How to find engineer to configure all my tv/dvd etc kit

usignuolo

This sounds wimpy to the techies out there but who cares.

I currently have a Virgin cable tv line - connected to a V+ set top box to a digital Sony tv (not hi def) and to a dvd player. I have just bought a Panasonic DVD/VHS player-recorder so that I can convert my VHS tapes to DVD and also record DVDs from other inputs (like my camera.)

I want to connect up the tv with the V+ box with the Panasonic dvd/vhs player-recorder. Hopefully if I record on the Panasonic device from the tv I can create DVDs too - is that possible?

I have an enormous complicated Panasonic user manual, an equally complex Sony tv user manual (tv has both scart connections at rear and "composite" red yellow white cable points on front ) but no user manual at all for the V+ box. Virgin no longer supply them - according to the engineer who installed it - they think your zapper is sufficient.

My son had a go at configuring it all recently - and he has an MSc in Computer Engineering - but gave up defeated. I am now at the point when I will happily pay an engineer for a hour or twos work to set it all up to my satisfaction and explain it to me, but how to find one.

I can find tv installers and aeriel installers on line and of course suppliers like Virgin will install their kit for you when you buy it (in a rush in my experience) but how to find someone to come and set up and configure all my above devices for me? Any ideas? I live in SW London/North Surrey BTW.

scheming_gypsy

Sounds fairly easy to be honest, you just unplug the existing DVD player and plug in the new one.

Although if you want somebody to dio it for you, AV Forums will probably have a fair amount of installers on their.

spud17

Have a look at this wizard.


http://www.which.co.uk/static/flash/tvconwiz/which_tv_connection_jslocal.html

googler

What do you mean by 'defeated'? What's the difficulty?
You couldn't get a picture? You couldn't record from the V box?

Clarification required.

So, to summarise your requirements

Watch TV from the V box
Record from the V Box to the Pana DVD/HDD/VHS
Feed Camera to the Pana
Play back DVDs (on the DVD player you have at present, or on the Pana?)

I've had many Panasonic VHSs, DVDs and now HDD/DVD/VHS machines through my household, and frankly, I've managed most of them without even looking at the manual. I find them almost self-explanatory.

What model number is the Panasonic? Does the manual have the usual basic 'Getting Set Up' section at the front?

Can you tell us the model no of the TV, or exactly how many and what connections it has? Likewise, what connections are on the V box?

googler

Can't help if you don't give us more info......

busiscoming2

OP - I have no idea what you are talking about, but my solution would be to ask a teenage boy. They generally know everything and are pretty whizzy when it comes to complicated stuff like this.

usignuolo

OK I have an (old) Sony Trinitron TV KV-32FQ75U (Digital but not hi Def) and a new Panasonic DMR-EX99VEB DVD/VHS Recorder (with Freeview). I want to use the Panasonic to replace my existing DVD player (player only) and VHS player recorder (very old) to copy over my VHS tapes and to record DVDs.

The TV has at the back 3 Scart points. All are 21pin and, according to the manual, have the following specs and functions:

Port 1: av input, RGB input, TV av output.
Port 2: av input, S-video input, selectable av output.
Port 3: av input, S-video inut, Monitor av output.

There are also RCA connectors, variable output for video signals.

+ an RF in.

On the front there are the following terminal points

video input - phono jacks
audio inputs - phono jacks
S video input - 4 pin DIN
headphone jack - mini stereo.

The diagram recommends connecting DVD to Scart port 1, VCR and decoder to Scart port 2 and playstation to Scart Port 3.

The front ports are recommended for S-VHS hi 8 camcorder and 8mm/Hi8 camcorder in different configurations.

The Panasonic has two 21 pin scart points on the rear. These are called AV1 and AV2. AV1 is for connecting the tv to and AV2 is for an external unit.

So I am assuming AV1 goes into one of the Scart ports on the TV. Which one? Port 1 which is for the DVD or port 2 which is for a VCR + decoder - given the Panasonic is a combined DVD and VHS unit.

What is the relevance of the S-video spec in this context?

scheming_gypsy

AV is just the input number. So if you just have 3 scart leads then its scart 1 / AV1, scart 2 / AV2 etc.

S-Video is just another inut method for video. You'd use an S-Video cable (video) and the red and yellow cables (2 channel audio)

So if all your devices are running scart, plug them in to each scart socket and turn them all on. Then go through the AV channels on the TV to see which tally's up with the external device. If the Virgin box is in scart one, then AV1 channel on the TV should show the TV

googler

Connect AV1 from the DVD to Av1 on the TV.

When you want to record Camera to DVD, plug the camera into the ports on the front of the Panasonic, not those on the TV.

The Panasonic is a Hard Drive recorder, so you can edit things on the HDD before you write them to DVD.

What outputs does the V box have?

googler

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

S-Video is just another inut method for video. You'd use an S-Video cable (video) and the red and yellow cables (2 channel audio)

Red and White for Audio. Yellow is for Video

usignuolo

Yes I need to check what the V+box is plugged into on the tv. I am reluctant to move the V+ box connection as that was set up by Virgin.

I was hoping I could just swap out the dvd player with the new panasonic box but confused by the fact the tv manual says that AV1 scart is for DVDs and AV2 is for VHS's when the Panasonic is a dual function DVD/VHS unit.