Recording a DVD with LG DVD Recorder and FIOS Standard Set Top Box

[Clara710]

I have FIOS Standard Set Top Box, a Sony TV, and an LG DVD Recorder. I cannot figure out how to record a TV program on my LG DVD Recorder. I have 3 remotes: a FIOS Remote, an LG DVD Recorder Remote and a Sony TV Remote. What remote/s should I use, and in what order?  Thanks.

[lasagna]

So how is the STB connected to the TV?  How is the DVD Recorded connected to the TV?   How is the STB connect to the DVD Recorder?

For each cable the you have, tell us the labels (Component Input, Component Output, Composite Input, Composite Output, RF Input, RF Output, etc.) as printed on the device connectors to what they are connected to and where the other end connects.

[ekem015]

1) Connect coax (cable) wire from the wall to the RF input on the back of the STB.

2) Connect coax (cable) from the cable out (might say "to TV/VCR") on the back to the STB to the cable in on the back of the TV.

3) Connect composite (red, yellow, white) wires from the back of the STB to the input of the DVD player.

4) Connect composite (red, yellow, white) wires from the back of the DVD player to the back of the TV.

Let me know if any of those aren't possible based on your equipment. The SD STB (QIP 2500) has very few outputs so there are not a lot of options for a setup like this).

In order to record a program, you will have to do the following:

-Set the STB to whatever channel you want to record and keep it on. You will not be able to change the channel, because the DVD player will be recording whatever the STB outputs (the same feed the TV gets). With FiOS, it is not possible to have a DVD do the tuning for you, because it is an all-digital signal and most DVD players can only tune to analog chs 1-99.

-Set the DVD player channel to "input" or something of the like. This will get your DVD player to show the signal from the STB.

-Set your TV channel to composite input. This will show you whatever the DVD player is getting from the STB.

-If you want to watch normal TV without the DVD player, you can turn your TV to Ch. 3 or 4 and get the feed from the STB without having to turn on your DVD player.

[lasagna]

ekem's a little ahead of where I was headed in asking my questions ... the only thing I would add is the DVD might also call it "Aux" instead of "input".  Your connection from the DVD to the TV might also be an SVideo or other as well.

If what you have doesn't match what Ekem posted, just give us everything as it is connected and we can clarify what you need to do.

[Clara710]

Thank you Lasagna and ekem for your replies to my inquiry. Sorry for the delay in responding--I had trouble with my ID and Password.

Unfortunately, I am not too literate when it comes to the cables on the rear of my TV, LG recorder, and STB. I have copied both of your instructions, will read them carefully, then spend hours trying to figure out what goes with what. But I'll soldier on....

I will let you know if I have succeeded.

My FIOS install was done last month, and while the very nice young man took 6 hours to install the outside cables, outside boxes, and FOUR inside STBs, etc., I can only remember him explaining, for about 10 minutes, how the living room  DVR/HDTV/BluRay player remotes worked (I forgot everything he told me that day, and I still struggle with the  remotes for the equipment in the living room). The installer left his phone number and said to call him if I had any problems. I called, left a message,by he never returned my call.

An aside:  I don't intend to keep the DVR STB which i received free for six months. I forsee lots more problems for me down the road when I begin the removal/switching process....but I guess that problem and solution is for another forum category. Thanks again.

[GaryDoug]

I think we are missing some information here. Are you talking about a setup that is NOT in the living room? You refer to a living room DVR, HDTV, and blu-ray player setup but is that NOT the one about which you are asking?

If not and you are talking about another room, here is a suggestion.

Turn on all 3 devices (STB, DVD recorder, TV).

Select a channel to record using the STB remote.

With a blank DVD in the drive, press Record on the DVD recorder remote.

Wait a minute and press Stop on the DVD recorder remote.

Use whatever procedure you usually use to play back the DVD.

 (Press Play on the DVD recorder remote.... probably)

If you see a playback of the program you recorded, you are all set.

If not, then you may have to use the TV remote to select another "input" and then repeat the play back step.

Good luck

p.s... I made an assumption that everything was already set up and ready to use.

[Clara710]

Thanks Greg, your instructions worked. (The TV, HD STB, and LG DVD Recorder I referred to are not in the living room, they are located in another room.)

I had to adjust your instructions a bit. Here is what I did:

I turned on the STB, the TV, which I tuned to CH 3, then pressed the DVD and OK button on the FIOS Remote..

Using the LG Remote I pressed the power button, then opened, inserted a DVD disc, and closed the LG recorder tray.

Using the FIOS Remote I selected a channel to record.

Then, using the LG Remote, I clicked record. I waited a few minutes, then stopped LG recording with LG Remote, then clicked Play with the LG Remote. The program I had selected to be recorded appeared.

I pressed Stop with the LG Remote, clicked Open, removed the DVD disc, and clicked Close.

I then turned off the LG Remote power.

Before I used the instructions in this Forum, I thought I had only to use the FIOS Remote to control the LG DVD Recorder but when I pressed the DVD button on the FIOS remote, nothing seemed to happen, i.e. the LG Recorder did not turn on. I then spent hours trying to solve my problem using the Sony TV Remote, the LG Remote, and the FIOS Remote. Lots of confusion on my part.

Now I think I unerstand.   I'm on the downward side of 80, so I have to try harder to keep up with all this new technology.

You all were a great help. Thanks again.

[ekem015]

If you are using the LG remote to control the DVD recorder (it doesn't matter in terms of your question), then there is no need to press "DVD and OK" on the FiOS remote. But if you do want to control the DVD recorder with your FiOS remote (and therefore you wouldn't need the LG remote at all), then you will need to find the remote code for your LG recorder in your FiOS remote booklet (or online) and then go through the steps to program it. In that case, to turn on the DVD recorder, you would have to press "DVD" then "power." Then you would be able to control the DVD recorder using your FiOS remote buttons.

[Clara710]

Thanks ekem015. I know that I had entered the code for the LG recorder awhile ago. However, several thunderstorms came through since then and I turned off FIOS STB and unplugged the surge protector to which all equipment was attached. After I plugged in the surge protector, should I have entered the LG DVD recorder code again?

[ekem015]

Nope, the FiOS remote is independent of any FiOS set-top box. It programs itself and has its own internal memory.

[GaryDoug]

Glad to hear it Clara,

I can identify with your plight. I'm a 62 year old electrical engineer with an IQ of 145 and I hate using universal remotes. I prefer to use the individual ones, especially after the second beer.

Gary

[Clara710]

Thanks Gary. I was able to record a tv program on the LG DVD Recorder usig the FIOS Remote. However, in order to label the program, I had to use the LG DVD Remote to access that feature. While I did not finalize the DVD, I would also have to use the DVD Remote for that operation.

I'm slowly coming to accept the fact that at some time I will have to make use of the 11 remotes I now have, thanks to FIOS.

Thanks also to the other responders. I could not have "done it" without your help.