HELPPPPPPPPP with vcr!

[Jenny]

Ok, so I've been having some problems for awhile with my vcr. When I have recorded something, I go to watch it and there are HORRIBLE sound and video problems. It has lines across it, but they keep jumping. (The screen skips, the lines go on there, then disappear, etc. It is constant.)

A few people suggested trying a vcr head cleaner. We bought one this weekend and tried it. At first, I just figured it was using tapes over and over again. (I tend to record A LOT of stuff.) So I assumed the tapes were the problems.

Well, tonight, I wanted to record the Oscars, since we weren't going to be home for awhile. I had gone through all my tapes yesterday and thrown out all the ones that were having problems. The tape I used tonight wasn't a new tape, but it was one that I hadn't recorded on in quite awhile. (I had recorded Saving Private Ryan on it a year or so ago, but when we got that on DVD, I figured it was safe to use. :) ) So when I checked it yesterday, it was perfectly fine.

I recorded tonight. I started on just a couple of minutes ago and what do you know? Within 2 minutes, it was exactly as bad as any of them have gotten. What the **** is up?

The vcr is less than a year old! It's a Phillips, which someone recently told me don't make good vcr's, but I didn't know that at the time we bought it. lol

PLEASE someone help. Let me know if I should just scrap it and buy a new vcr. And if so, what kind?

Thanks!

[Leon]

Me thinks you need a TIVO. :heh:

[Jenny]

Bah! I asked about a Tivo in OffTopic and didn't get any responses about it specifically. :P

Is it worth it? I think I would like it, but then, you can only record 1 thing at a time...

[Leon]

I believe certain newer models coming out (they might already be out), can record two shows at once. But even at one show at a time, it's still soooo nice. I uninstalled my VCR and never looked back.

[Jenny]

Ok, we'll definitely look into the tivo more closely. Thanks. :)

[spigidygak]

Sounds like the head on the vcr could be misaligned or something. I would suggest taking it into a local shop or back to the place you bought it. Try to find somewhere that will do an inspection for free. Of the bigger chain stores, I know of, good guys checks your vcr for free.

[DKatman]

I think it sounds like Macrovision. You have told very little about what it is you have tried to record. The symptoms of that you experience seem to be the anti-piracy measures to stop you from copying pre-recorded material. That also explains why broadcast television(the Oscars) worked just fine.

Am I close? Are was it all broadcast television you were trying to record?

Dave

[Jenny]

Originally posted by DKatman
I think it sounds like Macrovision. You have told very little about what it is you have tried to record. The symptoms of that you experience seem to be the anti-piracy measures to stop you from copying pre-recorded material. That also explains why broadcast television(the Oscars) worked just fine.

Am I close? Are was it all broadcast television you were trying to record?

Dave

Nope, all just regular tv shows on ABC, NBC, CBS, WB & UPN. :( :)

[Ladogaboy]

I'm with DF on this one. Tivo might be a good option, but since it sounds like you still use a lot of VHS tapes, you'll probably still want a working VCR. My parents just bought a Toshiba for $50, and I think it was HiFi as well.

[rasetsu]

Don't bother fixing it. The cost of a brand new one won't be very much more than the cost of repairs.

[spigidygak]

Well it really depends on two things, how much the value and quality of the vcr and how much the repair. Personally a few months ago, I had a toshiba vcr go bad and it was one of the best ones out from toshiba when it was purchased a few years ago and still can hold up to most newer players. So I got it checked for free and it was just a motor that needed to be replaced, the guy did it for $25 where as if I had to get a new unit that was similarly capable I would of spent $200 or so.

[Jenny]

It's a Philips (2 L's?) and was only about $100 when we bought it. So... We're doing ok right now, but will probably just buy a new one sometime. A better brand for vcr's, too. :)

[spigidygak]

Yeah. . . just go buy a jvc already :P

[Mungo]

JVC's rule. I have 3 of them, 2 with SVHS.

[Devhux]

When you guys are referring to "skipping" issues, are you meaning kinda like frame skips (as a DVD might do if it's dirty)? I ask this because I have a Panasonic VCR that seems to do this the odd time (not sure if it's the tapes I'm using, or the VCR itself).