I have 2 VCRs: one has 2 SCART sockets; the other 1, and my TV has two
SCART sockets.

Is it possible to connect both VCRs to the TV so that all three
devices work when required? And, if so, what goes where?

At present, I can only get each VCR to work independently.

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Request for Question Clarification by read2live-ga on 15 Apr 2003 01:59 PDT

What are you hoping to do, megagaga?

Use the vcrs for playback only, use them to record two different
television channels at the same time, record live tv on one while
playing back (and viewing) on the other, duplicate tapes?

Are you using a digital receiver, or straight analog?

The answer to your question may depend on just what you are aiming to
do!

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Clarification of Question by megagaga-ga on 15 Apr 2003 03:29 PDT

Hi, Read2,

I'd like to playback from either VCR and record on at least one of
them - without having to reconnect.

I don't envisage doing any copying and I am using a straight analogue
receiver.

Regards

Meg

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Request for Question Clarification by sycophant-ga on 16 Apr 2003 04:52 PDT

The best way, would be for all connections to be SCART, this would
provide the cleanest signals throughout the whole system, and could be
quite easily achieved by adding a SCART splitter box (something
generally available for about US$10-15).

This would allow for one VCR to play back to TV and the second VCR and
the second VCR to playback to TV. This way you could watch tapes from
either VCR, record the signal from one VCR on the second, or record a
broadcast signal on either VCR while monitoring either of them, or
watching a third broadcast on your TV.

If this seems like an acceptable solution, let me know where in the
world you are, and I will let you know about the availabilty of
splitters, and the necessary connections.

Regards,
sycophant-ga

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Clarification of Question by megagaga-ga on 16 Apr 2003 05:02 PDT

Hi, Sycophant

You really know how to make someone happy!

I live in the UK and I'll pick up a splittery thing this afternoon, if
my local shop keeps them in stock.

Meg

Great!

If your local shop doesn't have them, this £7 should do the trick
(http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/923/shopscr524.html)

You will need three SCART cables, and two male->female RF leads for
the antenna.

The connection should be fairly simple:

VCR 1 (the two-SCART one) has one SCART connection to the TV, and one
to the splitter. It also has the external antenna plugged into it, and
a male->female RF lead to the antenna in on VCR 2.

VCR 2 is connected to the splitter. One output on the splitter is
connected to VCR 1, and the second is to the TV. An RF lead should go
from the antenna out of the VCR to the antenna in on the TV.

The TV has the two SCART inputs and the RF lead from VCR 2.

Now, this way you should be able to play from VCR 2, into the TV and
into VCR 1. From VCR 1 you should be able to play to the TV and record
from VCR 2.

On both VCRs you should be able to tune and record TV, and the TV
should also be able to tune TV.

On the TV you should be able to watch the signal from either VCR.

Depending on the specifics of the VCRs, it's quite likely that you
will also be able to record from VCR 1, though the splitter into VCR 2
(as SCART carries signals in both directions, in and out). However
this presents a minor risk, in that you could potentially create a
video feedback loop. If both VCRs are set to their SCART inputs, it's
possible that the signal will feedback between them - this could
damage the electronics of the system. So, try to ensure that VCR 2 is
never set to take signal from the AV input.

I hope that works for you, and I wish you many happy hours of
television (and video) viewing.

Regards,
sycophant-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by megagaga-ga on 16 Apr 2003 07:12 PDT

Hi, Sycophant

Many thanks for your answer ...

I've now bought a SCART splitter and I shall give it a whirl later.

I'll also get back to you later.

Regards

Meg

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Clarification of Answer by sycophant-ga on 16 Apr 2003 12:36 PDT

Hi Meg,

I am delighted to hear that it worked.

Now you only have to hope that there are enough hours in the day to
watch everything :)

Regards,
sycophant-ga

Hi, Again, Sycophant

It worked!

Many thanks.

I'm only sorry that no one proposed you as the World's Greatest Genius.

Regards

Meg

Hello again, megagaga,

Let's see if this works.  I am posting it as a comment because this is
often harder to do that it really should be, such is the nature of
technology - and the lack of standardization can make it difficult to
advise from afar.

The simplest way to use one vcr for playback only, and the other for
record or play from tv, could be to connect the record vcr to the
television by means of the tv antenna cable using the RF socket, and
the play vcr connected by way of the scart sockets.  Tune in your tv
to the two vcrs with different program numbers.  I find it best to use
pre-recorded tapes for tuning tv to vcr as I then don't get confused
with real-time tv signals.  You may need to use the AV setting on the
tv to find the vcr connected with the scart cable.

This setup should allow you to record a tv program on one machine and
choose to watch (a) the program you are recording OR a different tv
program using the record vcr setting, OR (b) watch a pre-recorded tape
or a previously recorded tv program on the playback machine.  The most
tricky part of this arrangement can be tuning the tv to the two vcrs.

You say you don't want to copy tapes, so the above arrangement should
work fine, and it does not matter that the two vcrs are not connected
to each other.

If you do want to copy from one machine to another, you will find
information on the page "Connect Two VCRs" at
<http://mediacollege.com/video/editing/howto/connect-vcrs.html>  There
are some nice pictures here to help you along.

You will also find some suggestions in an earlier (but unanswered?)
Google Answers Question : 93254.

You are getting signals already through the scart cables, so I
probably don't have to remind you to check your scart cables - some
are one way only and some are two way.  If you have one way cables you
need to make sure the signal goes out from the vcr and in to the tv!

If this solves your problem let me know and I will post this as an
answer.  Good luck!  r2l

Hi, r2l

Many thanks for your detailed comments which are greatly appreciated.

I'll have a go later!

Fingers crossed.

Meg