Help with connecting equipment needed

I have used a Next Wave Digital Top Box with an 80 GB Hard drive With my LCD TV for some time now. The top box does not have HDMI andt the TV has only one HDMI connection.
I have just bought a DVD/VCR (LG) recorder with AM/FM tuner. It has one HDMI connection.
I have also been gifted with a 5.1 digital amplifier (5 speakers) with one HDMI connection that also has AM/FM tuner.
I would like to connect them all to the TV so that they all work independently, if that makes sense.
I have connected the terrestrial antenna to the top box antenna in, another cable to loop out/ loop in. Then another cable from TV/VCR to the antenna in in the LG and then Antenna out to TV Antenna in.
The DVD/VCR recorder works fine but the Top Box does not.
The antenna (digital coaxial output) plug in the amplifier does not fit a normal antenna plug.
I have misplaced the manual for the TV but these RCA plugs are in the rear:
http://p9homq.bay.livefilestore.com/...ons.jpg?psid=1
The other manuals might as well have been written in Chinese, they are so difficult to understand and I have absolutely no idea what these abbreviations mean.
Top Box connections:
http://p9homq.bay.livefilestore.com/...ons.jpg?psid=1
DVD/VCR Recorder:
http://p9homq.bay.livefilestore.com/...ons.jpg?psid=1
Amplifier Connections
http://p9homq.bay.livefilestore.com/.../LG.jpg?psid=1
Hope this makes sense
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Wolffie

For your components, I'd suggest:

Antenna flylead to STB then use the TV/VCR terminal to connect to DVD/VCR then out from the DVD/VCR to TV - this should make sure that you have a signal at all of those independently;

HDMI between DVD/VCR and TV - this will give you audio/video to the TV;

Connect the DVD/VCR Left and Right audio out (RCA plugs, the left channel is white, the right channel is red) to one of the inputs on the amp; do the same with the TV - this will give you the ability to listen to a CD on the DVD player, as well as pump the sound from the TV through the stereo for movies.

You'll find that the 'antenna (digital coaxial output)' is actually a S/PDIF digital sound-only output on the amp.

If you are buying extra HDMI cables - there is absolutely no reason to spend more that about $15 on a HDMI cable...they are a digital cable so they will either work, or not...there are no grey areas. The $60+ gold plated, pixie dust infused ones are just so much marketing fluff. (I love the 'no difference' test between Monster Cables and a few old coathangers)

Thank you Master Splinter :)
Is there any way I can get sound from the TV to the 5 speakers?
The pitiful speakers on the TV sound terrible.
The only HDMI cable I could get hold of here was marked at $60 but I managed to get it for $40. Where can I put my hands on the cheaper ones?
Cheers
Wolffie

Sorry to be ignorant but what is STB :?
Cheers
Wolffie

STB = Set Top Box

You should be able to find a red/white audio out pair on the TV, and plug this into one of the amps inputs. The amp will be able to create the surround sound (5.1) information from this signal. If the TV doesn't have an audio out then you could use the audio out (the Audio-L and Audio-R on your drawing above) from the set top box instead.

Basically, all the amp does is process the left and right stereo signals to derive positional audio from them...everything that is the same in the left/right channels goes into the centre signal, the left-rear signal is the left channel minus the right channel, the right-rear is the right channel minus the left channel, and the sub is everything under 120-ish hertz. Throw in some time delay circuitry, and some fancy frequency related cutoffs and steering, and you can call yourself Mr Dolby.

I picked my last HDMI cable up from a 'Hot Dollar' (all sorts of Chinese imports) type shop. About $12. Deal Extreme has 1.8 meter long ones for US$9.50 including free worldwide shipping...or $5.92 if you are happy with the V1.3 instead of V1.4 spec, which would be fine in your case.

Thank you again for your help Master Splinter.
I am going to try it out in the morning.
If I may ask another question, please?
What does the Pb1 & 2, Pr1 & 2 and Y1 & 2 on the TV mean?
I thought it related to the colour on the plug but Pb1 is white and Y2 is green :?:?
http://p9homq.bay.livefilestore.com/...ons.jpg?psid=1
Thanks again
Wolffie

Those are component video signal outputs. Component video is an analog signal where the signal is split up to give less interference in the cable, so you get a better signal - no dot crawl or fringing (in the digital world you get moire patterns and motion judder, instead!!!).

Generally, Y is a green plug, PB is a blue plug, and PR a red plug, but the plug/jack colours aren't set in stone. Y carries brightness (black and white) information, PB carries the difference between brightness and blue, and PR carries the difference between brightness and red.

I'd expect that the numbers mean that you can have two component inputs to the TV (ie your Laserdisc player might be on Y1, PB1 and PR1 and your VCR might be on Y2, PB2 and PR2).

Google your make and model of TV and you can more than likely find a downloadable PDF of the instruction manual!


Component video - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Those are component video signal outputs.

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Agreed but would use the term connections instead of outputs, could be inputs or outputs depending on gear, eg, output on set top box or laser disc to input on TV.

Balance of explanation is good though.

If you have lost manuals for products, there are some sites where you can download them.
Here are x3 that I know of.

Manuals Online.

User Manual Guide.

Safe Manuals.

Thank you for all the advice.
I got absolutely totally lost so went and bought a new TV, Panasonic Viera 100hz.
Beautiful picture but I STILL cannot work out how to control the amplifier with the TV remote.
So I gave up and am now using the amplifier's remote via the AV2 connection.
Oh for the plug and play ability in PC land :rolleyes:
Cheers
Wolffie

" I STILL cannot work out how to control the amplifier with the TV remote."

Errrrrrrr....you can't, unless its the same brand and designed for it, or it's a learning remote (can learn the control codes from other devices).

Like so many other things, manufacturers want to believe that their special little way of doing things is best, and there is no common control code shared by devices. It's a bit like PC hardware before the IBM PC came onto the scene with the x86 architecture.

You can, however, buy an über-remote, like these - http://www.logitech.com/en-au/remotes/universal-remotes which will let you control a whole stack of things.