Having a cable-ready VCR is even better than using a converter box. Since a cable-ready VCR has it's own channel tuner, you don't need a converter box, which is nothing more than a stand-alone tuner. An added bonus of using a VCR over a converter box is the ability to record programs on videotape, or watch pre-recorded videos at your leisure.

Just hook the cable up to your VCR and TV, keep your TV on the designated channel (usually channel 3 or 4), and change channels using the VCR.

As with a converter box, a coaxial cable connects from your wall to the VCR, and another cable connects from the VCR to your TV. Your cable signal goes into the VCR first, where the channel you have selected is tuned in. Then the single channel is sent into the TV for viewing.

Example: You want to watch one of the PVN Movie Channels. Turn on your TV and VCR. You've got your TV on channel 3, as the manual for the VCR instructs. You pick up your VCR remote and change the VCR tuner to channel 11. The VCR tunes to channel 11, then sends channel 11 to the TV on the frequency of channel 3. The converted signal travels to your TV, and voila! Now you're watching the PVN Movie Channel.

Let's figure out all the equipment you'll need to connect your VCR and TV. Besides the obligatory VCR and TV, you'll need:

Two coaxial cables. One cable will run from the ResNet port box on the wall to the back of the VCR; the other cable will run from the back of the VCR to the back of the television. Look at the back of your TV. If it has an RF connector for a coaxial cable, then the above equipment is all you'll need.

First, take one coaxial cable and go to the ResNet port box in your residence. Connect one end of the cable to the RF connector on the cable outlet. Make sure that the center conductor (the wire sticking out of the middle of each end of the coaxial cable) goes into the small hole in the end of the wall connector. Then tighten the metal ring on the coaxial cable onto the threads of the wall connector; a tight fit can mean the difference from perfect signal to no signal at all.

Run the other end of the cable over to your VCR and TV. Turn your VCR and TV around so that you can get to the back easily. Your VCR should have two RF connectors. One should be labeled CABLE IN, and the other, OUT TO TV. (These labels may vary by manufacturer.) Plug the other end of the coaxial cable into the plug that says CABLE IN. Again, make sure that the connection is secure before moving on.

Now take the other coaxial cable and connect one end to the OUT TO TV connector on the back of the VCR. The other end of this cable connects to the RF IN connector on the back of your TV.

Now your TV and VCR should be connected to the PVN cable signal, so plug the VCR and the TV into the wall and turn them on. Tune your television to the same channel which is selected with a switch on the back of your VCR (usually channel 3 or 4).

Flip through the channels with your VCR remote and see if you're getting all the PVN channels. You're probably not, because cable-ready VCRs need to be programmed for cable before they can receive a cable signal properly.

A cable-ready VCR needs to be properly programmed for cable TV reception before all or any of the channels will tune correctly. The procedure for programming a cable-ready VCR is exactly the same as for a cable-ready television. To set up your channels on your VCR, follow the same setup instructions for programming your TV (see PVN Hook-Up Guide - Televisions only).

A converter box is an electronic device, usually about the size of a brick, which allows older TVs to receive all the cable channels available to it. It usually comes with a remote control, allowing the old TVs with only a dial for changing channels to be controlled with an infrared remote.

When reviewing this option, we strongly recommend that you consider the possibly limited future utility of a converter box. There is more potential value to you of the addition of a fully cable-ready VCR for not much more money then you would spend for a converter box.

You control which channels you want to watch by using the converter box rather than the TV. For example: You want to watch the PVN Movie Channel. You turn on your converter box and television. You've got your TV set to channel 3, as the manual for the converter box instructed. Use your remote to tune the converter box to channel 11. The box tunes to channel 11, then converts channel 11 so it'll show up on channel 3. The converted signal travels to your TV, and voila! Now you're watching the PVN Movie Channel.

You will need two coaxial cables to hook up your converter box.

Connect one coaxial cable from your ResNet port box to the converter box, and connect the other cable from the converter box to your TV. Your cable signal goes into the converter box first, where the signal is modulated (converted) to one certain frequency (channel), usually channel 2 or 3. You tune your TV to this channel and never change it again.

Converter boxes are also widely available from stores such as K-mart or Radio Shack.

Sometimes, hooking up your TV does not go as smoothly as everyone would like. These are some common problems that we can help you with in this guide.

You can also read through our complete Troubleshooting FAQ.

If you have gone through the steps in this F.A.Q., and you are still having problems, fill out a Repair Request, or contact the PVN office. Call the Penn Video Network Automated Help Line by dialing 898-4336 ("V-IDEO"), or e-mail video @ isc.upenn.edu.