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Vintage Television and Video Vintage television and video equipment, programmes, VCRs etc.

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Old 20th Sep 2018, 7:40 pm   #1
Snarf81
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Default Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Hi all.

As you may have guessed from my other threads I am trying to get some of my old vcrs working again and I really do appreciate all of your suggestions.

As the title says, my 3v36 isn't recording any picture at all. The sound is recorded fine. When I play back the recordings the output looks just like a blank videotape, i.e. like a crt tv with no signal. Playback of pre recorded tapes is absolutely fine with no issues at all.

I don't know if this is a common fault with this model as I'm rather new to vintage vhs vcr collecting (I'm a Beta and Video2000 chap).

I have another 3v36 with a broken loading gear plastic cog, so I can use that machine as spares if needs be.

It's a clone of the JVC HR-D225.

Thank you in advance.

Richard.

I must add that I don't own an oscilloscope or know anyone who has, unfortunately, so I can't check that side of things.
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Old 20th Sep 2018, 8:38 pm   #2
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

No scope? I'll have a look through the manual. Firstly, I assume E-E is OK!
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Old 20th Sep 2018, 8:40 pm   #3
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Hi Tony,

Ermmm....I don't know what E-E is

Thank you

Richard.
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Old 20th Sep 2018, 8:52 pm   #4
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

I've just looked up E-E.

If I understand it correctly, then I do receive audio and video through the av in on the vcr using a freeview box. I get that output through rf and video/audio out connections.
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Old 20th Sep 2018, 9:06 pm   #5
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

So yes, E-E (electronic to electronic) is working OK.
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 3:54 pm   #6
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Does it play back a pre-recorded tape OK?
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 4:13 pm   #7
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Hi,
It does indeed. No problems with the playback picture from a pre recorded tape at all.

Thanks
Richard.
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 4:15 pm   #8
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

To be fair unless it happens to be a stock fault (I will have a quick look in a bit) and the OP has neither manual and/or access to a 'scope or the ability to trace through the various blocks,we are basically ping in the wind, sorry to sound harsh but that is simply how it is.
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 4:24 pm   #9
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.

I appreciate that it's a long shot without me having a scope etc.
I do have another 3v36 I can use for spares, so I can maybe swap the PCB over which deals with the recorded picture side of things maybe?

Thanks again
Richard.
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 4:48 pm   #10
60 oldjohn
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Are you trying to record an analogue signal?


John.
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 4:58 pm   #11
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Hi John,

No, I'm trying to record from a freeview box using the audio and video in Jack's.

Regards
Richard.
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 7:19 pm   #12
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Any chance you might be falling foul of 'copy protection' frequently present on AV o/ps of DTT boxes? - try an independent (ie non broadcast related) pattern generator or similar if you have access to one

Rgds to all

J
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 7:36 pm   #13
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Hi

I wonder if it's recording just snow (noise) as it appears to be in the TV mode. The VCR needs to be put in the AUX mode to accept audio/video signals. Once in the correct mode, it should then be possible to see on the TV screen the content that's to be recorded.

I think on the 3V36 there's a slide switch on the front panel with two settings TV and AUX. This needs to be set to AUX to accept AV signals otherwise the signal would have been via the tuner ie the old analogue TV signal.

Regards
Symon.
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 8:11 pm   #14
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

OP has indicated that E to E is working - post 4 if so AV i/p must be selected
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 8:28 pm   #15
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Just to clarify,
The vcr input switch is in the AUX position, I am receiving signal from a freeview pvr and can watch the freeview output through the vcr video out and audio out jacks.
The sound is recorded fine, the video signal isn't being recorded at all, pre recorded tapes are playing fine with good audio and video output from the a/v outs.

It's an odd one isn't it (!)

I will try to swap the video board that sits on the top of the vcr tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks all.

Richard
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 9:24 pm   #16
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

You said already, tapes recorded on another machine play fine on the 3V36. What happens if you take a tape recorded on your 3V36, and try playing it on a different machine? How thoroughly is the old soundtrack being erased? Is there any faint trace of it behind a new recording?
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 9:28 pm   #17
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

If I play a recording made on the 3v36 on a different vcr the sound is fine with no trace of the old soundtrack.

Thanks again
Richard.
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 10:02 pm   #18
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Snarf81 View Post
It's an odd one isn't it (!)
Not at all I'm afraid, with a scope and manual it would probably be quite straightforward. To me it appears there is no record FM being applied to the video heads or it maybe a REC/PB switching problem which is all electronic on this model. I don't recall if there is a JVC equivalent of the 3V36 which I believe is linear stereo but the Thorn Rentals version was model 8943.

You could try changing the top PCB to prove a point but to set it up correctly you will need a manual and scope.

John.

Last edited by jayceebee; 21st Sep 2018 at 10:08 pm. Reason: more info
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Old 21st Sep 2018, 11:00 pm   #19
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

If you're serious about getting your old VCRs up and running again, it's worth investing in a digital storage oscilloscope. It really is the sort of thing that once you have got it, you will wonder how you ever managed without it.

Compare several, list them in order of price and features, decide which one you can afford; and then get the next model up from that anyway. Having a bit less money than you thought for a bit longer than you thought is less misery than wishing you had budgeted a few pounds extra. You will pay off the difference in a few months; but you will be reminded that you could have had a slightly better oscilloscope every time you switch that one on.
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Old 22nd Sep 2018, 4:28 pm   #20
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Default Re: Ferguson Videostar 3V36 not recording a picture.

Thanks for the replies.

I'd love to get an oscilloscope but the cost of one is way out of my pocket for the foreseeable future (I'm on ESA benefit).

I've swapped the video boards over on the vcr and it now records pictures, the left channel sound is very quiet on playback of all tapes but I can live with that.

Thank you all again for the replies, I really do appreciate it.

Richard.
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