I've just bought the new LG Plasma with HD tuner built in, the 42PX4DV which I am very happy with. However, I can't figure out how to connect my VCR so I can record TV (through the HD tuner, not the inbuilt analogue in my VCR) and the instructions do not refer to this at all.

Can anyone tell me how to do this? Where do I plug the VCR into?

Thanks

Does it have AV outputs on the Plasma?

Dont quote me on this but I don't believe you will be able to record the Digital broadcast on a VCR. More than likely only the braodcast from the inbuilt analogue tuner.

Simple answer is YOU CAN'T. All L.G. models with in-built HD/Analog tuners cannot send out the HD signal via the monitor output on the plasma.

Only the analog Video 1/Video 2 & Analog tuner info can be sent out via those connections, so you'll have to use the analog tuner in your VCR to record. This is the one big problem with these panels.

I guess this is something that people never thought about when they kept complaining about panels not having the digital tuner built in, might make for less cables but a lot less flexible than a set top box.

I already had a Strong 5390PVR when I bought my LG plasma. BUt had i not had the PVR my decision on which plasma to buy may have been diferent.

This may seem a stupid question, but can you record digital tv on a basic (not digital) VHS? If so does it retain the 720x576 resolution? Stereo?

With the abundance of PVR, dvd recorders and PC capture cards (plus "torrents") I hadn't considered this an issue.

Anybody know the facts?

Thanks Roger for your reply. I had hooked the VCR (actually it is a DVD recorder) up to the monitor output but so signal was coming through to the DVD recorder, which is a pain. My solution was to hook up the SD tuner I already have as an input into the DVD recorder and then hook the DVD recorder as an input into the Plasma. So I can record using the SD tuner while watching something else on the inbuilt HD tuner. Our analogue reception is terrible to taping off this is not an option for us.

Unfortunately though the resolution for playback seems not the best though.

It is definitely something for people to bear in mind as they may not have a spare digital tuner lying round the place!

DeeVee

Not sure why you haven't had a reply yet - fairly simple answers:

1. Yes, you can record digital to your VHS VCR - just use the aux or line in as the channel to record from (once you've hooked up the STB. I've fed mine through from the output on my receiver - unfortunately means that receiver, STB and VCR must be on to record)

2. recordings are at normal VHS standards - horrible picture quality (240 or 250 lines, depending on who you ask), and normal stereo sound. At least it's widescreen!

Cheers

Kent

Thats what i do . A ghost free picture but no time shift.In fact we use 2 older VCRs to record a nights viewing & have hooked up the older SD boxes to the vcrs.Not the PQ of a Pioneer HD box or Topfield but watchable.Makes use of the vcrs until they die & replaced by a HD PVR.

I have the same plasma and love it, although I am trying to hook up my laptop via the RBG input and am struggling. Has anyone else had success ???

My mate tried his pc with HDMI and it woprked a treat

Cheers

Glen

Had my laptop hooked up but could only do it at 640x480 res. Looks crap.
Goind to try a PC and use DVI - HDMI next. Will see how that turns out.

Well.. show me a high definition recording device that you could plug it into anyway? Unless you're trying to imply that some AV outs can output high definition signal?

If you want to watch movies via the laptop, svideo is the go and use the ARC feature to correct the stretched picture. The piture isn't good enough to be used as an alternate monitor, but is ok with video from about 2.5 metres.

Unfortunately, the ARC control is inactive when using VGA or DVI. Therefore, the laptop would have to be a widescreen model or allow the 4:3 resolution to be manually overridden. As an example, a 15' powerbook looked stretched (native resolution 1280x854) whereas the 17' powerbook looked ok (native resolution 1440x900). I.e a 16:10 laptop looks ok stretched to 16:9, but not a 4:3 laptop stretched to 16:9.

You sure? I hooked up the good old Dreamcast via a VGA box, and the ARC control worked fine.

It might just be Apple powerbooks, however it would only allow 16:9 or 4:3 (not zoom). 4:3 fixed the ratio but, obviously, gave the bars.