NEC N965 Video Recorder. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Vauxfan2k · 10th Oct 2016, 6:34 pm

Hey guys,

To say this is a rare machine is an understatement, managed to get one of these after years of searching.

Replaced the belts and repaired the idler.

Works great now.

NEC stuff is so hard to come by.

Vauxfan2k · 11th Oct 2016, 9:35 pm

Managed to get a quick vid of this machine working. The cassette is a bit knackered and noisy and being on the table makes it sound clunky, but it's actually reasonably quiet.

https://youtu.be/RZMWFW69k60

MALC SCOTT · 12th Oct 2016, 11:37 am

Hi, i serviced these machines when i worked at Mastercare. Very reliable and came with a 5 year g/tee, Malc.

Vauxfan2k · 12th Oct 2016, 1:45 pm

Hi Malc,

The only thing that failed on my original one was the idler, back then stuff like rubber renue wasn't available to me (the public) wish I had just stashed it in the loft.

Need to source a remote for this one as I kept the others remote up until a couple of years ago when I lost hope of finding another machine.

Cheers

Vauxfan2k · 15th Oct 2016, 11:20 pm

Hey again,

Need to replace the lamp that illuminates the cassette carriage and cassette surface (visible through the clear flap and quite cool)

It's just a bulb, but there's no markings to say what voltage and wattage it is, anyone have an idea and where to get a replacement solder in item?

Couple of vids taken tonight of it playing a tape and also with the lid off.

You can see the bulb on top of the carriage.

https://youtu.be/GaMmnTqI1tE

https://youtu.be/7hVpckb-z-o

Lloyd 1985 · 16th Oct 2016, 12:08 am

Hi,

Something I do with unmarked bulbs to try and find their voltage rating is to power up the equipment and stick my meter across it, it's probably a 12V bulb, no idea what wattage it would be. You can get them on eBay, so probably get a small selection of different wattage ones and try them and see which looks about right.

Looks a nice machine, I always find VCR's interesting, such a complex piece of equipment that got taken for granted, and quickly forgotten once DVD recorders and DVR's appeared.

As you say, NEC stuff being rather scarce, I have a 1980's 15" TV made by them, has an FST tube, with smoked glass cover. Works a treat! I also have a laptop made by them too!

Regards,
Lloyd.

Vauxfan2k · 16th Oct 2016, 12:51 am

Hi Lloyd

I had the 14" NEC tv with the glass screen as you mention, it was in a black/very dark metallic grey cabinet, great pic and very reliable. Also had the 15" version with silver cabinet and glass screen. The bottom where the speaker and buttons were was slightly narrower than the tv, again great but eventually suffered from a screeching sound from the tube. Back then they weren't so easily repaired up here not financially viable. Regret putting them to landfill now of course!

Would you mind posting a pic or 2 of yours? May be the same as one of mine. Bring back some memories.

Cheers

Steve

ntscuser · 16th Oct 2016, 3:12 am

NEC also marketed a (horrendously expensive) S-VHS recorder in the UK too. It was PAL-only and had a two-stage comb-separator which was unusual at the time. A TV salesman colleague of mine owned one. His only complaint was that it couldn't record or even play back NTSC tapes.

Lloyd 1985 · 16th Oct 2016, 2:02 pm

Pictures, as requested

The set looked like it had never been opened when I got it, and it worked perfectly too! It was very dusty inside and smelled of fags, so it was stripped out and given a bath. The pictures are from when I got it (2008, where has the time gone?!) and the set is currently buried in storage, I'll hopefully be going to fetch some stuff from storage soon though, so I'll dig it out and bring it back here

Regards,
Lloyd.

Vauxfan2k · 16th Oct 2016, 3:00 pm

That's exactly the same as the one I had except the front part of the casing was silver.

Had the remote for it up until recently aswell.

What's the model number? And il keep an eye out for another if one ever pops up. Thanks for that

Steve

Lloyd 1985 · 16th Oct 2016, 9:00 pm

I haven't a clue what the model number is, I'll let you know what it is when I go fetch it from storage

One thing I don't have is the remote!

Regards,
Lloyd.

Vauxfan2k · 28th Oct 2016, 5:42 pm

Replaced the carriage bulb. Used a 12v 3w car dashboard bulb. Correct brightness thankfully.
Quite a neat feature.

https://youtu.be/gKrDlEDtRsY

Lloyd 1985 · 7th Dec 2016, 12:54 am

Hi,

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you with the model no. for that telly! I had actually forgotten

I've been and fetched the set from storage, and I'm pleased to say it's still working very well.

It is a FS-1502PI.

Regards,
Lloyd.

Vauxfan2k · 7th Dec 2016, 1:31 am

Hi,

Good to hear from you again, thanks for the model no. Will have to keep an eye out for one of these. Glad it's working well.

Cheers for that

Steve

terry vin · 12th Dec 2016, 2:27 am

In 1995 I gave my brother an NEC vhs machine, with built in satellite. Not sure if it had a built in videocrypt decoder. The machine was quite a chunky beast, as was the remote. Not sure what happened to it, will ask him.

Terry.

10th Oct 2016, 6:34 pm	#1
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	NEC N965 Video Recorder. Hey guys, To say this is a rare machine is an understatement, managed to get one of these after years of searching. Replaced the belts and repaired the idler. Works great now. NEC stuff is so hard to come by. Attached Thumbnails

11th Oct 2016, 9:35 pm	#2
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Nec n965 Managed to get a quick vid of this machine working. The cassette is a bit knackered and noisy and being on the table makes it sound clunky, but it's actually reasonably quiet. https://youtu.be/RZMWFW69k60

12th Oct 2016, 11:37 am	#3
MALC SCOTT Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Willington, County Durham, UK. Posts: 1,499	Re: Nec n965 Hi, i serviced these machines when i worked at Mastercare. Very reliable and came with a 5 year g/tee, Malc. __________________ Malc Scott

12th Oct 2016, 1:45 pm	#4
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Nec n965 Hi Malc, The only thing that failed on my original one was the idler, back then stuff like rubber renue wasn't available to me (the public) wish I had just stashed it in the loft. Need to source a remote for this one as I kept the others remote up until a couple of years ago when I lost hope of finding another machine. Cheers

15th Oct 2016, 11:20 pm	#5
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Nec n965 Hey again, Need to replace the lamp that illuminates the cassette carriage and cassette surface (visible through the clear flap and quite cool) It's just a bulb, but there's no markings to say what voltage and wattage it is, anyone have an idea and where to get a replacement solder in item? Couple of vids taken tonight of it playing a tape and also with the lid off. You can see the bulb on top of the carriage. https://youtu.be/GaMmnTqI1tE https://youtu.be/7hVpckb-z-o

16th Oct 2016, 12:08 am	#6
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,819	Re: Nec n965 Hi, Something I do with unmarked bulbs to try and find their voltage rating is to power up the equipment and stick my meter across it, it's probably a 12V bulb, no idea what wattage it would be. You can get them on eBay, so probably get a small selection of different wattage ones and try them and see which looks about right. Looks a nice machine, I always find VCR's interesting, such a complex piece of equipment that got taken for granted, and quickly forgotten once DVD recorders and DVR's appeared. As you say, NEC stuff being rather scarce, I have a 1980's 15" TV made by them, has an FST tube, with smoked glass cover. Works a treat! I also have a laptop made by them too! Regards, Lloyd.

16th Oct 2016, 12:51 am	#7
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Nec n965 Hi Lloyd I had the 14" NEC tv with the glass screen as you mention, it was in a black/very dark metallic grey cabinet, great pic and very reliable. Also had the 15" version with silver cabinet and glass screen. The bottom where the speaker and buttons were was slightly narrower than the tv, again great but eventually suffered from a screeching sound from the tube. Back then they weren't so easily repaired up here not financially viable. Regret putting them to landfill now of course! Would you mind posting a pic or 2 of yours? May be the same as one of mine. Bring back some memories. Cheers Steve

16th Oct 2016, 3:12 am	#8
ntscuser Hexode Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Coventry, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 280	Re: Nec n965 NEC also marketed a (horrendously expensive) S-VHS recorder in the UK too. It was PAL-only and had a two-stage comb-separator which was unusual at the time. A TV salesman colleague of mine owned one. His only complaint was that it couldn't record or even play back NTSC tapes. __________________ Classic TV Show Theme Tunes Last edited by ntscuser; 16th Oct 2016 at 3:42 am.

16th Oct 2016, 2:02 pm	#9
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,819	Re: Nec n965 Pictures, as requested The set looked like it had never been opened when I got it, and it worked perfectly too! It was very dusty inside and smelled of fags, so it was stripped out and given a bath. The pictures are from when I got it (2008, where has the time gone?!) and the set is currently buried in storage, I'll hopefully be going to fetch some stuff from storage soon though, so I'll dig it out and bring it back here Regards, Lloyd. Attached Thumbnails

16th Oct 2016, 3:00 pm	#10
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Nec n965 That's exactly the same as the one I had except the front part of the casing was silver. Had the remote for it up until recently aswell. What's the model number? And il keep an eye out for another if one ever pops up. Thanks for that Steve

16th Oct 2016, 9:00 pm	#11
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,819	Re: Nec n965 I haven't a clue what the model number is, I'll let you know what it is when I go fetch it from storage One thing I don't have is the remote! Regards, Lloyd.

28th Oct 2016, 5:42 pm	#12
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Nec n965 Replaced the carriage bulb. Used a 12v 3w car dashboard bulb. Correct brightness thankfully. Quite a neat feature. https://youtu.be/gKrDlEDtRsY Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Vauxfan2k; 28th Oct 2016 at 5:52 pm.

7th Dec 2016, 12:54 am	#13
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,819	Re: NEC N965 Video Recorder. Hi, Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you with the model no. for that telly! I had actually forgotten I've been and fetched the set from storage, and I'm pleased to say it's still working very well. It is a FS-1502PI. Regards, Lloyd. Attached Thumbnails

7th Dec 2016, 1:31 am	#14
Vauxfan2k Hexode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Inverness, Highland, UK. Posts: 300	Re: NEC N965 Video Recorder. Hi, Good to hear from you again, thanks for the model no. Will have to keep an eye out for one of these. Glad it's working well. Cheers for that Steve

12th Dec 2016, 2:27 am	#15
terry vin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 35	Re: NEC N965 Video Recorder. In 1995 I gave my brother an NEC vhs machine, with built in satellite. Not sure if it had a built in videocrypt decoder. The machine was quite a chunky beast, as was the remote. Not sure what happened to it, will ask him. Terry.