I need some help please

Ok, so I have this TV and DVD player that I can't get to work. Somehow the cables got messed up and are in the wrong spots. I've tried every MFing combination and can't figure it out. So, is this something so simple that I can just type what cables I have in what connectors and someone can tell me where I'm going wrong? Or could someone talk me through it over the phone? Or maybe even have someone come over and fix it for me if it comes to that? TIA

Alright smartazz

Ok, here's what I have hooked up right now: I have a cable running from the cable outlet in the wall to "In from Ant" on the DVD player. A cable running from "Out" on the DVD into the TV. A red and white from "Line out" on the DVD to "AV2" on the TV - the yellow is unplugged. And finally, a red, blue, and green running from "Component out" on the DVD to "AV4 input video" on the TV.


C'mon. One of you young guys should be able to figure this out. Casey, Dan, Jason, Yuki, Webby, Palmer - I'm calling you all out on this.

Eric...something just doesn't sound right in the way you are hooking this up.

Do you have a cable box?
Do you have a surround sound system?
Do you have a VCR or video game unit?

I don't understand why you are running everything through the DVD and not directly to the TV. The TV should have the ability to switch inputs via the remote. Look for a Video button and see if it switches inputs. It should since you imply you have multiple inputs.

If no cable box required for your TV, then hook the cable from the wall straight into the TV input. Select the input via the remote.

Component Video from DVR to TV makes sense. That only covers video feed. You will need sound cables run as well...RED & WHITE. They have to be plugged into the same input as the Component Video. Select the input via the remote.

It'd be easier if I could see what you have and try from there. I'll PM you my cell.

I am busy Tuesday helping Datsunzman reinstall a dash in his wife's Z. Not sure when I will be done. I live in Fishers, so you are close.

I don't have a cable box or surround sound. My DVD player is a combo unit with a VCR as well.


I don't know why it's hooked up the way it is either. I thought that's the way it was before but apparently I'm wrong. I'll work on it some more today. Thanks for the offer - I just might have to take you up on it.

OK, the VCR makes sense now in wanting the video-in for the cable. That should be a coax cable from the wall into the DVD/VCR. This is so you can record shows coming across the cable line. You want this. This should be all you need to get the signal into the DVD/VCR box.

Next you need to get the video and sound out of the DVD/VCR and to the TV.

Component Video wires are color coded to make them idiot-proof. Unless you have multiple component in on the TV, this should be easy...or are color blind.
Sound is carried over different wires. Red & White. There should be a set that is with the component video wires you just plugged in. Attach then there.

Next, you need to set the TV to the appropriate video-in signal. This is usually handled by the remote. Look for a button that does this function. You might have to toggle between several. e.g. Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, Video 4. On the back of the TV, it might give you a good guess as to which one it will be.

Hope that helps. You know how to reach me. Heck, you could probably make a single call and show up on my doorstep. LOL!

Casey if you can't find my location maybe you're not the guy I want to help me. I'm pretty positive I didn't have the yellow hooked up before on that TV. On the TV in my bedroom, I have one set of yellow connected and one disconnected.

Mark, I'll give it one more try and play switchboard operator on the back of my TV. If that doesn't work, I'll give you a call.

Casey - you're on deck.

I've got the DVD player working but I'm not getting any TV. Other than the cable company screwing something up with that particular outlet, is there any other possibilities? C'mon - put that high priced education to work!!!

Casey, I struck out, your turn at bat.

Additional info...Cable is working on upstairs TV, but not the family room. A month ago, he had AT&T U-verse installed for a free month of service and only done on the family room TV. The month is up and he pulled the AT&T U-verse box out of the equation. It was plugged between the wall and the DVR/VCR box.

I looked at the outside connection where the cable line comes to the house. Doesn't look like anything funky was done there. Sounds like they did whatever switch in a box up the street. I did not open the AT&T box on the outside of the house...stupid allen key thingy that won't accept a standard allen wrench.

If you plug the TV directly to the cable wall outlet, zero signal comes through. This includes switching the TV through the assorted video inputs. All the cable hook ups look to be correct.

My opinion is that whatever AT&T did to switch the system to feed a cable box, now w/o the box, nothing can pick-up a signal. My suggestion was call AT&T and get them to put it back the way it was prior to the U-verse install.

Yeah they really frown when you go digging around in the boxes, God forbid they should paid stupid amounts of money when you can do the same as them for a LOT less!

Since we are dealing with a man of the law, may we bring out the proper definition of the word Tamper.

Tamper
Main Entry: tam·per
Pronunciation: \\ˈtam-pər\\
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): tam·pered; tam·per·ing \\-p(ə-)riŋ\\
Etymology: probably from Middle French temprer to temper, mix, meddle — more at temper
Date: 1567
1: to carry on underhand or improper negotiations (as by bribery)
2 a: to interfere so as to weaken or change for the worse —used with with<did not want to tamper with tradition> b: to try foolish or dangerous experiments —used with with c: to render something harmful or dangerous by altering its structure or composition <was charged with tampering with consumer products>

Based on the above definition, I did not tamper with either the cable or phone boxes, but simply looked inside of the cable box. Everything was left in the same condition as I found it. I did have a LEO watching over my shoulder and feel his testimony will be respected should legal proceedings occur. At this point, I feel the case will be dismissed prior to it ever going to trial.

Eric...just had another thought. Did they install a Gateway somewhere inside your house? It would look like a large DSL or Cable modem. 12"x8"x2". The U-Verse cable boxes need these to work, at least if you are also running DSL from AT&T.

There would be a cable connection going into the back of the Gateway.

I wonder what would happen if you unplugged that.



Side note...the Gateway doesn't like lightening and will take out all your TV if it even hints at a strike close to home. That's the reason we were so late to DC's party...waiting for AT&T to never show to fix ours.

...and I was just trying to make a legal funny since this revolves around our resident LEO.

Just saw this post and haven't read it in detail, but have to ask the obvious, does you DVD player have a tuner?

Off to lunch now.

Woo hoo. The problem is solved.

After spending nearly 45 minutes on the phone with ATT, trying to convince them that this is their error and them trying to convince me that I need to contact Comcast, I finally got them to send out some guy to look at it. After he arrived 1:30:00 late, he unplugged something in another bedroom on another TV (I didn't even realize the original installer was in there ) he said that would do it - it didn't. He got on the phone to someone, then told me he needed to check some box that's in my bedroom closet. He opened it up and said there's the problem. I guess the original installer put in some sort of splitter or something. The guy today took it off and reconnected the cables and EVERYTHING WORKS!!!!

I tried to give the guy all the Uverse stuff and he said he wasn't authorized to take it and that some boxes had to be sent to me for me to pack it in and ship it back to them. I should get the boxes in 4-6 WEEKS!!!!!

So now we can let this thread die or you all can keep it open and poke fun at me. Either way, I got my TV back.

Big thanks to Mark for coming to my house and checking everything.

Casey - you disappoint me - couldn't even find out what city I lived in.

YEAH!!! :)

some people are only book smart, that fancy degree doesnt earn you street smarts

Eric...did the box in the other bedroom look to be 12"x8"x2"? IF so, that would be the Gateway I was talking about. When I opened the cable box on the outside, I was looking for a splitter. I knew there was soemthing since you still had regular cable upstairs. The U-vers comes across your phone lines and then ties into the cable lines at the house. Sorry I didn't think about one being inside the house somewhere.

Definitely not poking fun at you. Unless you have been down this road at some point, how could you have a clue how to undo the mess. Happy you are back up and running.