Way, way OT

CVM wrote on 5/30/2007, 4:45 PM
Sorry to have to come to you all, but I know you can help me. I am trying to help my parents out 300 miles away with an AV issue.

They have cable TV, a DVD/VCR combo, and Bose Wave CD/Radio. They want all audio (TV, DVD, and VCR) to come through the Bose. Obviously, they need to patch the video (yellow) to the TV, and the audio (red and white) to the RCA inputs in the back of the Bose.

Here's where it gets tricky... I need to recommend something for them that is SIMPLE and CHEAP. I can have them take the RCA audio out of the VCR and plug it into the Bose... but that would only take care of the VCR and DVD audio. With this configuration, the only way the TV audio would come through the Bose would be if they watched TV 'through the VCR.' But, my dad won't go for that.

Is there a device (I think I've seen them at Wal Mart) that takes a cable signal in, and outputs multiple RCAs? Then, my parents would just have to switch the 'router' to direct the audio?

Thoughts? Thanks!

Comments

TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/30/2007, 6:00 PM
do they have a cable box or just hook it up to the TV?

If they have a cable box, get an AV selector (available at radio shack, walmart, target, gamestop/eb games, etc) with enough inputs (two, possibly three if you need separate inputs for the DVD & VCR as some combo's do) & the output to the TV. Then they just need to put the TV in AV mode & use the selector to select the source.

If they plug the cable directly in to the TV then you eigther need to switch between the AV/TV on the TV to watch TV or a video or plug the cable in to the DVD/VCR & switch around on that.

My 80 year old grandmother can switch between WebTV, a DVD player, VCR & cable no problem. Shouldn't be to hard. :)
Chienworks wrote on 5/30/2007, 6:48 PM
I was going to say, most homes already have a device that decodes the audio from a cable input into a stereo (though sometimes mono) line level signal. Yes, you, even YOU, already have one of these, I'm sure of it.

It's called a VCR.

Really though, no matter what you do external to the TV, it will involve switching. It would be easier for your dad to tune the TV with the VCR remote than to manipuate any other switching device. Just have him try using the TV remote and getting up and walking over to a little box under the TV to push a button on that a few times, and he'll agree too.

Alternatively lots of more recent TVs have audio line outputs on them. Using these if you have them would ensure that whatever was seen on the TV would be heard through the Bose system, whether it be cable, DVD, or VHS. Well, as long as the Bose was set to it's line inputs, of course.
johnmeyer wrote on 5/30/2007, 7:18 PM
I built my own home theater a decade ago and had to solve lots of interesting issues just like this.

You may find the products on this page useful:

A/V Auto Switches

These devices will automatically sense the presence of audio (or video) at the inputs and switch to whichever source is active. If more than one source is active, you can specify a "pecking order." Thus, there are no switches to press, nothing to remember. It will cost a few dollars, but I think it is exactly what you are looking for. If the product shown is not exactly right, click around -- there are a LOT of variations on the same theme available at this site.


The unit shown on the page linked to above is quite expensive and overkill. The one I bought years ago was much simpler (two stereo inputs & two video inputs switched to one stereo audio pair and one video output, all RCA). Now that you know what you're looking for, you should be able to find a cheap one. If you can't, let me know and I'll look. I have tons of catalogs here.

[Edit] Here's a much cheaper alternative:

http://www.efunctional.com/ph-61153.html

Also, you may find this useful:

Google Search



teaktart wrote on 5/30/2007, 9:03 PM
I used to dub up to 4 VCR tapes with a powered patch stripwith 4 composite inputs and outputs I got from Radio Shack.

Later I needed the same ability to connect numerous component items into an HDTV and I also found that at Radio Shack for about $50 . I can connect 4 inputs with one output, all component....

Every place else was much more expensive.