Hey Guys,

My digital cable is great! But I can't get the VCR to work with the digital remote. I figure that since the VCR is about 10 years old, that maybe I am out of luck with finding a code that works. The instructions are nothing more than a little step by step thing that is VERY confusing, and as usual, (see above post) the cable installers don't tell you anything. The VCR itself works great, I just have to use the TV remote for taping stuff. Do any of you guys have that same problem?

Jack

I had digital cable for awhile, and I had to put everything on channel 3 in order to get the vcr to work. However, my vcr wouldn't pick up the really high channels. So basically if I wanted to record something on 250, the vcr wouldn't let me. I'm not sure if they have vcrs that can work with that problem. Sorry I couldn't help more. Maybe we have a few technological people on the board that can help with that.

I just got digital cable this week and my problem is recording anything with the vcr. You can't change channels when taping anything or it will record as you change channels and show the on screen program guide. Anyone know a way to work around this? I have 2 new vcr's and couldn't program either to receive the digital cable channels.

Jack1000, you may look into getting one of those 'universal' remotes.

Originally posted by TJ
I just got digital cable this week and my problem is recording anything with the vcr. You can't change channels when taping anything or it will record as you change channels and show the on screen program guide. Anyone know a way to work around this? I have 2 new vcr's and couldn't program either to receive the digital cable channels.

Jack1000, you may look into getting one of those 'universal' remotes.

There's no way of getting around this - you just have to live with it. It is extremely annoying, I know. In the UK, Sky Digital are now offering their subscribers a special digi-box that not only allows you to to record shows without video tape (the shows are stored on the box's harddrive) but you can also watch one channel while 'taping' another. Unfortunelty this costs the subscriber and extra £120 a year in subscription charges and the box itself costs over £300.
As for your problem about taping digital cable - do you have SCART connections in the USA? I know a lot of electrical equipment in the US is different from what we have in the UK. If you do have SCART available to you then I think I can help you out.
Do you have that?

I have had digital cable for a few years. There are two cables that I have (a black one and a white one; I don't know what they're called) with pointy metal ends. One end of each goes into the cable box and the other goes into the back of the VCR. Just screw it in and it works. It's a little hard for me to describe but it helps.

I'm not too sure what you're describing.
This is what a SCART cable looks like:

Actually in reply to the poster above, the digital remote is supposed to be universal. I think the problem is that because my VCR is a good 10 years old that the new remote just doesn't have a code for it because the VCR technolgy is so old. My cousin is a computer engineeer so when he comes to visit next time, I'll have him try it.

I love that Interactive Program Guide and those digital music stations! (And YES I FINALLY HAVE GAME SHOW NETWORK!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!) Cable was cool about it because we have HBO (14 Screens) and Showtime (15 screens), which I had already with analog and standard service and they gave me Movie Channel (4 screens) TMC, TMC2, FLIX, and Fox Movies for free. So I get three movie packages for the price of two. Not bad. If you are undecided about digital and are flipping a coin, I'd get it.

Jack

Although I don't have DTV, I'm facing the same problems... The VCR I have can only record the basic channels, if I wanna record anything from the cable channels, I must turn it to channel 3 and turn to the channel in which I wish to record from.