One Channel on TV Bad When VCR Is On

[BOA]

I use a powered antenna to get my reception on my tv. NBC comes in so so, but when my vcr is on it is really bad. It's worse when the vcr is recording. It doesn't matter what channel it's recording and only NBC is effected.

I thought the problem was an ungrounded receptacle so I rewired it from the panel to the receptacle to a junction box. No change. The old wiring continues from the juction box to two other bedrooms. I am rewiring the rest of the house just to bring it up to code and seperate the rooms that are put together on a single 15A breaker.

Thank You for any suggestions!!

[joed]

What channel is NBC. If it is 2,3,or 4 then it could just be the VCR RF modulator is leaking. The cable from the VCR to TV could be bad.

[BOA]

Hi Joed, NBC for me is channel 2. How do I go about filling the RF modulator back to it's normal level? Should my carpet be damp?:razz: Just playin' with ya!!

Thank you, I'll try another cable. Come to think of it, the same thing happens in my bedroom :hmmmm I'll also try the video jacks and see what happens. Thanks for the ideas!!!

[BOA]

I tried switching cables and that didn't help. Anything else? Thanks!

[suemarkp]

How does the signal get from the VCR to the TV? Are you using a threaded coax cable, or the 3 separate RCA cables (video + two audio)? If using coax, what channel do you tune your TV to in order to watch through the VCR? Does your VCR have a switch on the back allowing you to select different output channels for the RF cable output? Usually, you can choose channel 2 or channel 3. You'd want to select channel 3 since you have NBC locally on channel 2.

If you are using the 3 cable connection and not the RF output, then the VCR is broadcasting on channel 2 or 3 out its RF output port which will interfere in the whole house. You'd need to put a 75 ohm coax terminator on that output port in this case.

[BOA]

Hi Mark,

I use the tv tuner to watch tv, not the vcr tuner....

I have my antenna plugged into the vcr and my vcr pluged into my tv. The antenna has an F connector and I'm using rg6 from the vcr to the tv. The rg6 connectors are tight at both locations.

Channel 2 gets worse when the vcr is recording (it doesn't matter what channel is being recorded). As soon as I turn the vcr on, channel 2 gets a wavy pattern of "star burts".

The antenna I'm using is this one : http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103916

Thanks for any help!

[suemarkp]

OK, so the fundamental question you need to answer is what RF frequency does the VCR use to put things out on its RF output connector (i.e. when playing a tape on the VCR and watching it on TV, you tune to channel ___?).

If the VCR is set to channel 2, then of course this won't work, as you have both NBC and the VCR using the channel 2 RF spectrum. If the VCR uses channel 3, it could be a crappy modulator or insert filter that is leaking past channel 3 and bleeding onto channels 2 and 4. Most VCR's give you two channel choices where it can put its output signal (typically channels 2 and 3, or 3 and 4). Pick channel 4 if that is a choice and you don't have a local broadcast channel 4.

Is the bedroom setup the same, or does it share the common antenna you pictured. Also, how far away from the VCR is this antenna located?

Something else to try:
Buy a 2-way coax splitter and feed the VCR and TV separately from the antenna. Then, use the 3 connector audio and video RCA jacks to watch the VCR on the TV. Put a 75 ohm terminator on the VCR RF output.

[BOA]

Hi Mark, I tried channel 4. No dice. Same problem. My next move is to buy a 75 ohm terminator and go the splitter route. Thanks!

[BOA]

I tried the splitter and it was a little better. I decided to switch everything back though because I need my video rca jack, on my tv, for my dvd player. When I plugged my antenna into my vcr, I noticed it was really loose. It's not a threaded connection. I took a pair of pliers and squeezed the F connector and it is tight now. The picture improved greatly!

Thank you Mark and Joe for the replies and help you offered!