Can I connect a digital tuner into a old analog tuner using a digital converter box?

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.

You should be able to connect the TV to the antenna without the tuner converter box. If you still do not get signal you may need some type of signal amplifier between the antenna and TV. Hope that helps.

Most VCRs need to be connected in a daisy chain or a splitter from your input source. (You may need a tuner with some VCRs these days; either a digital to analog converter for a VCR with an NTSC tuner or a different tuner source.)

If you have analog cable or a cable box with coax out and a VCR with an NTSC tuner, use the daisy chain method. Connect the incoming cable or the coax out from the cable box to the VCR's coax input. Then connect the VCR coax out to the TVs coax input.

For a VCR without a tuner, you'll probably find a RCA composite video line in option on the VCR. Connect your cable box or converter box composite output to the VCR composite in. For an OTA source, you'll need a splitter to send the signal to both the TV and the converter box.

Most TVs do not have a video output option.

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

Bought a conversion box!!

OK. This should be simple. If you are using a TV with a built in digital tuner like all the HDMI ( High Defintition Media Interface) flatscreens then you probably need to go through your set up menu on your Digital TV and select Initial Setup / Channel Input / Cable / Satellite if coming directly from a dish on 75 Ohm Coax / or Cable if coming directly from the outside 75 Ohm coax with analog signal. ( When I say DIRECTLY, I mean you are not going through any boxes and changing or passing the signal). All satellite direct connects are digital and all satellite converter boxes have multiple out puts these days. There is an HDMI output for high def and low def analogl to digital (A/D) signals coverted within the TV, sometimes there is a DVI or even a USB out put connector...and there is a 75 Ohm coaxial RF cable connection for all the old schoolers who do not have a widescreen digital TV. RF means Radio Frequency and uses Radio Frequency Channels 3 and 4 at the bottom of the RF band around 56 MHz to which any TV with an Analog Tuner can use. In the old days this is what was used for the connection to the TV from the cable boxes because our TVs did not have the capability of decoding analog pay channel signals, hence the little black boxes sold and used ONLY by cable thieves and not any of us here on fixya. For starters, let's make sure you are using your high def, dvi. or some format of digital It sounds like your TV is set up to search and code digital signals but is looking for the wrong carrier frequencies, meaning it is either looking for decoded digital satellite box signals, digital broadcast ( New Digital TV received via an Antenna). Once your TV scans for channels in the cable mode they will be memorized and available on your channel up / down keys and Favorites. (FYI t will scan for both digital and analog channels on antenna mode). Repost if you have troubles or refer to your users manual.

You will have to go to Radio Shack or Wall Mart, maybe Home Depot and get a matching transformer. That will have spade terminals on one end to connect to your tv and a round (75ohm male thread) to hook to your converter box.

is the coax cable tv? if yes then no you will not
if it is just an antenna , then yes you will need the converter box

I wonder if the RF interference from the digital tuner. That box will only allow ouput either through the coax or the AV ports. If you do both you will not get a picture.

If you switch them you have to tell the box what your using for output by going through the setup process.

Is the Zenith 901 converter box for your cable TV.

1) Connect the coax cable from the antenna to the converter box input.
2) Connect the coax cable output of converter box to the input of the VCR.

This is the only way it will work but you will have many limitations such as using the programming features of your VCR.

The boxes are fine if you want to play prerecorded DVDs or tapes. If you want to record tapes you have to leave the box on and have it set to the station you want to record.