How to Connect a VCR to a TV With a Converter Box
By James Clark
VCRs remain a practical choice for recording television programs despite the burgeoning popularity of digital recording equipment such as TiVo and DVD recorders. Your VCR will operate slightly differently when connected to a digital converter box, so you'll need to familiarize yourself with a few basics before you begin recording your favorite movies and TV shows.
Step 1
Disconnect the power to all equipment before you make any connections.
Step 2
Plug the red and white audio cables into the "Audio Out" jacks of your VCR, and then plug the other ends of the cables into the "Audio Input" jacks on the back of the converter box.
Step 3
Plug a second set of red and white audio cables into the input jacks on the VCR. Connect the other ends to the audio Output jacks on the digital converter box.
Step 4
Connect yellow video cables to the video input and output jacks on the VCR.
Step 5
Connect the yellow video cable from the VCR's input jack to the video output jack on the converter box. Next, connect the video cable from the VCR's output jack to the input jack on the converter box.
Step 6
Set your VCR to channel 3 or 4, depending on the manufacturer's instructions for your particular model, and then set your converter box to the channel you wish to record.
Step 7
Insert a blank videocassette in the VCR and press "Record"; alternately, program the VCR to begin recording at a particular time.
References
Tips
- With a VCR-to-converter box connection, you will not be able to record a program while watching another.
Writer Bio
James Clark began his career in 1985. He has written about electronics, appliance repair and outdoor topics for a variety of publications and websites. He has more than four years of experience in appliance and electrical repairs. Clark holds a bachelor's degree in political science.