[ted6969]

I have a tube TV, and vcr-dvd combo player, and a comcast cable box. Want to record one channel and play another at same time. Need schematic for rthe hookup.

[robertva]

On many cable systems there will be some limitations on which channels are available for simultaneous viewing and recording of different channels. Details vary depending on your cable provider's channel lineup, which rental converter you are using and the features of your equipment. Usually premium channels (like HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and The Movie Channel) are only viewable or recordable through a rental converter. Most of the channels in digital programming tiers that originate out of your local area will normally require the rental converter as well.

There's probably diagrams in the combo unit's owner manual. Many consumer manufacturers are now making downloadable copies of manuals available on their web sites for the convenience of consumers who can't locate the printed copies that came packed with the equipment.

You might be able to achieve the most capability by connecting the composite output of the rental cable converter to the composite input of the VCR/DVD combination. Use a splitter to route the RF (coax) to both the cable converter and the RF "antenna in" input on the TV. You should be able to view your choice of the rental converter content or recorded material through the VCR/DVD combo and composite cables connecting the combo unit's composite output to the matching inputs on your TV. Channels your cable provider still distributes as "in the clear" audio format will still be available over the TV's antenna connection.

Composite video cables are color coded with yellow plugs that should be plugged into matching jacks. They are usually used with stereo audio cables with red and white color codes.