We want to understand the concepts - Panasonic connection problems!

[caroleriley]

We sound like some of your other threads - new buyers of Panasonic DVD recorder - DMR E85H. We already have a Panasonic TV (TX-32PM1) and Panasonic Freeview box (TU-CT30) - each with 2 scarts. We also have an old Panasonic video with 1 scart.

We're read the threads, but really don't understand what it all means - can anyone point us to a good starter guide for comprehending what it all means so we can work out how to set it all up from first principles? Part of the reason for asking is that the replies on various threads are so different to what is in the intruction books (none of which seem to cover our combination of kit).

What is AV1, AV2, RGB in/out, Video in out etc - why does it make a difference what is connected to what in what order? etc etc. What box should we connect to which, in which order, and why?

PS If anyone can tell us which to connect to which, so we get more than black and white on recording.......???? And have theDVD recognise the Freeview channels.....?

regards and thanks
Carole & John

 

[hornydragon]

AV1 is a label for a scart socket, see here for some basic tips: http://ws2.richersounds.com/information.php?cda=static&cst=tips_richertips

 

[lynx]

Moving to DVD recorders...you may get more response here.

 

[jem]

We sound like some of your other threads - new buyers of Panasonic DVD recorder - DMR E85H. We already have a Panasonic TV (TX-32PM1) and Panasonic Freeview box (TU-CT30) - each with 2 scarts. We also have an old Panasonic video with 1 scart.

We're read the threads, but really don't understand what it all means - can anyone point us to a good starter guide for comprehending what it all means so we can work out how to set it all up from first principles? Part of the reason for asking is that the replies on various threads are so different to what is in the intruction books (none of which seem to cover our combination of kit).

What is AV1, AV2, RGB in/out, Video in out etc - why does it make a difference what is connected to what in what order? etc etc. What box should we connect to which, in which order, and why?

PS If anyone can tell us which to connect to which, so we get more than black and white on recording.......???? And have theDVD recognise the Freeview channels.....?

regards and thanks
Carole & John

AV1/AV2 are scart sockets. On the E85 you connect AV1 to your TV scart - usually also AV1. AV2 on the E85 is used to connect your recording source, in your case the Freeview box. AV1 will output RGB and Video( composite video). AV2 on the E85 is capable of RGB input and output - so you can connect an RGB source like your Freeview box for best quality recordings and for passing the RGB signal through to your TV. On most TVs AV1 is the only RGB capable scart.

RGB means red, green, blue and is a type of signal input. RGB is the best quality, then S-Video, then Composite video. A digital source, like Freeview or Sky is capable of outputting RGB to give a good quality picture. A VCR will usually only use Composite video as do the analogue terrestial channels. i.e. BBC1, BBC2 etc. BBC1, BBC2 etc is also now available in digital via a Freeview box or Sky box.




For connecting;
Use scart leads

Freeview TV OUT to E85 AV2
E85 AV1 to TV AV1
Freeview VCR OUT to VCR

Your Freeview box should be set to output RGB - look in your manual if you are not sure how to do this.

On the E85 make sure AV1 and AV2 are set to RGB and that AV2 connection on the E85 is set to "Normal". You need to go into setup to do this.

If the E85 is off, the signal from your Freeview box will pass through to the TV which should automatically select AV1 when you turn on your Freeview box. If the E85 is on and you want to watch a Freeview channel, then select channel AV2 on your E85 - use the channel up and down button till you see AV2 in the display.

When you want to record a Freeview channel, select AV2 on the E85 and leave the Freeview box on whatever channel you want to record. You cannot tune Freeview channels into the E85 as it doesn't have a digital tuner. You can tune in channels 1-5 ( analogue terrestial channels).

 

[Nelviticus]

A good way to understand it all is to forget about all the labels and just think about inputs and outputs.

1. Your Freeview box only does output. You need to connect its output to your TV (so that you can watch Freeview) and to your DVD recorder (so that you can record Freeview).
2. Your DVD recorder does input (recording) and output (playback). You want to record from your Freeview box, so you connect that to one of the recorder's inputs. You want to watch DVDs and your recordings on your TV, so you have to connect that to one of the recorder's outputs.
3. Your TV only does input, so you have to connect all the devices to it that you want to watch. The Freeview box goes into one socket and the DVD recorder goes into the other.
4. You won't have any Scart sockets left for your VCR. You can either connect it to the sockets on the front of your TV (which will look messy) or you can connect it to one of the TV's Scart sockets in place of the Freeview box. You will still be able to watch Freeview because it will pass 'through' the DVD recorder, except when the DVD recorder is in timer standby mode.

- All these connections should be made with Scart cables. Scart cables are bi-directional so you don't need to worry about which end to connect.

The rest of this post is optional because it gets technical - if you follow the bit above then at least everything should work properly!

- The complicated bit is that the signals that get sent down the Scart sockets can be in one of several formats: RGB (the best), S-Video (second best) and Composite (the worst, but still OK). If you have difficulty understanding the concepts then it's best to stick to Composite, because then at least everything will work.

- RGB is the best. Not all output Scart sockets can send RGB and not all input Scart sockets can receive RGB. If you connect something that outputs RGB to something that can't input RGB you will get a black & white picture. Furthermore, some cheap Scart cables can't carry RGB, so if you use one of those you will get black & white even if the Scart sockets at each end are RGB-capable.

- Only one of your Freeview box's outputs is capable of RGB, probably the one labelled "AV1" or "TV". On your DVD recorder, the socket labelled "AV2" can receive RGB input and the one labelled "AV1" can generate RGB output. On your TV, only the socket labelled "AV1" can accept RGB input.

If you want to be able to record Freeview in RGB, watch Freeview in RGB and watch DVDs in RGB then this is what you need to do:

- Connect the AV1 socket of your Freeview box to the AV2 socket of your DVD recorder.
- Connect the AV2 socket of your Freeview box to the AV2 socket of your TV.
- Connect the AV1 socket of your DVD recorder to the AV1 socket of your TV.
- In the set-up menu on your Freeview box, make sure that the output format of AV1 is set to RGB.
- In the setup menu on your DVD recorder, make sure that the output format of AV1 is set to RGB.

If you do that you will be able to watch either the Freeview box or your DVD recorder in RGB quality on the TV's AV1 channel. If your DVD recorder is in timer mode, you will be able to watch the Freeview box in slightly lower quality on the TV's AV2 channel.

Now for the bad news: you can't set the DVD recorder to "recognise" the Freeview channels. As far as it's concerned, all the Freeview channels are just a single input coming into the AV2 socket. If you want to set a timer to record something on Freeview you will have to set the timer on the DVD recorder and another on the Freeview box.

Hope that helps!

 

[bubba]

Nelviticus and Jem -

Cheers for the v.useful info. I've just bought an E95 recorder today, and I've been having a bit of a 'mare setting it up. I've been trying to get it running using my expensive Component cable, and digital optical cable, which I used previously with my Tosh DVD player. I've always been under the impression that Component is even better than RGB.

I'm connecting a Sky (Grundig) Digibox, the E95, and a Tosh 36ZP18 CRT. I've attempted to follow, combine, or improvise, the E95 operating instructions, but still no luck. I've tried the Scart method too. (I have turned OFF the Progressive option, as the manual suggests, despite the telly being prog compatible). Problems I've encountered are; Sky is watchable but only with the DVD On, I get Sky sound but no vision, pictures are in black and white (which I believe, from what's been said, is due to one of the Scarts being non RGB). I'm probably being a dumbass.

If either of you can help, that'd be great.
Cheers

 

[jem]

A good way to understand it all is to forget about all the labels and just think about inputs and outputs.

3. Your TV only does input, so you have to connect all the devices to it that you want to watch. The Freeview box goes into one socket and the DVD recorder goes into the other.

Not quite true. AV1 and AV2 on the TV are often outputs as well to allow direct recording of whatever is on TV.

 

[jem]

Nelviticus and Jem -

Cheers for the v.useful info. I've just bought an E95 recorder today, and I've been having a bit of a 'mare setting it up. I've been trying to get it running using my expensive Component cable, and digital optical cable, which I used previously with my Tosh DVD player. I've always been under the impression that Component is even better than RGB.

I'm connecting a Sky (Grundig) Digibox, the E95, and a Tosh 36ZP18 CRT. I've attempted to follow, combine, or improvise, the E95 operating instructions, but still no luck. I've tried the Scart method too. (I have turned OFF the Progressive option, as the manual suggests, despite the telly being prog compatible). Problems I've encountered are; Sky is watchable but only with the DVD On, I get Sky sound but no vision, pictures are in black and white (which I believe, from what's been said, is due to one of the Scarts being non RGB). I'm probably being a dumbass.

If either of you can help, that'd be great.
Cheers

Sky sound and no picture means that your E85 is expecting an RGB source and not getting it. Some reasons are;

1. Non RGB scart lead
2. Sky not outputting RGB - check in Picture Settings
3. Connecting Sky VCR OUT to E95 instead of TV OUT - the VCR scart only outputs composite video
4. Pressing the TV button on the Sky remote to watch a TV channel whilst trying to record Sky -- use your TV remote only.

Can you follow the connections I've listed above substituting Freeview for Sky.

Let me know what happens.

 

[bubba]

Thanks for your suggestions Jem - I'm unable to see if they work for a couple of days, so will let you know when I do. Cheers

 

[caroleriley]

Thanks guys, for posting such useful replies - we'll go off and try it all out.


Certainly the "inputs and outputs" thinking starts to help understand why these are connected like this. Then the layer of Settings between each is an overlay.....

regards
Carole & John

 

[Nick_UK]

Just one small comment - you won't notice a huge amount of difference between RGB and component, unless your TV is one that benefits from having progessive scan switched on. If it is, you will notice a big improvement.