Cabling DVD, VCR, and older TV

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I just finshed playing with a Toshiba SD5109 this weekend....oops wasn't it mother's day....and ran across an intersting problem for newbie's like me. I am still running just stereo.
Aside - DVD is phenominal! Thanks also to everyone who has recommended Video Essentials - it is mandatory - and the old TV never looked so good.
The components are: RCA ColorTrac 32" TV, Toshiba M674 VCR, and SD5109. The TV only supports one set of RCA inputs (and Cable/Ant coax) so I can not connect both the VCR and DVD directly.
I've always run the coax into the VCR and then from the VCR to the TV so I can both record off cable and view from the TV tuner. The VCR seems to pass the signal through fine. I then have the VCR RCA cable to the TV for playback.
I tested the SD5109 with direct RCA video connection to the TV and 2-chan. output to the stereo - this worked fine, but I would have to reconnect to play the VCR. So, I then tried running the SD5109 RCA outputs to the VCR input, and selecting this input on the VCR to play through the VCR to the TV. The video signal regularly dropped out. I rechecked all cables - everything was snug. I've used this input on the VCR for playing from a camcorder with no problems regularly. I checked that the video was set for 4x3 and tried 4x3 LB also - same thing. Shows for a minute or so, drops out for 1/2 minute, comes back seemingly at random. When it drops out, the screen is blue which, if I recall correctly, is loss of signal to the VCR.
Anyone have a hint besides a new TV with two inputs or a HT receiver or pre-pro?
Thanks in advance.

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Topic - Cabling DVD, VCR, and older TV - John A 13:40:02 05/15/00 (3)

had the same problem- here's a cheap fix - zaphod 06:32:50 05/16/00 (0)

Re: Cabling DVD, VCR, and older TV - mfm 20:11:00 05/15/00 (1)

Re: Cabling DVD, VCR, and older TV - John A 07:12:25 05/16/00 (0)

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