I want to be able to record a TV show onto a DVD. We have a Toshiba TV that is connected to a digital cable box with DVR. We have a Samsung DVD/VCR combo player. The TV has options for TV/Video 1/Video 2. To watch a DVD we have to switch to Video 1. The input choices for the DVD player is L1, L2, and CH44. The DVD player works to watch a DVD but now when I try to record something onto a blank disc. I don't know much able the different cables. I tried putting in an S-Video cable today but that didn't seem to make a difference. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks...

You need a DVD recorder to be able to record directly to a DVD. It doesn't appear to me that you have that.

The Samsung DVD/VCR can record to the VCR, but I doubt it can record to a DVD. You didn't mention a model number, so I can't check but my DVD/VCR (also a Samsung) certainly cannot do that.

I think it is a DVD recorder. It is a Samsung DVD/VCR V-8500, if that helps.

The Samsung DVD-V8500 combo unit lets you enjoy both your VHS and DVD libraries with one component. The hi-fi VCR offers MTS decoding, four video heads, three VHS recording settings (SP, SLP, and auto), auto tracking adjustment, and quasi S-VHS playback. The DVD-V8500 also offers a wide spectrum of playback formats, including DVD movie, CD audio, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, and JPEG. Additionally, you can view photos directly from your digital camera's memory card with the multi-format card slot on the front of the unit, which is compatible with Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, SmartMedia, Multimedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), CompactFlash, Microdrive, xD-Picture Card, and miniSD. It also includes front-panel AV inputs, enabling you to connect a digital video camcorder for easy recording to VHS tape.

The DVD-V8500 also offers 10-bit 54-MHz DAC for high-quality video recording and playback. It provides optical and coaxial digital audio outputs for Dolby Digital and DTS multi-channel surround sound, as well as a selectable progressive-scan mode for smoother video with HD-compatible TVs via the component video output (480i/480p for DVD only). It also offers the following video connections:

* Composite AV (RCA) In: 2
* Composite AV (RCA) Out: 1
* S-Video Out: 1
* RF: input and output (tuner pass through only)


Here's a user manual:

Samsung DVD-V8500 User Manual

And a link to the Samsung web site -- information for this model

download center SAMSUNG DVD-V8500

I don't see anything in the user manual where it says that you can record to a DVD.