I am wondering if someone might be able to help me connect this for my father the best way.

His current set up, he has TV obviously Satellite, DVD player and Video recorder.

He now wants to replace the Video recorder with a DVD recorder but also keep the Video recorder hooked up and get rid of the standalone DVD player since he can use the DVD recorder for that.

What would be the best way to do this.

I have just unplugged the VCR just now and hooked up the DVDR just by swapping the plugs but no picture or response from it, this is just by using the RF in/out in the same way the VCR was going through the Sat I believe.

Its not the most accesible set up being built into brickwork.

All the kit is Panasonic, DVDR being the E55 as in title.

The telly and DVD are a few years old but still have all the AV1/2 and 3 perhaps I think.

Sorry not very knowledgable when it comes to AV kit.

All he wants to do is to be able to record TV and Sat on the E55 and watch DVD's, and perhaps watch the odd video here and there on the VCR.

Any help appreciated.

Merry Christmas to all

are you getting any menu's from the dvd recorder to the tv ? if not look to which scart lead is going from the dvd recorder to the tv scart,then matching the tv scart to the tv input button (i think pressing the colour buttons help.
make sure the dvd recorder is turned on !

re read ur question
tv scart 1 to the sat scart 1
sat scart 2 to dvd recorder 1

i think this is right

then the vcr into the other scart on ur tv

Hi thanks for the reply, I had imagined it would have worked with just plugging in the e55 just the same way the VCR was but it didnt seem to and the instructions do show this as an option.

Now I have hooked it up like this :

E55 AV1 > TV
E55 AV2 > SAT

Problem seem to be when you set to record using Videoplus is just always records whatever Sky channel your on.

I'm not sure putting the E55 AV1 scart to the SAT would be then answer as its market AV1 TV on the E55?

Can anyone shed some light on the matter.

Thanks

DVR AV1 to TV AV1
DVR AV2 to Sat 'TV'

VCR AV1 to TV AV2
VCR AV2 to Sat 'VCR'

Set the DVR AV1 Output to RGB, AV2 Input to RGB and AV2 connection to normal. Set the DVR Input Select to A2.

Set the VCR input select to A2.

Set the Sat scart control ON, video output to RGB.

To watch satellite in RGB, select the TV/AV to AV1. Then switch on the Sky receiver using the Sky remote. Note, do NOT press 'TV' on the Sky remote as if you do the RGB video will be suppressed and you'll get sound only.

To watch DVDs, do the same as above, but then press the DVD 'on' switch. The DVR will take over the TV picture from the Sky receiver.

To record from Sat to DVR, proceed as above but press REC on the DVR. Read the E55 manual carefully as there are limitations with RGB recordings using the timer.

If you want to transfer your old VHS tapes to DVD, I suggest a break-in adapter in the VCR AV1 to TV AV2 line, with a 3 x RCA output to the DVR rear panel AV4 sockets. Select A4 on the DVR when transferring.

For a back-up RF daisy chain, run the external antenna to the Sat receiver, then from the Sat receiver to the VCR, then from the VCR to the DVR and finally from the VCR to the TV.

My equipment is wired in this way and works just fine. It is all-Panasonic with the exception of the Sky receiver which is a Sony. I also have a RF distribution amplifier between the DVR and the TV, so I can send Sat, DVR and VCR outputs to another TV as well as the terrestrial TV signals.

I'd go for this ....


SCARTS:
Sky TV scart > TV AV1 (both RGB)
Sky VCR scart > DVD-R AV2 (set AV2 to video & Ext 1), this enables Ext Link
DVD-R AV1 > TV AV2 (both to RGB if your TV's AV2 accepts RGB, if not S-video)

SCART to 3 x RCA:
VCR TV scart > DVD-R AV4

RF:
Aerial > Sky in
Sky out > VCR in
VCR out > DVD-R in
DVD-R out > TV in

Watching & Recording:

1) To watch Sky, select TV AV1

2) To watch a DVD, select TV AV2 & play DVD

3) To watch VCR, select TV AV2 & choose AV4 as your source on the DVD-R

4) To watch analogue, select the channel on the TV in the normal manner

5) To record Sky, select the program using autoview in the Sky guide, engage Ext link on DVD-R, do not switch Sky box off. When the program starts the Sky box will switch to the appropriate channel and tell the DVD-R to record.

6) To record analogue, use videoplus, ensure that it shows BBC1 or BBC2 or whatever as the channel, once you have done this the machine will remember it in future. If you use videoplus for Sky only channels you'll have to set the DVD-R and the Sky box.

7) To record from your VCR, select AV4 on the DVD-R, set it to record for the length of the tape (maybe adding a minute or two) and then press play on the VCR.

8) To record analogue on your VCR, set it up exactly as you always have

You can do the following at the same time:
8 + 1 + 5 (but only record the channel you are watching)
8 + 1 + 6
1 + 7
8 + 4 + 5
8 + 4 + 6
4 + 7
2 + 8

The only downside is that the Panasonic DVD-R can't pass through a signal and record simultaneously, an extra scart from the VCR to the TV (subject to the no. of scarts on the TV and which scarts on your VCR output a signal) may solve the problem, otherwise you'll have to use the RF signal to do:
3 + 5
3 + 6

My set-up was exactly this until I added a freeview box, although I have the E85, which is the same as yours except it has a HDD as well