VCR with total record/view flexibility

Claim 1

A video system comprising: a television receiver having a signal input; a decoder means having an input and an output; an antenna/cable source of multichannel signals, including a channel having an encoded signal; and a VCR having a first terminal connected to said source of multichannel signals, a second and a third terminal connected to the input and the output of said decoding means, respectively, and a fourth terminal connected to the signal input of said television receiver, said VCR including: a two-way signal splitter having an input, connected to said first terminal, and first and second outputs; recording means including a television signal tuner, a signal recording device and an RF modulator, said recording means having an input terminal and an output terminal; and switching apparatus comprising first, second, third, fourth and fifth switch means; said first switch means for establishing a conductive path from said first output of said splitter to said input of said decoding means or to said second and fourth switch means; said second switch means for establishing a conductive path from said second output of said splitter to said first switch means and said fourth switch means or to said third switch means; said third switch means for establishing a conductive path from the input of said recording means to said second switch means or to said output of said decoder means and said fourth switch means; said fourth switch means for establishing a connection to the output of said decoder means and said third switch means or to said first and said second switch means; and said fifth switch means for establishing a conductive path between said signal input of said television receiver and the output of said recording means or to said fourth switch means.