Hi,

I'm trying to record ntl (bbc3 in particular) to my dvd recorder (it's a cello DR-810).

I don't know where to start really, I'm a bit clueless when it comes to stuff like this

When I want to record a terrestial station, I press a "tv" button on the dvd remote and then flick through the 17 stations until I get the one I'm looking for.

There is also an "av" button on the remote, which I presumed would give me ntl, instead I get a black screen, with the following messages in the corner, one each time I press the button.

1st monitor front vbs (no signal)
2nd monitor rear vbs (no signal)
3rd monitor rear s-video (no signal)
4th monitor SCART (no signal)

Any suggestions? Help would be much appreciated

Is there a SCART lead between NTL box and DVD recorder? If not then that would explain things!

And you are aware that you will only ever be able to record and watch the same program? So you won't be able to set the recorder to record BBC3 then switch to watching ITV2 say on the TV. If you do then when you play back you'll get a few seconds of BBC3 and a lot more ITV2!

I don't mind that I won't be able to switch in between channels.

There is a wire connection in between the dvd player and the ntl box, I don't think anything can be missing because all the connection spaces at the back of the ntl box have wires.

Just exactly what type of connections do you have between the various bits of kit?

The "standard" connection method would be....

NTL Box "TV" SCART --> TV SCART
NTL box "VCR" SACRT --> DVD Recorder SCART

With maybe another SCART from DVD to TV.

All depends on how many SCART sockets there are on all the various bits of kit. If any of course!

If the DVDR supports RGB recording and pass through then the following is better.

NTL TV scart ---> DVDR input scart
DVDR output scart ---> TV scart

This will allow recording in RGB. All jimmy has to do is select scart input on the DVDR and press record - obviously timers will have to be set up for absent recording.

That's the way the scarts are connected.

Well if there is a SCART connection between NTL box and DVd then you should be able to record from it. However....

If the SCART you have connected to the NTL box is set to RGB mode then it in all probability won't record any pictures. Though it might record sound. The "VCR" SCART on the NTL box won't feed RGB out most likely. So you will need to set the DVD to Composite video mode (may also be called CVBS). There will be a menu option somewhere - if all else fails read the manual

Revert to bobcar's method, this will allow the signal from the NTL box to p[ass through the DVDR to the TV so that you can monitor what the DVDR is recording (set the DVDR input to be AV2 and leave it there).
If your TV also has a digital tuner you can use this to watch a 2nd channel while the first is recording.
If your TV does not have a digital tuner then you are going to start getting hamstrung by only having one (NTL) after the switch off.
It may be that you are with NTL as the Freeview signal is bad, if this not the case I would seriously look at a Freeview twin tuner recorder and leave the DVDR for archiving.

Rgds,
Scorp

Unfortunately, I've lost the manual . Would you tell me which options to choose.

On the DVD settings-

*Default source = Front cvbs, rear cvbs, rear s-video, scart or tuner
*Video output format = pal or ntsc
*Video output = yuv or rgb

On ntl settings-

Should I turn scart av control on or off?

I'm still getting a black screen when I chose the av option on my dvd remote .

The DVD default setting should be 'scart' (assume this is AV2 the input scart)
Video output format should be PAL
Video output should be RGB
NTL scart control should be ON (this will automatically turn the TV to the NTL box when you switch on

Your set up should be like this

NTL TV scart ---> DVDR input scart
DVDR output scart ---> TV scart

Rgds,
Scorp

^ Thanks, how do I tell the difference between the input and output scart?

I think I've done everything as you've described (just unsure if it matters which end of the lead is in which box and if matters which connection spot the scart is in).

Now, when I turn on the dvd player, the main dvd menu doesn't come up in av where I used to find it. It is on though, but I can't navigate my way around it to see if it will record ntl. What now?!

Ntl used to just pop on to the screen when turned on, now it is on AV2.

you need to make sure that the scart lead from the 'tv' socket on the NTL box connects to a scart socket on the DVDR called 'AV2' or Input or IN
then you connect a 2nd scart from the DVDR scart called 'AV1' or Output or Out to the TV input called AV1.
You need to set the TV to be on AV1 and set the DVDR to be on 'AV2' or Input

This should enable you to see the DVD menu on the Tv screen

I cant find a manual for this Cello thing so struggling a bit, perhaps you can tell us what the scarts on the DVDR are labelled?

Rgds,
Scorp

Go back to first principles.

Remove every single SCART lead plugged into your various bits of kit. That way there can be no confusion about what is connected where.

Now on the back of the DVD inspect the two SCART sockets, I assume there are two? See what labels there are next to them. In particular look to see if there is a little symbol that looks like a TV screen with an arrow across the edge. If you have one with the arrow pointing into the "screen" that is an INPUT only SCART. If the arrow points out of the "screen" it is an OUTPUT only SCART. If it has two arrows pointing each way or a double headed arrow (<-->) then it is an INPUT/OUTPUT SCART.

Take one SCART lead and connect an INPUT SCART on the DVD to the "TV" SCART on the NTL box. If you have two INPUT SCARTs then either, use one which is INPUT only or one numbered 2 if both are IN/OUT

Use a second lead to connect an OUTPUT SCART on the DVD to a SCART on the TV. If the TV has more than one use the one numbered 1

DO NOT connect any other SCART sockets, ie leave the "VCR" SCART on the NTL box empty.

Switch on the NTL box and the TV should switch to AV1 automatically and display the programme the NTL box is "tuned" to. If you now switch on the DVD it's picture should appear instead and you should be able to display the menus. It should appear on the AV1 input of the TV as well.

If you use the input selector on the DVD remote you should be able to bring up the NTL box output, if it's on SCART 2 it will be on AV2 on the DVD for example. Once you ahve selected the correct AV input for the NTL box and can see it on the TV you should be able to just press RECORD to record it.