I have an old Dish DVR with recorded programs. I now use Time Warner Cable. Can I connect this dish dvr to my tv and or my DVD player and watch the recorded shows?

Answer 1

Absolutely you can watch your old recorded programs - provided that you still have the smart card that plugs into the Dish DVR. However, you cannot record programs, so do NOT attempt to connect the DVR to the Time Warner system in any fashion. DO NOT plug ANYTHING into the Dish DVR SATTELITE INPUT coaxial jack.

There are several methods you can use to connect your old Dish DVR, depending on the model of the TV set. If it is fairly new then you should have multipul inputs on the back of the TV. Look for an open RCA input set. This would consist of one of each - red, white, and yellow round jacks grouped together. Look for the printed name designation next to the jack set (i.e. VCR, INPUT 1, INPUT 2, AV IN, AUX, etc.).

On the back of the Dish DVR you will see the same three jacks labled OUTPUT, or OUT TO TV, or something like that. Now, if you were a good boy, or girl, you saved the RCA plug cable that was previously plugged in to the Dish DVR jacks. If not, look around the house for a set. If not, then its Radio Shack time for you. The clerk will know exectly what you need.

The next step is to connect the TV and the DVR together with the RCA cable, making sure the plug colors match the jack colors. Turn on the TV and the old Dish DVR. If you did everything right then you TV should still be operating exactly like it was. Now grab the TV (not the Dish) remote control and figure out how to change the TV screen from TV to VCR, INPUT 1, INPUT 2, AV IN, AUX, etc.) There is definately a way to do it, so get someone to help you if you can't figure it out (but I know you can).

Once you have the Dish DVR on the TV screen, grab old Dish remote (check the batteries) and off you go. When you're done watching your recorded program(s) switch back to TV mode using the TV remote.

Another option, assuming that your Time Warner box is connected to your TV via a coax cable, will require a run to Radio Shack to buy a coaxial A/B switch and two short coax cables (or look around the house). Connect as follows:

1) Disconnect the Time Warner box's coax cable from the back of the TV and connect it to A/B switch jack A.

2) Connect a short coax cable to the TV (where Time Warner was plugged into) and the other end to the common (usually the center) jack of the A/B switch.

3) Connect a short coax cable to the Dish DVR OUT TO TV jack and the other end to the A/B switch jack B.

Now turn on the TV and the old Dish DVR and you should be able to swith back and forth between the two using the A/B switch. Remember that the old Dish DVR takes a while to boot up.

Another option is if both your Dish DVR and TV has an available HDMI jack. In that case, all you need is a short HDMI cable to connect the two, and then figure out how the TV remote switches your TV to the HDMI port.

In all cases the old Dish DVR will say "Searching for Signal". This is the new normal. Just press the DVR button on the remote.

Last of all - its just pretty much common sense. Hope this helps.