How do I hook up my VCR if i have Dish Network?

I have an HD-TV hooked up to Dish Network with an HD receiver. My question is how can I hook up my VCR to?

• record shows off the satellite? Is this possible? Thanks in advance.

• Answer:

  You will not be able to record any programs in HD on your VCR as it cannot handle it. But you can record at the proper rate for your VCR by looking on your HD receiver for standard red & white audio connections and either S-Video (the best choice) or Yellow video. Usually the connections are made with standard RCA phono plugs. S-Video has a separate kind of cable connection but it gives a clearer signal to the VCR. Or you could eliminate this all together with an HD-DVR from Dish. There should be no addition charge to get it and a slight charge each month. Depends on how much you are willing to talk to get them to downsize the first price they give you. Most DVRs they have now store some 250 hours of non-HD programs or more. Much more if you add a hard drive you get from anyplace you choose, like even WalMart. The 3rd choice is a DVD Recorder. This will give you the ability to record to DVDs in regular video just as your VCR. However, it will playback reved up to 1080 HD on your HD TV. This is a definite plus. These are the easiest 3 choices. Hooking up the cables is very simple. Just plug in one end to the TV and the other end to the recording device whatever it is. Don't be misled into spending a lot for the cables. Cheap but good is just as fine as the ones encrusted in jewels. With the exception of HDMI cables, which only require 1 wire for everything in HD, you will only deal with 6 cables. 3 going into the recorder and 3 going out of the recorder to the TV.