I just want to watch tv!

*doesn't work with

pmurray63, do you know why? Is it because of the cable provider, the network, etc.? No experience personally, but I think it's down to the TV network not wanting you to record stuff (so you'll buy extra channels/buy DVDs/pay for on-demand stuff).

I think they need to give up on recording things to DVD or VHS and upgrade their directv to a DVR (or just start paying for and using the DVR that's already there). Neither will ever, ever, under any circumstances whatever, ever be able to record anything except what the directv box is currently watching. It will not be able to record what's on another channel, ever. It will not be able to record when the directv box is off, ever. Never ever ever. The short answer for why is that neither the DVD recorder nor the VHS have the equipment and decoders necessary to "tune into" the directv the way they used to "tune into" OTA or old-style cable. It's just not possible. The only thing they ever do, ever, is make a copy of what they're watching right then. The way the cables are set up right now *should* allow them to use the DVD recorder to record what the directv box is currently outputting. On the one hand, maybe they have the DVD recorder set up incorrectly; the only ones I've seen seemed like absolute bears to set up. On the other hand, they may need to do go into the setup menus on the directv box to allow it to simultaneously output to both composite outputs. On the third hand, they might need to do both things. On a fourth hand, directv may have set things up to render recording to DVD impossible. tl;dr: There might be a way to set up the DVD recorder and directv box to play nice and record what the directv box is showing, but that is all that it will ever be able to do. It will probably be complicated and involve lots of messing with setup functions. Also, directv may have rendered it effectively impossible. There is no point trying to set anything up with the VCR because it will die sometime soon and be impossible to replace.

ROU: They know they can't do the old-style thing where you watch one channel and record another. They just want to be able to turn the **TV** off and record a show (like if it's on after they go to bed, for example). It is okay if the DirectTV remains on. I know the VCR is very old technology, but they still have tapes that they watch and at this point it seems easier to use to record things than the DVD Recorder.

If they could get the VCR recording to work either, that is.

There is no point trying to set anything up with the VCR because it will die sometime soon and be impossible to replace. You can still buy combined DVD/VCR players. Speaking of which it might be easier to get one of these, then you don't have to mess around with two separate boxes...

FWIW, most electronic devices have a lot more capability than owners employ. Getting all boxes to 100% feature utilization can be a challenge, once the number of boxes exceeds one. Before you go off re-running cables, you need to decide what they want to do. Armed with that, set it up that way. Then, commit them never to touch it again, as it will malfunction and you will own the problem, as you apparently do currently. As often as not, the chimera of a perfectly operating suite of AV gear that is simple to use, has all features accessible and enabled, up-to-date/not obsolete, and is easy to use is elusive. I am trying to be kind, but what I really want to say is that folks who are competent running a checkbook are a lot more common than folks who are knowledgeable about a site/user specific system design. Even those of us who are usually forgo feature set for ease of use/hookup and rewire as needed for exceptional circumstances. Sounds like your users aren't in the latter crowd, so I'd get it to 50-75% of ideal and run like hell. That is, unless you enjoy doing it every year, for every new box, every time something breaks down, and every time the ISP decides to change something or every time mom rearranges the furniture and messes it up. It's not like this is life or death stuff. It's entertainment, (sic), and is just filler between now and death. If you insist on achieving perfection... make a list of features on each box. Make a list of connections available. Get all the manuals. Study them assiduously and with great detail. Envision some operational scenarios and rank them in descending order of likelihood of use. Screen this last list for what is possible with the existing hardware and what is not. Resolve what is not via replacement of the pieces with shortcomings or else auxiliary boxes which patch the holes. Cable it up and test it. Once it's working as needed, photocopy all the documentation that you read and save it for the inevitable phone calls. And for the coup de grace... try explaining how to use it all to your folks.

Ends of Invention: What you see is what they have in terms of cords (except for an extra Red, Yellow, and White one laying around). You mentioned utilizing the composite cord for this part: DVD----[component cable]----TV input 2 I don't see any cords like that laying around. Currently the DVD and TV are connected via red, white, and yellow cords from the output on the DVD to the input on the TV. Not sufficient?

FauxScot: Yeah, at this point I'm about to throw up my hands and buy them a damn TiVo for Christmas at that does exactly what they want to do. They tend to do one thing and stick with it. There is no Best Buy here (nearest is 40 miles away) or I would have just called GeekSquad or something similar.