Do I need a new VCR?

[lalalonglegs]

I recently bought new TV with integrated Freeview. Have set it up but can only get (our admittedly old but functional) VCR to tune into the five terrestial channels. Now, I know it's unlikely that I'm going to want to tape 12 year old episodes of Friends or Touch of Frost on the digital stations but would like the option to be able to if the fancy took me - is my VCR at fault (it's connected by aeriel and scart socket) or am I just being thick (probably)?

The VCR doesn't have a Freeview decoder built in. The TV does.

Normally the SCART connection is used for the VCR output to 'override' whatever is playing on the TV and forces the TV to play the signal from the SCART cable (whether it be from DVD, VCR, Freeview, Satellite) so it is uncommon for many TVs to 'send' signals out on SCART connction.

A workaround would be to buy a 15 to 30 quid Freeview 'set top box' and plug that into the VCR. Clearly your TV is showing what Freeview channels are available, but once digital switchover has happened, all TVs and other units (VCRs) will need some way to get a decoded signal.

With a Freeview box (and SCART cable to the VCR) you would record on the VCR using the "AV" input (or channel 0, or similar, ie not one of the UHF {analogue} channels).

The analogue channels will be turned off over the next 2+ years and eventually your VCR settings (1 - 5) will be unable to show any TV stations at all, but with a Freeview box, you'd have access to whatever channels are available (and with FreeSat, if you decided to get a dish, there'd be more channels - some areas will not get all the Freeview channels)

So, to answer Q - no need for new VCR !

Thanks WebDude - we were about to get rid of our freeview box as we now have inbuilt freeview but I will dig it out and wire it up to the VCR.

Glad you have a FV box to hand else you'd have kicked yourself if you'd sold it/given it away!