I would like to be able to record DVDs onto VHS tape, but here are my components:
TV with coaxial input only DVD player VCR Dish Network Satellite receiver RF modulator box
Can this be done with what I have? I would also like to record from TV to VCR. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have been tearing out what little hair I have left trying by myself.
Connect the DVD to the VCR with RCA cables and set the VCR to line. You really should connect the sat the same way, PQ will be a lot better, you can connect the sat with coax to the VCR though. You'll have to take the VCR off line and set it to whatever channel the sat outputs on to record from the sat.
easiest way would be to use an AV receiver that would allow for both video switching, and recording from an alternate source. even the most basic models allow for this nowadays.
If you don't want to spend that money though, then yes, connect the DVD to the VCR IN, then VCR OUT to the TV. DSS receivers usually have a coaxial pass=through you could use between the DVD and VCR as well, if desired, allowing the recording of satellite programming.
Your last sentence makes no sense. You can't connect a sat between a DVD and VCR. You can connect a DVD to a VCR and a sat to a VCR, you can't connect a DVD to a sat to a VCR.
depends on what models he's using really. I've seen numerous DSS boxes with pass-through capability. As long as the DSS is off, the signal passes through. When the DSS is on, it shuts off the input for passthrough. I've also owned VCRs with INPUT 1 and 2, which would allow running both the DSS and DVD into the VCR via composite AV. The only problem he might encounter is with macrovision. Again this leads back to using a video source switch.
He already has an RF modulator. A great way to turn 525 lines of DVD resolution into 330 lines and stereo audio to mono. Why in the world would anyone want to do that?