The particulars of recording high-definition television to a VCR depend on what kind of system you have. Digital video recorders are set up to work in tandem with VCRs, as are HD cable and satellite receiver systems. If you don't have cable or satellite service but have a HDTV, you can still time-record a VCR to tape your favorite programs. Either way, it can be done very easily: You simply need to know which cables go where.
Instructions
With a Cable or Satellite Box
1. Make sure your cable/satellite box is hooked up to your HDTV as normal and that you can receive all channels properly.
2. Connect one end of a set of RCA cables to the "Audio Out" and "Video Out" jacks on your cable or satellite box. Connect the other end to your "Input" or "Audio In"/"Video In" jacks on your VCR. RCA cables are color-coded to match the jacks they go into. The yellow cable sends the video signal while the white and red cables send the left and right audio signals.
3. Turn on the VCR and set it to receive signals from the "Audio In/Video In" jacks connected to the cable/satellite box (usually by pushing either "Line In" or "Input"). Do not turn the channels on the VCR to any other station.
4. Turn on the cable/satellite box and set it to the station you wish to record. Some boxes allow you to automatically turn on the channel at the appropriate time. With others, you will simply need to leave the box turned on and set to the appropriate station.
5. Set up the VCR to start and stop recording as normal. When programming the channel, set it to the same station in Step 3 ("Line In" or "Input").
6. Check the tape afterward, and watch your recorded show as normal.
For HDTVs Without Cable or Satellite Service
7. Connect one end of a two-way cable splitter to the input jack from your antenna. This device splits the signal from the antenna and allows it to travel to two separate components. It is available at most electronics-supply stores for about $10.
8. Connect the other two ends of the cable splitter to the "Antenna In" jack on your TV and the "Antenna In" jack on a digital converter box.
9. Connect the RCA output jacks on the converter box in the "In" or "Input" jacks on the VCR. RCA cables are color-coded to match the jacks (yellow, white and red), so you just need to match the jacks with the cables by color.
10. Connect the "Out" or "Output" jacks in the VCR to the corresponding input jacks on the TV using RCA cables. An HDTV should have separate input jacks for the antenna and the VCR.
11. Set your VCR to record as normal. When you are ready to view it, access your TV's onscreen menu and change the input from the jack connected to the antenna to the jack connected to the VCR. Rewind the tape, and watch the show as normal.
Tags: Audio Video, Audio Video jacks, cable satellite, cable satellite, match jacks, Video jacks, Antenna jack