[sdswaney]

I have a Dish Network 301 Satellite box
I want to hookup a Pioneer DVD-640H HDD, so I can record from my dish channels to my DVD and/or HDD, I have an older Panasonic TV that has connections: ANT 1, ANT 2, audio (re-white RCA type) and also S-Video input and RCA a/v (yellow-red-white) input.

I also would like to connect a DVD Player, so I can watch DVD's on my TV (I don't really want to use my Pioneer DVD HDD just to watch DVD's, only want to use it for recording)

I hope someone can help

Steve

[HVAC888]

For your configuration, the best picture quality will be s-video. Connect the Dish output to the Pioneer input via s-video. Connect standard audio (red,white) cables to corresponding connectors. Connect the Pioneer output to your TV using s-video, and of course red and white audio cables.

Your DVD player will have an s-video output needed for best picture quality. If there is a another s-video jack, perhaps on the front of the TV, you will have to use that, since the other one is being used. Again audio cables to the corresponding connectors.

If you don't have another s-video input on the TV, you could use the standard a/v connections (yellow,red,white) for the dvd player, although dvd quality will look like vhs.

Another solution is to buy an AV receiver with multiple s-video inputs, and 1 or 2 s-video outputs, which can connect to your TV. This solution will give you surround sound, and expandability for connecting other devices, like a gaming console, for example.

[sdswaney]

Thanks HVAC888
I understand the first paragraph, but I don't understand "what I am connecting in the second paragraph". What am I missing?

[HVAC888]

You mentioned you wanted to connect a DVD player in addition to the Pioneer.

But your TV only has 1 s-video input, which is currently being used by the Pioneer, since s-video is the best quality for your TV, you won't be able to connect a dvd player at the same time, unless you don't mind the hassle of disconnecting one, and connecting the other or settling for vhs quality by using standard a/v cables.

[sdswaney]

Hi HVAC888

I finally received a couple of my s-video and a/v cables I orderd from Amazon but not all.

I connected everything per your instructions, by the way, Thanks for your help.

RF Satellite (Dish Network) coming from connected to STB---component cables out to Pioneer 640 "Line 1 Input---S-Video & a/v out to tv.
Didn't have a picture, just a very snowy and noisey blank screen.
On the front of my TV with the channel up-down, power buttons is a button called "TV" that
buttons toggles between TV and Video Mode. When I pressed video mode I had a picture but no sound, so I opened the drawer on the front of the Tv "the one that has all of the color adjustments, etc. there is a button named S-Video and Video push the button in for one, out for other. I switched the button to S-Video and now I have sound and piture.
Everything works, played a homemade DVD just to make sure I had everything hooked up correctly. It Works

But if I turn the Pioneer 640 off the TV also goes off--turn recorder back on-picture picture (sat) comes back on.

Steve

[HVAC888]

Since the Pioneer turns off the dish signal, you can leave the dish on all time time and switch the Pioneer, or vice-versa.:)

[sdswaney]

Thanks HVAC888

Turning the Pionner 640 off does not turn the sat box or the TV OFF, it just doesn't have audio/video on the TV, just a blank screen but the TV is still on. I don't think I would want to leave the TV on all the time, so I guess I'll just have to live with having the PIO640 on when we are watching TV. I thought maybe, that I might have hooked something up wrong and/or missed a step or a mode, etc.
Again thanks for your help,
Steve