...dvd's fine,but cannot record tv show can still program dvd recorder to record tv show, and it will start at stated time and stop at stated time, but there is no recording on the dvd to view
most dvd recorders cannot handle high definition inputs. you can verify this by looking at the back of your dvd recorder. basically, the signal comes into your house and into the cable box using coaxial cable (the screw-on ends). the cable box then has several different outputs.
most likely, since you now have HD, there is an HDMI cable connected between the "HDMI output" on the cable box and the "HDMI input"on your HD television. or they could've used what are called component cables. these are green, blue and red (all carrying the HD video), plus an extra red and white (for the L and R audio). these would also be connected directly between your cable box and your tv.
now, your dvd recorder most likely does not have these types of inputs. most dvd recorders only have coax or composite (A/V) inputs. therefore, you need to make some connection changes.
1. make sure your hd connections are all done correctly as described above (direct connection using HDMI or component cables between cable box and tv). once connected correctly, leave these connections alone.
2. connect either a coax cable or a/v cables (yellow for video and red/white for audio) from cable box outputs to dvd recorder inputs. color to color, very easy.
3. connect either a coax cable or a/v cables from dvd recorder outputs to tv input. you must choose a different input than that of your HD connection. this means changing "sources" on your tv when using your dvd recorder/player.
4. when telling your dvd recorder to record shows, it must record either channel 3 (if using coax cables) or one of the video inputs (either called video1/video2 or L1/L2). your cable box must be on the channel that you want to record (ie. MTV). most cable boxes have timers that you can set up for it to automatically tune to a channel at a set time. then set up a separate timer on your dvd recorder to record ch3 or L1/L2 at the exact same time. and ta-daaaaaa.....you should have made a successful recording.
why? before you had that cable box, you most likely used the dvd recorder's internal "TUNER" to change channels. well, now that you have HD, you are using the CABLE BOX'S internal tuner to change channels. which is why your dvd recordings were blank...no channels were being sent into your dvd recorder. i hope this is making sense.
anywho, good luck with that. just remember that if you want to set up timers to record shows, you will most likely need to set up two separate timers...one for the cable box and one for the dvd recorder.