Connecting TV set, VCR/DVD,STB.

Hi,
I have an elderly Panasonic tv set, a fairly new Humax stb and a not too old Toshiba DVD/VCR.
I've read all the manuals several times but still can't figure out how to connect them up so they work properly.
The problem is that I can't work out how to connect all three together.

Stb to scart to set - works fine.
DVD/VCR to scart to set - works fine.

When I connect as appears in the manuals I only get a black/white picture, either with DVD or VCR.

Can anyone make any suggestions please?.

Have a look at the TV manual about the types of signal that the SCART sockets can accept. There are three...

Composite (AKA 'CVBS') - lowest quality but universally accepted. This is what VCRs normally use.

S-Video (AKA 'S') - big step up from Composite.

RGB - highest quality - used by Sky box, TV set top boxes, DVD players.


If you are trying to send a signal via the TV i.e. the set top box via the TV to the recorder, then they all need to be set to the lowest common denominator.

Black & White signals usually signify that one device is set to either send or receive S-Video.

SCART uses some of the same pins for different signals. When it is composite and S-video mixed up you get the black & white part of the picture but no colour.

I have a reasonably modern Panasonic and I have also had problems getting all boxes connected to the TV.
The TV has two SCART and S-Video and Composite however it seems there is a problem due to the freeview in TV having an output and this caused a loop. I ended up removing one wire in SCART lead.
OK a few more boxes than you with DVD player, DVD/Hard-drive recorder/player, VCR, and Sky+ box. Also a Blu-ray box but that uses HDMI so not connected with rest.
The two SCART sockets on the sky+ box are not the same, and the two SCART sockets on the TV are not the same.
I have swapped plugs in about every configuration one can think before getting all to work.
Even now an odd thing where if the DVD/Hard Drive recorder loses power then I get no picture on re-powering it. I have to press the input select button and go around in a circle before picture works.
Some items I can only connect with front plugs on DVD/Hard Drive recorder and have to have the unit running to connect them to TV.
The firewire connection seems to have a mind of it's own and sometimes even switches camera on remotely.
Only method is to try all combinations. We some times still get a ghost image from freeview and I have to select a unused analogue channel as it seems freeview does not switch off even when not selected.
Freeview is a pain as every couple of days the TV wants me to re-turn. Bring back analogue all is forgiven.

Many thanks for the help guys, at least I know now that it isn't unusual and I'll just go through your suggestions and see what happens.