DirecTV co-ax in to Hughes DirecTV DVR (not HD). Outputs: RCA, S-vid, HDMI, component.
TV: Sony LCD Wega KLV-32M1 (bought early 2005). Inputs: Plain video in -- S-vid, RCA with or without S-vid + 500mVrms audio; HD-DVD -- Component with 480i&p, 720p, 1080i + 500 mVrms audio; HDMI -- vid = 480i&p, 720p, 1080i, aud = 2-Ch linear pCM 32, 44.1 and 48kHz, 16, 20, & 24 bits, or aud = 500 mVrms.
DVD/VCR: Samsung DVD-V5500 (new, not connected yet). Inputs: Front - RCA; Back - RCA, Co-ax. Outputs: RCA aud + digital vid Co-ax, Component, S-vid, vid/aud RCA, solitary co-ax to TV. Has 525 progressive scan output.
There's also a co-ax input on the TV in addition to all the fancy stuff.
I haven't hooked the new DVD/VCR up to the TV yet. Have been getting TV signal direct from satellite receiver. Only input on satellite receiver is co-ax. I currently have the sat. receiver hooked up to the TV using S-vid, plus RCA for sound on Vid. 1. I also hooked up the co-ax -- not sure why -- I think this allows me to watch live TV while recording 2 other channels.
The picture SUCKS . I fiddled around w/the Sony settings & made it a little better by reducing sharpness from max to middle. Even so, you can see 1-cm. squares (not as bad as before) & the picture is a little fuzzy. I realize the fuzziness might be a result of my not having an HD signal coming in. Most of the programs I watch are broadcast in HD. Am thinking about getting an HD receiver.
Current question: Given the above equipment, what's the best way to hook the DVD/VCR in between the satellite receiver and the TV? I know NOTHING about this stuff except a little bit about how component cables work.
Will using a component cable between the DVD/VCR help or hurt with the satellite signal between the DVR and the TV? I mostly watch TV that's recorded on the DVR receiver/recorder. Some live between seasons. Don't watch that much DVD. Need to record some stuff from DVR onto VCR.
Oh, duh. I feel really stupid. In my post of Dec. 26 I said that my Hughes DVR had the following outputs: RCA, S-vid, HDMI, component. I don't know where my head was, but the Hughes DVR outputs are: RCA, S-vid, and co-ax. No component, and it's not HD, so obviously no HDMI.
The rest of my post is correct and I REALLY NEED HELP. Thanks.