INDEX V2.77 (05/25/1998)

Contents:

Table of Contents
Chapter 1) About the Author & Copyright
Chapter 2) Introduction
2.1) Entertainment - then and now
2.2) VCR repair
2.3) Repair or replace
Chapter 3) Video Recording Technology
3.1) Helical scan video recording
3.2) VHS video
3.3) VHS audio
3.4) VCR servo systems
3.5) Video Special effects
3.6) For more information on VCR technology
3.7) On-line tech-tips databases
Chapter 4) VCR Placement, Preventive Maintenance, and Rental Tapes
4.1) General VCR placement considerations
4.2) Video tape quality
4.3) How long do video tapes last?
4.4) Preventive maintenance
4.5) Sample VCR preventive maintenance schedule
4.6) Rental tape considerations
Chapter 5) VCR Maintenance and Troubleshooting Guide
5.1) Safety
5.2) Troubleshooting tips
5.3) Test equipment
5.4) Why you should read the entire FAQ first
5.5) Cassette cheaters
5.6) Test tapes
5.7) Getting inside a VCR
5.8) Why does my VCR shut down or behave strangely when I remove the cover?
5.9) Getting built up dust and dirt out of a VCR
5.10) What to do if a tiny tiny part falls into the VCR
Chapter 6) VCR Tape Transport Fundamentals
6.1) Parts of the tape transport in a VCR
6.2) Alex's quick tips
6.3) Most common problems
6.4) General guide to VCR cleaning and rubber parts replacement
6.5) Polishing your tape path
6.6) Tom's comments on approaches to cleaning
6.7) Lubrication of a VCR
6.8) Head demagnetizing
Chapter 7) Cassette and Tape Loading Problems
7.1) Cassette loading and eject problems
7.2) Ejecting a cassette from an uncooperative VCR
7.3) VCR is confused - will not eject non-existent tape
Chapter 8) Fast Forward and Rewind Problems
8.1) VCR will not fast forward and/or rewind
8.2) VCR aborts fast forward or rewind
8.3) Noisy REW or FF
8.4) Tape rewinders
Chapter 9) Play and Record Mechanical Problems
9.1) VCR refuses to record
9.2) VCR aborts play or record during startup or shortly thereafter
9.3) VCR aborts play or record at random times or near end of tape
9.4) VCR eats tapes
9.5) Tape loop hanging from cassette when ejected after play or record
9.6) Tape sticks to head drum
9.7) Video head drum stops or slows during play or record
Chapter 10) General Control Problems
10.1) VCR is alive but will not do anything
10.2) VCR clock does not run
10.3) VCR attempts to play non-existent cassette
10.4) Erratic behavior in various modes
10.5) VCR mode (sensor) switches
10.6) Mechanical relationships in VCRs
10.7) Intermittent behavior
10.8) VCR does not work after cassette was forcibly removed
10.9) If this is not enough for you to get the hint
10.10) VCR is failing the power-up sequence
10.11) VCR displays DEW warning
10.12) VCR shows LOCKED in the display
10.13) VCRs with Alzheimer's Disease
10.14) VCR has gone whacko
10.15) VCR forgets settings following power failure
10.16) Display is dead but everything else works
Chapter 11) Play and Record Control Problems
11.1) VCR randomly switches speeds, tracking problems, and muddy sound
11.2) VCR plays but at fast forward speed (or beyond)
11.3) Tape edge gets creased and/or random switching between speeds
11.4) Recording stops at random times on previously used tapes
11.5) Record (or play) stops after 15 minutes (or 30 minutes, etc.)
11.6) Tape counter is erratic
Chapter 12) Video Play and Record Problems
12.1) Video playback problems
12.2) Video record problems
12.3) Snow on one or more speeds
12.4) One or more lines at fixed locations in picture
12.5) Jumpy picture in play
12.6) Picture shakes or jumps or has snow in PAUSE/CUE/REV
12.7) Video search blanks out or doesn't work on recordings made at certain speeds
12.8) VCR plays pre-recorded tapes but its own recordings are noisy or jumpy
12.9) Incorrect frame alignment or bad video for part of frame
12.10) Rainbow pattern in recordings made over previously recorded tapes
12.11) Barber poling - bands of rainbow or color
12.12) Flag waving - top portion of picture wiggling back and forth
Chapter 13) Audio Problems
13.1) Poor quality sound on non-HiFi VCR
13.2) Identifying source of one-channel line (non-HiFi) low audio/hum/buzz
13.3) Excessive flutter on VHS linear (non-HiFi) audio playback
13.4) No (non-HiFi) sound on new recordings
13.5) Audio not present through VCR
13.6) Previous (non-HiFi) audio is not erased on new recordings
13.7) Poor quality sound on HiFi VCR
13.8) Help for marginal HiFi heads
13.9) Hum or buzz in HiFi audio
13.10) Fluttering or noisy HiFi audio
13.11) Squealing noise from VCR in certain modes
13.12) High pitched whine from inside VCR
13.13) Tapes play back in a foreign language
Chapter 14) Signal and Interference Problems
14.1) VCR color problems
14.2) RF signal problems
14.3) VCR will not tune broadcast or cable
14.4) Interference patterns such as parallel or diagonal lines
14.5) Firing (static) lines in picture during playback
Chapter 15) General System Problems
15.1) Multiple system problems
15.2) Power supply problems - unit totally dead/major system problems in all modes
15.3) Fuses and IC protectors in VCRs
15.4) VCR power supplies
15.5) Internal fuse blew during lightning storm (or elephant hit power pole)
15.6) Use of surge suppressors and line filters
15.7) Dim or dead display
Chapter 16) Miscellaneous Problems
16.1) VCR poops out after a couple of hours
16.2) VCR blows fuse once in a blue moon
16.3) VCR was dropped
16.4) VCR or camcorder went to the beach (sand and/or surf)
16.5) Dead or missing remote controls or lost codes for universal remotes
16.6) Recovering damaged or broken tapes
16.7) Disassembling a VHS cassette
16.8) Cassette rewinder problems
16.9) Why VCRs will not copy (Macrovision) copy protected tapes
16.10) VCR AGC and Macrovision copy protection
16.11) Problems with closed caption decoding
Chapter 17) A Few Model Specific Problems
17.1) Dead clock in Hitachi manufactured VCR
17.2) JVC tracking problems and dropped parts
17.3) Panasonic and clones switching power supplies
17.4) Multiple system problems with various RCA and GE VCRs
17.5) Erratic behavior of Sharp VCRs
17.6) Late model Sony VCR munches tape on eject
17.7) Sony VCR error codes
17.8) Sony capstan motor (bearing) problems
17.9) Symphonic/Funai brand vcr won't rewind or fast forward
17.10) Additional Symphonic/Funai comments
17.11) Zenith model VCRs with erratic tracking of rental tapes
Chapter 18) Video Heads and Upper Cylinders
18.1) What is a Video head?
18.2) Video head construction
18.3) Diagram of single video head
18.4) Diagram of double video head
18.5) Photos of typical video heads (upper cylinders)
18.6) How do the signals go to/from the upper cylinder
18.7) Are your video heads really bad?
18.8) More on evaluating video degradation
18.9) Need for video head cleaning
18.10) Automatic head cleaners
18.11) How NOT to clean your video heads or a very expensive lesson
18.12) Video head cleaning technique
18.13) Rob's alternative video head cleaning techniques - use with care
18.14) Advanced video head testing techniques
18.15) Measuring video head wear
18.16) More than you even wanted to know about video head tip penetration
18.17) Highlight tearing and bad video heads
18.18) Where to obtain replacement video heads
18.19) Upper cylinder not replaceable as a separate assembly?
18.20) Video head replacement technique
18.21) How about when the head drum refuses to budge?
18.22) What if the replacement upper cylinder doesn't work?
18.23) HiFi/video tracking problems after upper cylinder replacement
18.24) Tape interchangeability
18.25) What are the symptoms of a video that is on backwards?
18.26) Can I substitute a video head from another VCR?
18.27) Disassembling the lower cylinder
Chapter 19) Tape Path Alignment and Backtension Adjustment
19.1) General tape path alignment problems
19.2) Symptoms of bad A/C head alignment
19.3) Symptoms of bad roller guide height adjustment
19.4) A/C alignment adjustment locations
19.5) Adjustment of A/C head - problems with tracking or sound (linear audio)
19.6) Roller guide height adjustment
19.7) Likely causes for sudden change in tracking behavior
19.8) Backtension adjustment
19.9) No, you don't need a fancy back tension meter
19.10) More on adjusting backtension
Chapter 20) VCR Sensors and Tape Counters
20.1) Tape start/end sensors
20.2) Start/end sensor testing
20.3) Tape counters
20.4) Reel rotation sensors
20.5) Reel rotation sensor testing
20.6) Stan's tips on reel sensors
Chapter 21) Motors and Rotors
21.1) Types of motors in VCRs
21.2) Testing and repairing small motors
21.3) Capstan problems
21.4) Some capstan motor information
Chapter 22) Items of Interest
22.1) Why is a tracking control needed
22.2) VCRs with 2, 4, 6 or more heads - what is the difference?
22.3) Which combination of heads are used for what modes?
22.4) More on 6 head VCRs
22.5) Choice of SVHS or high quality 4 (or greater) head VHS VCR
22.6) About VISS and VASS
22.7) How does the "commercial skip" feature work?
22.8) Old clunkers and the march of technology
22.9) Comments on quality of consumer electronic equipment construction
22.10) Can I add an S-Video input to my VCR?
22.11) Can a VHS VCR record single video frames at a time?
22.12) Controlling one or more VCRs from a PC
22.13) Using a VCR overseas or vice-versa
22.14) Differences in blank VHS tapes between US and Europe
22.15) Why is a special VCR needed for multiple video standards?
22.16) Recording HiFi audio only on a HiFi VCR
22.17) Stereo output from VCR RF connector?
22.18) Dubbing only video and linear tracks on HiFi VCR
22.19) Can I use an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) to retain the programming?
22.20) Can a VCR be used for computer backup?
22.21) How can I use an old deceased VCR as a sophisticated appliance timer?
22.22) Can I control the tuner from a VCR using my PC?
22.23) What is a delay line and where is it used?
22.24) Comb filters in camcorders?
22.25) What are photocouplers and how are they different than optoisolators?
22.26) Why are there so many different designs for VHS transports?
22.27) Service center honesty?
22.28) VCR repair saga - a shop that hasn't seen this FAQ
22.29) Testing of IR LEDs
22.30) IR detector circuit
22.31) VHS physical tape format
22.32) VHS specifications
22.33) Video recording theory
22.34) Smoke damaged cassettes
22.35) Sour grapes?
Chapter 23) Service Information
23.1) Advanced VCR troubleshooting
23.2) Web resources
23.3) Popular books on VCR maintenance and repair
23.4) FCC ID Numbers of VCRs
23.5) Determining belt, tire, and pinch roller specifications
23.6) About decayed tan or brown glue on circuit boards and leaking capacitors
23.7) Where did all the adjustment go?
23.8) Interchangeability of components
23.9) Suggested Parts Suppliers
23.10) VCR service parts and assistance for the do-it-yourselfer
23.11) Video head source
23.12) Used VCR parts
23.13) Other Sources