Combination unit plays DVDs but not VHS tapes

Q: I bought a piece of equipment that plays both VHS tapes and DVDs and someone from the store hooked it up for me. I can watch DVDs but I’ve never been able to play VHS tapes. Why can’t I play my VHS tapes?

A: The device you described is commonly called a VCR/DVD combination unit. It usually has a slot on one side for VHS video tapes and another slot on the other side for DVDs. The idea behind this kind of device is that it saves space in that you don’t have to purchase a separate VCR and DVD player, and that you can use one common connection to your television for both VHS video tapes and DVDs.

Since I cannot physically see your setup, I can offer two possible solutions. The first is the simplest and is most likely not the problem, but we need to rule it out. Most of these VCR/DVD combination units have a button that you need to press to switch the device between VCR output and DVD output. After you put in a video tape make sure you press this button until you get some kind of visual indication, usually a light, that lets you know you are using the VCR portion of the device.

If that doesn’t solve your problem, you need to look at the wire connections between the VCR/DVD combination unit and your television. Although these devices do allow for the VCR and DVD signal to travel across the same cable, in many cases, the DVD can be hooked up using connections that are only compatible with the DVD portion of the unit.

I’m referring specifically to a component cable which can be identified as three video connectors, one for red, one for green and one for blue. This is a higher definition cable that will only transmit the DVD portion of your combination unit to the television. The VCR signal will not transmit across this cable. If you have one of these component cables connected to your television, you need to make sure you have another type of cable for the VCR signal.

Your best bet for the VCR signal is to use a composite cable, which is the yellow, red and white cable you commonly see in stores. Other alternatives are to use an S-Video cable or just a regular coaxial cable.

Any of these will work and most combination units will automatically choose the best connection when you switch between the VCR and the DVD player.

This post was originally broadcast Friday, July 27, 2007 on Tech Talk with Noobie, a weekly radio show on WCBK 102.3 FM in Martinsville, Indiana. Tech Talk with Noobie airs every Friday between 11:30 a.m. and noon. If you have a question you would like Noobie to answer on the air, simply e-mail your question to .