My Cable won't work if my VCR is on, and I am trying to record TV into my video camera using an A/V ...?

Question

using an a/v connecting cable. My TV is a Zenith flat screen model Z2olA7R and for some reason it has no OUTPUT jack on the back. So in order to record, I had to put the a/v cable from the VCR OUT jacks into my camera. So, I can record from the TV now, but I can't watch it at the same time because the Cable doesn't work when the VCR is on. Any advice? Why is there no OUT jack on this new tv? Why is the cable unclear unless the VCR is totally off?

Answer 1

The problem is with the VCR. Some VCR's (you did not mention the brand and model of the VCR) when the Video output is connected the output to the RF (Cable) jack is disconnected. When the VCR is off the circuit that controls where the output goes is OFF so by default it goes back to the RF output jack.

You should be able to push the TV/VCR button on the VCR's remote and cable should work as there is an A/B switch built into all VCR that allows the RF output to work while the VCR is in the record mode.

NOTE: This does not apply to ALL models of VCR's but I suspect that from your description this is what is happening in your case.

Why no output jack on the Zenith TV... you need to ask Zenith.