Using a VCR to record programming when you have a satellite TV service installed may be a bit tricky but it can be done. It’s always important to remember that in a satellite TV set up, the satellite TV set up box (also known as the satellite TV receiver) is the primary feed and it always outputs through the frequency of Channels 3 or 4.

Most VCRs have NTSC tuners which can only tune stations from either analog stations using an antenna or analog cable—and not directly from digital OTA stations like satellite TV or even digital cable. The only way to record programming using a VCR is to record whatever channel you’re watching on TV or that’s being played on the satellite TV receiver.

There are two options to do this. First is to connect the VCR to the satellite TV receiver via the red/white/yellow jacks of both the receiver and the VCR. Alternately, you can also use a coaxial cable to connect the RF output of the satellite TV receiver to the input of the VCR and then choose channels 3 or 4 on the VCR. Remember, to change channels you need to use the receiver rather than the VCR.

Another method is to use an antenna if you are saving local channels. With this, you need to either make sure your satellite TV receiver is off even if the antenna is connected to your DTV receiver or else you can directly connect the antenna to your VCR, bypassing the satellite TV receiver.

The easiest (and by far the most effective) method is to sign up for the DVR service offered by major satellite TV providers such as DirecTV and Dish Network. Their receivers are fully capable of recording TV programming, including timed recording and simultaneous watching and recording—watching a channel, recording on another channel.