How to split rca audio/video without signal degradation?

Question

DVD player ==> VCR (permanently plugged into)
DVD player run through VCR, ending at TV
If taping a channel on VCR, this means can't watch DVD player on TV (as it's single signal o/p (stereo L & R audio, video) is plugged into VCR, & i dunt want to unplug & plug into TV). So, want a 2ND 3-cable to be "split-off" single DVD 3-cable (which will plug into TV's 2nd a/v input)

The Q is, what sort of spitter do i need?
A) "Basic" splitter (VCR & TV will have 1/2 of singal quality?)
B) "Buffered" splitter (eg "Y-cable") (buffereing only to prevent signal distortion when both outputs connected to a component, but 1st comp. is active, but 2nd is switched off (& is shorted to ground, hence the distortion effect on 1st o/p comp)
C) "Amplified" splitter (eg a/v "distibution" devices)
D) Other (?)

2 corrections to my Q...
- My TV has 2 inputs for L/R/video, the 1st one is at the back, but 2nd (at side) is a "PRIORITY" connection (if plug sth into it, it overrides 1st (main) connection out back of TV)). I fogot about this, and so the TV i have has, for this Q effectively 1 l/r/video cxn, not 2 (as i dont want to repeatedly plug<-->unplug dvd)
- The "3-cable" i meant to mean L/R/video, not r/g/b compnent :)

Answer 1

Use a cable splitter (passive) to run your cable to the tv and the vcr. Connect the vcr component outputs to tv video 2, connect the dvd component outputs to video 1 (usually video 1 gives you the options of s-video, composite, or component, the latter preferred.) This will allow you to record on the vcr and monitor the dvd, cable channel of your choice or what is being recorded on the vcr, all with a touch of the remote. Dont worry about the loss from the splitter. The signal from the cable feed is plenty strong to overcome the marginal signal loss of the splitter. Using an amplified splitter may cause problems (agc overload, dark pix, ect.) I have set-up systems for many customers, I use this method for my home set-up. The only difference is I use the composite output fron my dvd to feed the video 1 of my vcr to record dvd to vhs ( this will work if the dvd and vcr have multiple inputs/outputs. Otherwise, stick to the main hook-up I recommended.) Hope this helps you out.

Answer 2

If we are talking about composite RCA (yellow, red, white), I have seen them go up to 100 ft. Signal probably starts degrading around 25 ft depending on the cable quality.