nxn (01/04/83)
With cable tv, a video game, a VCR, and possible future expansion to a personal computer, I will need something to connect these together in a flexible and efficient manner. A nest of snakes is ok as long as I don't have to reconnect cables whenever I want to play a game and record something else simultaneously. A switcher with inputs selectable from cable, VCR, video game, or computer, an optional pass through the cable decoder, and (different) outputs on channels 3 and 4 would be ideal. Does this beast exist or will I be forever reconnecting cables? The PV-CT2 (see below) alleviates the cable/decoder/VCR part of the problem in that it switches the viewed and recorded channels among cable/encoded, cable/clear, and broadcast, without rearranging any connections, except that you can't simultaneously record one pay channel while viewing another. Does anyone have one of these? Are there any other switchers available that do the job better? Incidentally, I am considering buying the following VCR system, and would appreciate any comments, suggestions etc. Panasonic PV-5500 portable VHS VCR and separate tuner/timer. Panasonic PV-CT2 cable tv adapter/switcher. This machine seems to be a winner in many ways. It's among the smallest and lightest on the market, and performs excellently at SLP (for which the head gaps have been optimized), the speed I expect to use most. Opinions/experience/alternatives? The only drawback of the PV-5500 appears to be its limit of four program event timers, although each can be set to record daily. Do you ever use more than this? How often? Did you think your VCR would have ample programmability and now regret your choice? Four seems sufficient to me - you can only get so much soap opera on an 8-hour tape. I will summarize any response to those who request it, or to the net if interest is great. Dave Nixon AGS Computers Inc. contract at BTL Naperville, Ill. ..!harpo!ihuxp!ixn5e!nxn