Solved! Best way to hookup a DirecTV mini to a VCR/DVD recorder to a HDTV

[lsashby]

I have a DirecTV mini Genie. It only has one cable in and no cable out. It also only has 1 HDMI out and no RCA input/outputs. I have a Panasonic DMR-ES46V VCR/DVD recorder that has only a HDMI out, 1 RCA in and 2 RCA outs. I want to use it to record from DirecTV. My TV is a HDTV and has plenty of connections. How is the best way to hook this up?

 

[americanaudiophile]

The connections on the TV are useless for recording since there are no video outputs on the TV.
The only way to be able to record is to use an HDMI distribution amp to split the HDMI output of the mini Genie. One output goes to the TV for watching content. The other goes to an active HDMI to AV converter. That connects to the AV input of the DVD/VCR. The recordings will be in 480i so the quality will not be very good but that's the best you can get.
The DVD/VCR connects directly to the TV for playback. Not sure if you need both the HDMI output for DVD and the AV output for VCR but if you don't already know check the owners manual.

 

[lsashby]

I have done some research and people say if you use that 10 pin composite A/V of the C41 mini Genie out to the VCR/DVD recorder it will work. Guess I'm going to try that.

 

[lsashby]

The connections on the TV are useless for recording since there are no video outputs on the TV.
The only way to be able to record is to use an HDMI distribution amp to split the HDMI output of the mini Genie. One output goes to the TV for watching content. The other goes to an active HDMI to AV converter. That connects to the AV input of the DVD/VCR. The recordings will be in 480i so the quality will not be very good but that's the best you can get.
The DVD/VCR connects directly to the TV for playback. Not sure if you need both the HDMI output for DVD and the AV output for VCR but if you don't already know check the owners manual.

Thanks for the reply. I changed the DirecTV resolution to 480i and tried to use a HDMI to RCA adapter and it wouldn't work. Like you said I probably would need an active HDMI converter. Of course 480i isn't better than the 1080i, but the picture still looks a lot better than I thought it would. So now if you don't mind I want to ask another question. If this 10 pin connector works on my DVD/VCR recorder can I change my resolution back to 1080 and watch it that way and it will still record even though in 480i?