Why do I get 'snow' when I record on my vcr?

Question

ok, I have the cable line from the wall going to the cable box, then the box connected to the vcr, then the vcr to the tv. I can set the vcr to record a program, and they are both set to channel 4, but when I go to watch the recorded program later, all i have is snow.

It's an Emerson EV806N vcr. what am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

From what say you are using RF and not video signals.  If the cable box is hooked up to the VCR in and the  VCR out cable goes to the TV and the output of the VCR is set for channel 4 with the TV set on channel 4 you have things hooked up correctly.  If you have normal picture and sound on the TV and set up that channel to record, then the VCR should record the channel you are looking at.  Make sure you have all the settings correct on the VCR, channel and start and stop times.  The cable box must remain on also and on the channel you wish to record.   The VCR must be of the type that comes on tuned the channel that is the output of the cable box.  If all these conditions are met, then you should be able to record.  If it still will not record then you have a VCR problem which could be anything from clogged video heads to a circuit failure.  Good luck.

Answer 2

Most cable boxes only do output on Ch 3. Set your VCR to Ch 3 (some of them have a switch on the back) and then when you set it to record, make sure you are also recording only Ch 3. Then you set your cable box to whatever channel the show is on that you want to record.