MODEL 49 4-Head VHS Stereo Hi-Fi VCR (160-0619) Connections Faxback Doc. # 33717 This section describes the connections necessary to begin using your VCR. Before you begin making the connections, plug in the VCR. 88:88 flashes on the display. You can operate the VCR manually without setting the clock, but if you want to set the clock before you proceed, see "Setting the Clock", on Faxback Doc. # 33718. CAUTION: In areas of high humidity or if you move the VCR from a cold area to a warm one, plug in the VCR and allow it to warm up for 1 to 2 hours before you operate it. This allows complete evaporation of any moisture inside the VCR that could damage the VCR. See "Dew Protection System", on Faxback Doc. # 33721. BASIC VCR CONNECTIONS These steps show the most basic connections necessary to begin using your VCR. (See Faxback Doc. # 33745, Fig. A). 1. Disconnect the antenna or cable wires from your TV's antenna terminals. Connect the antenna or cable wires to the VCR's combined VHF/UHF INPUT terminal. NOTES: If you have cable service, see "Connecting Cable TV", below. If you have 300-Ohm antenna wire, use a 300-to-75-Ohm matching transformer (not supplied) to connect the wire to the VCR's VHF/UHF INPUT terminal. If you have separate VHF and UHF antennas use a signal combiner (not supplied) between the antenna cables and the VCR's VHF/UHF INPUT terminal. Your local Radio Shack store sells the necessary transformer and combiner. 2. Connect the single-connector end of the supplied 75-Ohm cable to the VCR's VHF/UHF OUTPUT terminal. 3. Connect the other end of the cable to the TV's antenna terminal(s). a. If your TV has separate terminals for VHF and UHF, connect the cable's 300-Ohm UHF output to the TV's UHF terminals; connect the cable's 75-Ohm or 300-Ohm VHF output to the TV's VHF terminal(s), do not use both VHF outputs. b. If your TV has a combined VHF/UHF antenna terminal, connect the cable's 75-Ohm combined VHF/UHF output to the TVs terminal. CONNECTING CABLE TV NOTE: Some states have laws that restrict direct connection of cable wires (connections that do not go through the cable box). Check the laws in your area before you make connections. NOTE TO CABLE TV SYSTEM INSTALLER: This reminder is provided to call the CATV system installer's attention to Article 820-22 of the National Electrical Code. This article provides guidelines for proper grounding and particularly specifies that the cable ground be connected to the grounding system of the building, as close to the point of cable entry as practical. There are two basic questions to consider when you connect your VCR to a cable system: Are you receiving any scrambled channels? Does the cable system provide more than 36 channels? If the answer to both of these questions is "No", use connection A. (See Faxback Doc. # 33745, Fig. B). With this connection, you can watch one channel while you record another. To do this, press TV/VCR on the remote control so that VCR does not appear on the display. Of course, you can watch the channel you record. If your TV does not have a cable-compatible tuner, you must connect the cable box between the VCR and the TV. NOTE: Because the cable wire connects directly to the VCR, press TV/CATV on the VCR so that C appears on the VCR's display. If the answer to either of these questions is "Yes," use connection B. (See Faxback Doc. # 33745, Fig. C). With Connection B, you can record from any cable channel you subscribe to while you watch any channel you select using the TV tuner. These connections require a 75-Ohm splitter and a high-isolation A/B switch, both available at your local Radio Shack store. Use the cable box to select the channel you want to record. Then, use the A/B switch to view the non-scrambled channels you can directly tune on your TV, or the channel you select using the cable box. Because the output of the cable box is a regular VHF channel (usually 3 or 4), press TV/CATV so that C disappears from the display. NOTES: The tuner does not unscramble premium cable channels. If you have a second cable box, you can record a scrambled channel while you watch a different scrambled channel. CONNECTING A TV MONITOR TV monitors only have separate audio and video inputs. However, most monitors sold for home use are combination receiver/monitors that have antenna connection terminals and separate audio and video inputs. All Radio Shack monitors are the combination type. If you have a combination receiver/monitor, we suggest the following connections to play back and monitor a recording. (See Faxback Doc. # 33746, Fig. A). Direct Audio/video connections usually result in better picture and sound for tape playback. Set the TV's TV/video switch to the video mode to watch video tapes or channels you select using the VCR's tuner. To view VHF/UHF signals, complete the VHF/UHF connections described in "Basic VCR Connections", above, and set the TV's TV/video switch to TV. NOTE: Use video-quality shielded cables with RCA-type connectors. Do not use standard audio cables. CONNECTING STEREO HI-FI Stereo signals from the VCR's tuner or from a stereo hi-fi recording are sent to the VCR's AUDIO OUTPUT jacks. If you want to connect your current stereo system to the AUDIO OUTPUT jacks, refer to Faxback Doc. # 33746, Fig. B. The settings of the MTS switch and AUDIO OUT on the remote control affect the VCR's stereo output. See "Controlling VCR Inputs and Outputs", on Faxback Doc. # 33719. CONNECTING A VIDEO PROCESSOR You can connect a video processor to your VCR to improve tape playback quality and help maintain quality when you dub (copy) tapes. Connect the processor between the VCR's AUDIO/VIDEO OUTPUT jacks and the TV's audio/ video input terminals, (See Faxback Doc. # 33746, Fig. C). Most processors use separate audio and video signals. With a regular TV (not a monitor), you need an RF modulator (available at your local Radio Shack store). Some processors have a built-in RF modulator. (BR/EB 6/26/96)