Can I use the converter box and a VCR with my TV?

Question

I already have my converter box for the new digital TV. Can I hook up the TV and my VCR and the bunny ears with the converter box? This TV has no cable.

Answer 1

Yes.  You hook the rabbit ears to the Antenna In on the converter box.  Hook the Out to TV line from the converter box to the the VCRs Antenna In connection.  Hook the Out to TV line from the VCR to the TV.  You leave the VCR tuner on Channel 3 or 4 (which ever the box is set up to output).  Leave the TV on channel 3 or 4 (which ever the VCR is setup to output), and just change the channels on the converter box.

The VCR should pass through the signal when it is off.  When the VCR is on, it has to be on the right channel (3 or 4).  Since you have to use the converter box to view digital TV, you can't watch a different show than you are recording.  If you want to record a show, make sure the VCR is set to the right channel (3 or 4), and  make sure that the Auto Shut Off function on the converter box is turned off.  All converter boxes default setting is to automatically shut off after 4 hours of non-user activity, meaning if you haven't changed the channel in 4 hours.  You can disable that function in the menu on the converter box.

Answer 2

Yes you can.  The only thing that may require thought is how you hook it all up.

1. If you connect the converter to the TV antenna port and the VCR a couple of video inputs, then you can switch between the two, but the VCR wouldn't be able to record off air.  You could get a second converter for the VCR so you could record one thing and watch another on TV at the same time.  If the TV doesn't have video inputs, put and inexpensive antenna A/B switch just before the antenna in on the TV and use that to switch between the converter box and the VCR.

2. You could connect the converter box to the VCR and the VCR to the TV.  Then the TV and the VCR would see the same thing.

I hope this helps.