You may have a big new LCD screen television set hooked up to your Dish Network satellite TV system. But that doesn't mean an older, simpler device like a video cassette recorder can't have a place with them. An LCD TV screen may be more technologically advanced, but connecting something like a VCR to one is no different than with your old TV set. If the TV has an RF coaxial input port (which most do), you can hook up your VCR and make tape recordings of anything on your Dish Network system.
Instructions
1. Disconnect the connection to your Dish Network receiver box and TV if they are connected by a coaxial (also known as RF) cable. Disconnect the cable at the receiver box's end. If these devices are connected by another means, like a composite video or DVI cable, you should be able to keep this connection.
2. Connect the Dish Network receiver to the VCR. Use a coaxial or RCA cable to connect the satellite box's output to the VCR's input. If you are using RCA cables, remember that the color order from left to right is yellow, white and red. On some VCRs, the RCA input ports are in the front instead of the back.
3. Connect the VCR to the LCD TV set through the coaxial (RF) ports. Connect the VCR's output port to the RF port in back of the TV. If you still have a coaxial cable in the TV's port from an earlier disconnect, use it. Get a coaxial cable if the TV and Dish Network receiver weren't originally connected this way.
4. Plug in and turn on the VCR. Set the VCR channel tuner to whatever TV channel carries your Dish Network satellite signal (Channel 3 most of the time). The VCR's Line In channel (L-1) may work as well.
5. Check to see if your Dish Network TV signal clearly goes through to the TV. If it doesn't, check all your connections. If you have a second connection from the satellite to the TV that doesn't go through the VCR, try disconnecting that link completely.
6. Activate the VCR by pushing the "TV/Video" button with the machine on. If the VCR is set to the right channel, the satellite TV signal should still broadcast. Please note the picture quality may be less since you are now transmitting the signal through an analog connection.
Tags: Dish Network, your Dish, your Dish Network, coaxial cable, Dish Network receiver, Network receiver
