Can't Record Cable TV with VCR DVD Combo

We can't record TV shows to VCR from Time Warner basic cable (no box, just a cable from the wall) since we changed to one of the newer dvd/vcr combo units. Had no problem before when the old VCR had R6 Coax "in from ant" and "out to TV". These newer VCR/dvd combo units don't have the coax connections. Do we need a combo unit with a tuner? Do we need a splitter? We want to keep it simple like it was before if it's possible.
I've read allot of the forums but can't find a straight answer if we need a combo unit with a tuner or not. How about the splitter, do we need that?
On top of that, Panasonic web-site has a note: "will not record paid programs, only free programming" referring to a unit with tuner so I'm not even sure if getting a combo unit with tuner will solve the problem.

Thank you Dave,
This takes away most all of the confusion and it appears you have helped many others as well on VCR recording issues.
Oh, Your answering is helping at least three additional families here in Maine having the same problem as us. I volunteered to help figure it out.
We now know we need either a recorder with an ATSC tuner or have a cable/satellite box.
Now we have another dilemma:
The VCR DVD combo we want to buy is PANASONIC DMR-EZ37VK, the add say's ATSC but ownwers manual on Panasonic web-site says "Television system:
TV system: NTSC system". I don't know enough about this to figure it out.
Another dilemma is that the cheapo dvd/vcr combos people bought two years ago with the RF(coax) in/out are still working fine.
The new cheapo units don't have the tuner but the older cheapo ones did; is that it?
There must be millions of people with this problem. We have been recording for years with no problem until now.
Barry

In other words the VCR/Dvd Combo units cannot record on the VCR and use the programing feature of the VCR. This is false advertizing! My Sony manual states and shows how to program in recording of programs.
Waht about using a Rf modulator box for the Coax. connection to the cable and then to the TV. The boxes have Video/Audio out to the VCR input line. If You could get a switchable box to playback DVD's and VCR's separately would the box give the VCR a signal to record from? Not sure what else to try.
Any help greatfully appriciated.
Glen

I was talking to cable seller and they said they gonna do something so everybody who has cable will need a box for the cable tv for every tv set they own

The no tuner vcr/dvd combo's are for people who
have satalite or dtv boxes.
they all have a/v connections so you can connect them together

Sympathies. I moved because I was president of the ever so stupid housing association and couldn't get squat changed!

can I put a cable box on a cable line that doesn't need one to enable it to be a usable signal to my non tuner dvd vcr?

Can I use a digital to analog converter to do this? I don't need that either. The Tvs work fine.

Can I use some kind of tuner? Can you buy them?

We have Comcast and can't record TV programs on our VCR since we got the new converter box. We really want to be able to record programs when we can't watch something. Do we have to get a DVR?. Is it easy to set it up. We are very "Electronically Challenged" here. I don't want to buy the wrong thing. Thanks for any help anyone can give

Shirley,

You Comcast converter box should have a set of yellow+red+white RCA jacks. You would connect those to the same yellow+red+white jacks on your VCR and set your VCR to LINE IN1 or LINE IN2.


Without seeing a picture of your Comcast converter box, I can't be any more specific.

ieee488
Thanks. We will try that.