Oldie but goodie about VCRs

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Rickles

2696 posts

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#40506 30-Aug-2009 13:34

Hi,

I have a Philips VCR recently dragged out of storage to convert some VHS tapes to DVD ... no real problems there.

However, I have noticed that some newish "commercial" tapes simply won't play at all on this VCR.

I'm aware that copy protection like Macrovision will (unless circumvented) prevent a second VCR or DVD from recording the signal from the primamry VCR, but as I say I cannot get some video tapes to play at all even when no output cables whatsoever are plugged into the VCR.

Did VCR's themselves ever have play-back prevention built-in to the circuitry when copy protections came about?

Any suggestions why I cannot view/play these particular tapes even as ordinary viewing on the TV?

Thanks,

R.

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#251752 30-Aug-2009 15:52

Were the commercial tapes and the VCR both bought retail in New Zealand? It's possible the VCR only supports PAL while the tapes are NTSC, or something similar.

Another problem could be that the tapes are recorded in 'long play' format, but for a commercial tape that seems unlikely.

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Rickles

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#251767 30-Aug-2009 17:28

Hi michaelt,

All bought in NZ. Besides, the VCR supports playback of both PAL and NTSC.

The machine can be manually changed to SP or LP, and I tried that. In fact, the tape seems to automaticall detect if SP or LP anyway so I don't think that is the problem.

Odd, eh? .

R.

Jarno

270 posts

Ultimate Geek

#251770 30-Aug-2009 17:54

Maybe the read/write heads are out of alignment? So it reads stuff it writes itself fine, but for tapes from others it is too far out to read reliably.

Rickles

2696 posts

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#251774 30-Aug-2009 18:19

Jarno,

It plays many other commercial tapes with no problems.

The problem tapes don't even start running through the machine, and the digital counter doesn't move. I can fast-forward and fast-rewind, but they simply won't play.

R.