STB hookup

[El Ray]

I'm hooking up my Motorola STB to my HDTV with component cables. What do I use for the audio hookup from the STB to the TV? Also, is it recommended to use the optical from the STB to the receiver for the digital music audio channels that the cable company provides? My cable guy is here now. Getting close to blast off

[mjones73]

Regular audio cables from the STB to the TV, optical connection to the AV receiver so you can use it while watching TV and listening to music channels.

[TheAntMan]

Alright Ray!! It's time. You can use audio RCA cables from your STB to your TV if you want to hear sound from your TV's speakers, and use optical from the STB to the AV receiver for your digital audio. Place optical from your STB to your AV receiver not only for your digital music channels, but you can hear audio perfectly in 5.1 surround when watching a program broadcast in HD with 5.1 surround audio.

[El Ray]

Thanks guys. So regular audio cables are all I need running to the TV. Nothing fancier.

Also, The cable guy hooked up the coax cable to the StB and then out of the STB to the VCR. This is the standard cable guy hook up but it seems I will not be able to watch one channel and record another. I read the FAQ on this but was confused a little since I have a Toshiba s592 DVD/VCR combo that gets hooked up to the TV with an HDMI.
So any advice would be appreciated.

[57U]

If you want to watch one channel and record another, you'll need to do the hookup as indicated in the FAQ. (Ignore the fact that you have a DVD player in with the VCR). The final connection from this unit to the TV is whatever is recommended in the operating manual for that unit (could be different from what's recommended in the FAQ.

Once people have HDTVs, they usually toss the VCR since the quality is so bad and since hookups are difficult. Many people get a DVR STB.

[TheAntMan]

You can split the cable with one end going into your STB and the other going directly into you VCR. That way you have cable going into both seperately, and can record a program off the VCR while watching your STB. Like 57, said, later you can update to a DVR STB when you are ready.

[El Ray]

Thanks. And the VCR can pick up the digital signal from the STB by itself, I presume.

[57U]

When recording from the STB, you have to still programme the VCR, but, depending on the VCR you have to tune to the appropraite input channel - sometimes listed as 'channel 0' or whatever input is designated for the composite or S-video input, depending on what you're using.

When not recording from the STB, you simply set it as before, using the RF-coax input.

[El Ray]

Well, I have the Toshiba working with the cable box and watched HD all night. An awesome experience. Tomorrow, it's the VCR/DVD and surround 5.1 system hookup.
Thanks again for your help, guys.

[TheAntMan]

Good for you and enjoy el Ray..

[El Ray]

Got it all set up but I don't seem to have any output from the VCR portion of my Toshiba s592. I get the DVD output. I'm connected with an HDMI to the TV. That's the only connection to the TV. Instructions for the 592 show no other connections when using HDMI. Any suggestions?

[El Ray]

Just read the DVD thread on this model. The instruction book doesn't tell you that the VCR side of the unit is independent of the DVD side. So you need a separate output from the VCR side to the TV. Should this be done with component cables or would I be OK with regular RCA phono cables (red, white and yellow)?
Thanks guys but I'm 90% hooked up and the experience is awesome.
This is one great website.

[El Ray]

57U: thanks for all the help. This site is superb.
I am a runner and cyclist but not a skier. My dilemma is deciding whether to go out and ride/run or watch the HDTV. This can't be good for my training.
El Ray

[57U]

So you need a separate output from the VCR side to the TV. Should this be done with component cables or would I be OK with regular RCA phono cables (red, white and yellow)?.Red/White/Yellow - otherwise known as analogue audio and composite video.

[El Ray]

57U Thanks. I tried using an S Video from the DVD/VCR to the TV and I get the DVD output through the S Video but no VCR output. Since I'm using HDMI for the DVD output I thought the S video would output the VCR. I'll try the composite video and see what happens. Thanks

[TheAntMan]

You sound on the right track el ray. Since they are 2 seperate pieces DVD/VCR, they need to be hooked up seperatley. DVD through HDMI, VCR through composite/s- video

[El Ray]

Thanks AntMan. The problem is that I AM using 2 cables. The HDMI for the DVD and I hooked up an S Video for the VCR. But the S Video outputs the DVD also, and not the VCR. I tried everything to get VCR throuth the S video but can't. I will try composite cables and see if that outputs the VCR. It seems that both the HDMI and the S are designed to output solely the DVD. Toshiba can't write instructions either.

[Ratman]

Check the video output closely on the back of the player. One side may be specific for VCR, the other for DVD. Make sure the S-Video connection is on the VCR side and not the DVD side.

If not, then remove the S-Video and composite may be your only option for VCR.

[El Ray]

Thanks RatMan. Will give that a try.

[El Ray]

Ratman: You were correct. The instruction book stinks. S Video, component and HDMI outputs are solely for the DVD. Composite is for both. Strange design.
Thanks.