I have a Sharp Aquos hooked up to a HD Digital Receiver. I get reception through input 1 (DTV), not TV. However, I recently bought a Sony DVD recorder and although I can play and record, I can only change channels while recording if I go to the TV input. However, there are only scrambled channels on this input. I cannot get the TV to unscramble them, because I guess the cable cords go to the digital receiver. Is there a way to get my cable channels to show on the TV input so I can switch channels whilst recording?

Your TV input, I assume you mean the ANT. IN ? Only supports analog TV channels (i.e. cable 2 to 125). It cannot decrypt encoded cable TV signals, only your HD receiver can.

You Aquos should have more than one input. You can connect the receiver to input 1 and dvd recorder to input 2.

If you want to record from the hd receiver, then you take the hd receiver output and connect it to the inputs of the recorder, then recorder outputs to TV input 1.
Although recording HD stations will only be at 480i resolution.

The Aquos has 4 inputs, including one for HDMI. By inputs I mean where the cables (component, A/V) go. By TV I mean where the cable TV wire would go - in this case it comes from the wall to the digital receiver and there's a connection between the receiver and the TV. If I didn't have a receiver, then it would go directly to the TV. There's only one of these.

There's a A/V cable (red, white, yellow) running out of the DVD into an input on the TV; there's a a/v cable running into the DVD out of the receiver.

As I said everything works in terms of viewing, recording and playing back. I can switch to the "TV" selection whilst recording without affecting the recording, but unfortunately all the channels are scrambled. This is probably because all reception is coming into the receiver. I can also use my receiver remote to change channels in "TV", but then the channels change whilst recording.

I guess I need to find out how to view channels on "TV" without having the receiver involved. Rogers mentioned getting an a/b switch and 2 way splitter, and said to call back when I get them for instructions. This works for VCR hookups apparently, don't know if it applies to DVD recorders though. Haven't a clue how this would work, or even if it would work.

Any ideas?

Your dvd recorder should work exactly like a vcr.

You can view channels on "TV" by using the TV's internal TV tuner. You split the incoming cable. One goes to the HD receiver, the other goes to the "TV" Input. Now you will be able to watch ONLY analog channels, that is usually channels 2 to perhaps 65 or so. Any channels higher including HD stations and specialty stations will need the HD box.

Thanks for answer. Would you know how to set up the a/b splitter and 2 way switch?

For those who are interested in this topic, this is how you do it:


Q: How do you hook up a Digital Cable Box to an A/B Switch with VCR/DVD and TV?
A: You Need:
1 Splitter
1 A/B Switch
5 Coaxial Cables
1 Cable Box
1 VCR
1 TV
1 Active Cable Line

The Hook Up:
1. Take the cable from the wall (or floor), and connect it directly to the INPUT on the splitter
2. Use 1 coaxial cable to go from 1 OUTPUT of the splitter to the 'B' on the A/B Switch
3. Use 1 coaxial cable to go from the other OUTPUT of the splitter to the INPUT on the Cable Box
4. Use 1 coaxial cable to go from the OUT TO TV on the Cable Box to the ANT IN on the VCR
5. Use 1 coaxial cable to go from the OUT TO TV on the VCR to the 'A' on the A/B Switch
6. Use 1 coaxial cable to go from the TO TV on the A/B Switch to the ANT IN on the TV

Added Info:
'A' on the A/B Switch will be used to watch something with the Cable Box box, or to play a tape in the VCR 'B' on the A/B Switch will be used if you want to change channels on the TV and watch something different than you are taping. Remember to place TV back on channel 3 before switching back to the A side.


I tried it today and it worked, so that I can record one channel and watch another! I didn't need to switch the A/B switch as it mentions above and I'm limited to watching only regular cable channels, not all the ones I can receive through the receiver, although I can record all the digital channels.