[cool4cats]

I have tried connecting the following devices via SCART to my TV:
Sky box, DVD & VCR.

I can see all work ok on my TV (having had to search for the video and DVD as they were playing) but I can't record to the VCR or DVD so I must be doing something wrong.

I don't have an aerial so terrestrial TV doesn't come into the equation.

I was thinking of buying a SCART switch box as I've heard it does all of the tuning in automatically - is this true?
If it is true then I'll go ahead and get one ASAP!

All advice appreciated.

TIA

[chrisjr]

A SCART switch box probably won't solve the recording problem.

One potential solution is to daisy chain the three units.

DVD AV 1 SCART --> TV
DVD AV 2 SCART --> Sky box "TV" SCART
Sky box "VCR" SCART --> VCR

This way you can record from Sky to either DVD or VCR. Only one TV SCART needed and all switching of sources should be automatic. Basically whichever device you turn on last should "take control" of the SCART feed.

The Sky box should pass through the signal from the VCR onto the DVD which in turn passes the signal on to the TV.

Only trouble with this arrangement is that it does mean you can't watch a tape on the VCR at the same time as recording something from Sky onto the DVD.

And of course if the DVD only has one SCART you can't connect it up like this anyway.

[cool4cats]

Hi chrisjr,

Many thanks for your prompt reply to my question.

I'll try what you suggested, there are two scart sockets on my DVD, two on the TV and one on the VCR so no problems there.
I don't mind not being able to use the VCR when recording from Sky onto DVD.

So the SCART switch boxes are purely for convenience?

Thanks again!

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cool4cats

So the SCART switch boxes are purely for convenience?

In my experience quite the opposite if you are talking auto switching ones!

If I ever need to use a SCART switch then I much prefer one with real buttons I can push so that I am in total control.

SCART has a switching signal on pin 8 which is used to tell the device on one end of the lead that something has switched on at the other end of the lead and so do something.

Auto switch boxes also use this signal to switch. Just that the one's I've used can get confused as to which device should be switched through if more than one is on!

[chrisjr]

Oh and by the way.

If you want the best video quality then set everything to RGB mode, except that is for the VCR which probably won't do RGB. That might cause problems if the TV cannot handle auto switching between RGB from the DVD and Sky box and Composite video from the VCR.

If that does become an issue and you don't mind about not recording onto the VCR then connect it directly to a separate SCART on the TV and not to the Sky box

[cool4cats]

OK thanks I'll remember this for the future ... avoid auto SCART switch boxes!

[cool4cats]

So let me get this right .... if I don't mind not being able to record onto the VCR I don't have to set the other things to RGB mode - correct?

I just connect the VCR straight from it's SCART socket to the TV SCART socket?
Then I can just record onto my DVD recorder instead.

So how does this change the original set up you gave me to connect all three devices to my TV?

Sorry to ask so many questions but I want to make sure I do it right!

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cool4cats

So let me get this right .... if I don't mind not being able to record onto the VCR I don't have to set the other things to RGB mode - correct?

No you want the Sky box and DVD set to RGB mode. This is the highest quality video mode so ensures that the pictures you see on the telly and the recordings you make are of the best quality you can get.

VCRs by and large do not support RGB because of the way they record the images. So they tend to only support the lower quality Composite video mode.

In theory a SCART lead can carry RGB and Composite video signals at the same time (it has separate wiring for each). The problem may be in the way your TV handles this.

It will be getting RGB from the Sky and DVD but Composite from the VCR on the same SCART connection. There are signals on the SCART lead to tell the TV what mode is being used so it ought to seamlessly switch from RGB to Composite. But that cannot be guaranteed.

What could happen is that the TV can only be fixed in one mode or the other. So if you set it to RGB for the DVD/Sky box when you play a tape on the VCR you don't see any picture, because the VCR is not outputting anything on the RGB connections.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cool4cats

I just connect the VCR straight from it's SCART socket to the TV SCART socket?
Then I can just record onto my DVD recorder instead.

If you get the scenario described above, ie a blank screen playing a tape on the VCR then your TV cannot switch video modes automatically. So you have three choices.

Use Composite for everything. Which would degrade the Sky and DVD pictures to some degree.
Manually switch modes each time on the TV. Not very user friendly really and you'd probably get fed up pretty quickly.
Plug the VCR into a second SCART on the TV. This way you can keep RGB for the DVD and Sky and Composite for the VCR and not have to compromise the DVD/Sky picture quality.

It does mean however that you may not be able to record from Sky to VCR. It depends whether you want this ability or not. You will still be able to record from Sky to DVD.

And as a bonus be able to watch the VCR while recording from Sky to DVD if you wanted. The TV ought to be able to auto switch between SCART inputs using the switching signals present on the SCART lead. Though you may have to turn this on in some instances. look for something called SCART Control or similar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cool4cats

So how does this change the original set up you gave me to connect all three devices to my TV?

DVD "AV 1" SCART --> TV "AV 1" SCART
DVD "AV 2" SCART --> Sky box "TV" SCART

VCR SCART --> TV "AV 2" SCART

NB The SCART labels in " " marks may not match what is on the back of your kit. You need to check in the manuals which SCART on the TV is wired for RGB. Usually at least the first one is.

Also the DVD may have one SCART wired only for input and one wired only for Output. Often there will be a symbol next to the socket representing a TV screen with an arrow across one edge.

If the arrow points into the "screen" the socket is an input. If pointing outwards it's an output. If there are two arrows pointing in and out or a double headed arrow it is wired for both input and output.

You connect the Sky box to the Input SCART and the lead to the TV to the Output SCART.

[cool4cats]

Thanks very much for all your help, it's much appreciated.