BS: Broken VCR?

Subject: BS: Broken VCR?
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 07:26 PM

I still have a VCR, which was working quite well until this week. I use it to tape specials (such as the Bob Dylan movie) off PBS, and other shows I like but will be out of the house for.

This week, something happened and the VCR can't seem to play any of the tapes I've recorded off the tv. The screen looks fuzzy, and black and white, and tho I can sort of hear the dialog, so I know the tape is running, there's a lot of static. The ODD thing is, I can play my tapes of movies that I bought at the store and they're fine.

DID I PRESS A WRONG BUTTON?? Anyone here a good geeksquad type and can help? If not, suggestions on a new good model, not too expensive please, that has a VCR AND DVD player is appreciated. But I'd prefer to fix the old one.

I know you guys are VERY VERY SMART!!! so's I'm countin ' on you. Rescue please my shows of Pete Seeger and all those Mountain Stage shows. thanx.

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 07:32 PM

Time to go to a thrift store and buy one for ten bucks.
If you want a combo unit, I think there may still be some new one about $69. Chances are it will cost more than that to fix the old one, assumeing parts are available--an iffy proposition depending on age of the machine.

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 07:44 PM

Clean the head with a special tape you put alcohol on ane press record. The head will get clean and the picture will not be fuzzy anymore

Or take the top off and lean the sliver round head with alcohol manually.

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 07:44 PM

They are only about $70.00, as you say,I saw a Toshiba on sale this weekend.I'm also up for readers suggestions of a good brand. I never saw one in a thrift store.

But Im still hoping that ONE of the VERY BRILLIANT and SMART and TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY GENIUSES, and did I say INTELLECTUALLY GIFTED mudcats has a solution for this technologically challenged poster, I just have a feeling I pressed the wrong button on the remote, but can't find how to reverse this.

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 07:46 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. We crossed posts,Donuel. I can try that, but I'm wondering if that's the problem- why is the MOVIE not fuzzy at all??? The tapes I made from the tv are unplayable, but the movies are FINE???

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 08:00 PM

TV went digital....and started scrambling signals.

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: GUEST,Tattie Bogle
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 08:11 PM

Similar problem with my Dad's old VCR: plays pre-recorded videos fine, but anything recorded from TV just doesn't work: it's down to the tuner (RF-converter?)part of the VCR having gone wrong: check what picture you're getting when you try to start recording on the video channel: if you're not getting a clear picture the video will just record what it sees too. (And it's not just fuzzy needing tape heads clean, it's no pic at all, random snowy stuff!) I tried to re-tune to the video channel but that didn't work either.
So, I gave Dad OUR VCR, and went and bought ourselves a Panasonic combi box: it is VCR player/recorder, DVD player/recorder, AND digital TV receiver all in one. Not the cheapest, but does a great job: we had a lot of treasured videos of the kids which we can now convert to DVD before VCRs become obsolete. (I bought a cheaper brand first but had to take it back as it kept "locking up", and the recording quality was very poor). The Panasonic also allows you to "time-slip" if you get interrupted while watching a programme. You can only record from digital TV the channel it is set to at the time, but as long as we still have analogue TV, you could be watching in analoge while recording digital.

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Aug 09 - 10:57 PM

There is usually a 'tracking' adjustment on most VCRs. It adjusts the heads to read the tapes. If it is moved, it may do exactly what you describe....read some tapes and not others. It is usually a dial thing hidden away...you may have accidentally moved it.. See if it might help.

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: Peace
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 12:41 AM

Getting it fixed will likely cost more than buying a new one. JiC nailed it, imo.

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: Tangledwood
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 05:54 AM

How old are the tapes used to record from TV? When I used tape I used to loose track of how many times I'd recorded and erased them.

If replacement is the option you decide to go for, I was advised by a retailer against getting a combined VCR/DVD unit on the premise that if one unit dies you have to replace both. Have you considered a hard drive recorder instead of tape?

On the subject of brands I have several components and appliances made by LG which are giving good service for a reasonable price.

Subject: RE: BS: Broken VCR?
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 06:52 AM

The other issue we found when our old VCR died was that some of the newer combo units are just players and not recorders at all. No place to hook the coaxial cable from the cable portion up to the unit. Thank goodness for Goodwill and other thrift shops!