ONLY WORKS with AV cables which are red, white & yellow. Does NOT work with Component or HDMI cables.
You have to use cable (red, white & yellow) on back of your TV, the other end into the back of your DVD recorder (red, white & yellow) INPUT sockets that are the same colours. If you have 2 AV's at the back of DVD Recorder, you will have to try them both to view which works (If it doesn't work on the top than use the bottom).
On your DVD remote press INPUT button and chose AV 1, if that doesn't work try AV 2, (only have to do this on DVD remote 1 time when setting up) and also on TV remote press SOURCEor whatever button you have to select AV1 or AV2 than you can record.
Once you see the MENU for the DVD Recorder on screen you have to pick HOME button, SETTINGS button or whatever button whereby you scan all the channels (usually the option is states AUTOMATIC once you are there. I've done this for 10 years on all my TV's and it works wonderful. Presently I have a Smart TV and LG DVD Recorder and also a Samsung Recorder and the above works on both the same way.
I've tried Components and HMDI cables and can view what I recorded but both are not able to record TV program onto DVD Recorder hard drive. Note, some channels do not allow you to record since the TV station has encrypted them (if encrypted on my DVD recorder it tell me "can't record")
I turn on TV and DVD recorder, than go to the channel I want to record on TV and press record on DVD Recorder remote and it works, recording program to DVD Hard Drive. To view program I recorded than I MUST press on TV remote whatever button to view AV than press MENU on DVD recorder to play or do other functions.