standard CH3 (or CH4)
If the VCR plays on video input but not when connected to CH3 (CH4) then the tuner of the TV may be defective – see if you can use the VCR to change channel using the VCR remote.
Be sure to vote/rate me if this helped Thanks!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU USE A DVD INPUT (AV) OR A SAT/CABLE BOX CONNECTED TO THE AV INPUT'S ,,IF IT CLEARS UP YOU HAVE A SIGNAL BOARD BAD BUUUUUUT YOU CAN BYPASS THAT BOARD AND SAVE MONEY JUST BY USING THE AV INPUT...TUNICA

Hello matthew95765,
The TV is working, the message is coming from the dish box. What you need to do is to determine if the dish box is connected to the dish and that it has signal at the box, because the message it is delivering to the TV is that it is not receiving signal from the satellite. so you have to check the connection at the satellite and at the box because those are the only point that can generate the error you are getting.
I hope this helps,
Thank you,
Shuttle83 

Usually need a second receiver. Cannot just split signal. With some cable providers you can split the cable before it hits the cable box for basic cable channels.

Suggest contacting Cable Company if does not work.

Thanks!

Could be a bad buffer/amp or bad tuner, depending on source selected....accordianman

Substitute video jumper cable....
Re-check video out hook-up on back of DVD......
Sub out DVD with different DVD / VCR for test......................T.

First, whether or not you can do this will depend on cable box useage, and how the VCR is hooked up. In the earlier days of cable TV, & off-air reception, this was a simple task. If you have a satellite receiver box or cable box which is used to tune the channel, rather than using the TV itself or the VCR tuner, then recording one channel while watching another may not be possible. While I don't know the capabilities of newer sat/cable boxes, older ones sent just one signal out to the external equipment (TV etc.) That one signal (channel) is all that is available. If you received a manual with the sat/cable box, see if it says anything about this issue. That being said- if you don't use a sat/cable box, but instead use your TV or VCR to select the channel you are watching, then assuming the VCR is hooked up inline with the TV, just setting the VCR/TV option to TV will pass all channels through to the TV, and you can then use the TV to select whatever channel wished, while the VCR is recording something else. Hopefully I haven't confused you. If another contributor has some additional info on the capabilities of sat/cable boxes of today, please read their contribution.