Not getting Video when I connect DVD to Television.?

Question

I am trying to connect my DVD Player and separate surround sound system to an RCA SDTV. I have the red/blue/green cables. When I play a DVD, I can here the audio from the disc through the surround sound system. But am not able to get the video portion, just blue screen. I have Time Warner as cable service. Cable hooked to TV. DVD is hooked directly to TV. The TV was purchased in March of 08, so I doubt it's an issue with the television. No idea at this point what is wrong. There is a single, yellow Video connector I haven't used. Should I be using this cable to connect the DVD player to something? But the red, blue and green cable is already used, so I can't see that as being necessary.

Any assistance is appreciated!

Answer 1

If the DVD player and the TV both have red/blue/green (called component) connections, you should be able to use them.  You have to make sure that the TV input is properly selected to the component video, and that the DVD setup enables component output.  Older DVD players actually had a switch on the back to switch to component, newer players may do it automatically, but some may require component output to be enabled in the set-up menu.

Are you sure the DVD player has component outputs?  Many older ones only have composite (yellow) video, and if that is all that you have, you have to connect that to the composite (yellow) connector on your TV.  If your DVD player does not have component output, it may have s-video (small 4-pin round connector).  If so, you should use that instead of the composite (yellow) for better picture quality.

PS:  Magnavox is one of the earliest companies to enter the DVD player market (player was made by Philips), so you could have an old model.

After reading your additional info, it seems that the DVD player is defective.

Answer 2

Sounds like you need to select the right input on the TV.  There should be a button that says "Input".  Press that a few times and see if you can cycle to the correct input.

Good luck and reply back with more details if that doesn't work.

Answer 3

First, check to see if you have the tv set for the correct input. The tv must be HD or HD ready if you recently bought it and it has red/green/blue component connections. If it's on the right input, check to make sure the red is going to the red, blue, to blue, and green to green (it's easy to get the green and blue mixed up).

If those aren't the problem, you probably have to go into your DVDs main menu and set it up to output through the component connection. While your in that menu, you'll want to make sure your DVD player is set for 16:9 aspect ratio and that all the other options are correct. You didn't say which DVD player you have but most have a menu button on the remote. You may need the owners manual to help you get to the right menu though.